Didn't think this was quite drivetrain material so...
I noticed my starter was cracked down the middle, so I pull it out, and what do I find but only half of the little semi-circle thing left on there. The other half has snapped off and its stuck somehwere around the flywheel, causeing that horrible grinding noise I complained about earlier. Is there any easy way to get it out? I don't think I can reach it through the starter hole.

 

Do you mean the nose of the starter that houses the pinion gear?

 

Remove that black inspection plate, hopefully it will be sitting there in the bottom

 

yep, that's it.
Hopefully I can get at it by removing that plate.
Any thoughts on what caused this?

 

Maybe there is something in the cylinder(s) preventing the piston from moving up. I know you said you somehow forgot to supply spark to 1 entire bank of the motor so it might be possible enough fuel accumulated in the cylinder to hyrdo-lock it and break the starter.

 

Quote:
Maybe there is something in the cylinder(s) preventing the piston from moving up. I know you said you somehow forgot to supply spark to 1 entire bank of the motor so it might be possible enough fuel accumulated in the cylinder to hyrdo-lock it and break the starter.


That dosn't sound good at all. I think I had hydro lock at one time when I had water in my oil. Also, I had a small bolt from the back of the engine come out and wedge in the flexplate. I didn't notice it but saw it when I pulled the engine.

 

Well, I it came right out after I moved the dust shield, no problem. I inspected the flywheel and didn't see any damage. With the new starter and the left side of the opti plugged in it started right up, no problems at all. Don't think anything is too wrong.