I installed a Spec Steel Billet flywheel and now I'm getting screeching from the starter when I crank the engine. I shimmed the starter to no avail. So I replaced the starter. Still to no avail. Next I took it to GM service and they tried to shim it. They said the teeth were not matching up. So I called Spec and they said No Way it could be a bad flywheel or ring gear. My next step is to have a starter shop try some different sized starter ring gears.

1. Any body have this problem with Spec Flywheels?

2. Is there anyway to shim these other than putting shims under starter bolts?

3. Is there anyway to extend the bendix gear without engaging so I can see how it is out of alignment?

 

How many teeth are on the flywheel and what's the clearance between the the bendix gear and the flywheel?

 

I just installed my spec flywheel yesterday and it works fine with the stock starter. I didn't have to do anything.I don't really see what the problem could be if you've already tried shimming.

 

153 teeth. 1/8th inch.

I got it up on a lift at the military auto craft shop. The flywheel is definitely not the same as stock. Thats been my problem all along is that my spec flywheel is not to spec. Its too far away from my starter. the starter only takes a small bite of the teeth thus the screeching noise.

Spec said they would replace the flywheel. But that doesn't include labor.
They said they sell 100's of the flywheels with no problem. I highly doubt I am the only one who has had this problem. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and reinstall my old resurfaced flywheel.

Another unhappy spec customer.

 

Your lucky. I guess I got the lemon. There is more than a 1/4 inch variance between my stock flywheel and my spec ring gear.

 

I think there may be a problem here measuring properly. The easiest method of measuring is (with the starter mounted to the engine), PULL out the bendix gear by hand and align the valley between 2 teeth on the flywheel with the crest of a tooth on the bendix. Be sure they are lined straight up to one another. There should then be just enough room to get a paper clip between the valley and tooth of the bendix.

If there is more than a paper clip you shim the bolt that is farthest from the flywheel. If there is less than a PC, shim the bolt closest to the flywheel. Do that until the clearance is the thickness of a PC. For those of us that have a starter that has 2 bolts and many holes, (clock face) used on aftermarket starters, the bolts in the face can be relocated to rotate the bendix relative to the mounting bolts. Those starters don't need to be shimmed obviously.