Here's the deal, I need to get my car running already and everyone I have talked to is as confused as I am. I had the motor rebuilt, new clutch, everything. I bolt the starter up to fire the motor, and it doesn't engage with the flywheel properly. Mind you this is a Advanced Auto Parts LT4 starter with my factory flywheel. I've tried putting shims in the starter, and its not the voltage on the battery. Everything works fine, the starter works fine, but when I go to start it, the gears on the flywheel bind with those on the starter. So much actually, that it doesn't turn at all and just clicks. The gear on the starter will stay out of the house engaged with the flywheel until I loosen the starter from the block. Any ideas?

 

That sounds like the starter has the wrong drive. Only other thing is the flywheel is wrong (which you said it's factory) or the motor is locked up!

That's what it sounds like. Good luck man. Take that starter back to Advanced and get another one.

Kyle

 

Motor definately is not locked up, turns by hand fine. This is the second starter from Advanced also. Might have to take a trip to summit and make sure I get the right one. How many teeth on are on the factory flywheel btw?

 

is it an M6, what does the clutch pedal feel like if so? I ran into a problem where the starter was good, but the clutch fork was out of adjustment and was hitting the pressure plate so it wouldn't turn over.

 

Yes, M6. Clutch feels alright I guess. I had a hell of a time getting the new slave cylinder bled right. When the cars all up on stands, it works fine ( ie with car in gear, and clutch in, rear tires wont turn when motor cranked by hand ).

 

I need some help, this is driving me insane.

 

I was having close to the same problem. Mine is just hitting the flywheel but comes back I have to enguage the starter about ten times for is to turn over. I had mine rebuilt and that is when the problems started I tried shims aftermarket case and it looks like the problem was the drive gear. The gear that should go in the starter should have a slight taper to it. Is your flywheel teeth still in good shape?

 

Do you have to use the shims? Will the starter work without them?

 

Shims did not make any difference I am not using any.

 

Teeth on the flywheel are fine. Ive tried no shims, and all the way to 7 shims. Do you think a plain 153 tooth starter from summit might help instead of one from the parts store?

 

If the price is not to much different you could go for it. Or take that starter back and go to a different auto store. Your problem sounds to me like the drive gear but like I said in the above post your problem is a little different mine would not even go into the flywheel teeth. Have you tried rotating the flywheel to a different area?

 

If you were in Dallas I'd tell you to bring it by my family's alternator/starter rebuilding shop (auto electric service).

It still sounds to me like the drive doesn't have the right gearing. Are you sure you've been getting the right part # from them?

 

The box said LT4 last time I saw it. The teeth on the wheel are fine also. Yea I think I'm just going to say the hell with the parts store one. Any reccomendations on one from summit? Dont want to spend more than 150.

 

My dad can sell you one that he put on my car (spins quite a bit faster than the stock one) for less than $150 (shipping incl). I think he said it's new, too, not a rebuilt one.

LMK,
Kyle

 

Thanks anyways, but I think I'm going to try the Summit one because I can return that without any problems should I decide I need to. Thanks anyways!