[saltbob]

ok I now have my paper from summit gear reduction starters it states distance from pinion to flexplate.100+/0.040 inch) (2.54 mm) see photo
I need to know this plain terms 1/8 1/4 so on I have not had any luck
converting it. Thanks

[psbaker75]

.125 is 1/8 inch, so .100 with a +/- .040 puts you in the 1/16 to 1/8" range for mfg acceptable parameters

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by saltbob

ok I now have my paper from summit gear reduction starters it states distance from pinion to flexplate.100+/0.040 inch) (2.54 mm) see photo
I need to know this plain terms 1/8 1/4 so on I have not had any luck
converting it. Thanks

The wire of a big (~2" long) paperclip is right at 0.045".

[Blazin72]

Converting fractions to decimal is easy.

Think of a fraction as dividing two numbers. For example: 1/8 is the same as 1 divided by 8 which is the same as .125

1/4 is the same as 1 divided by 4 which is the same as .250 and so on....

[chucksgarage]

there are 2 main flywheels chevy used... past that ive never used shims and never had any problems except one... 89 gmc pickup with a big block... eventually i discovered the reason i couldnt get the starter close enough to the fly wheel was ... the area on the block where the starter bolts up had not been machined down far enough from the factory. a quick trip to yakima grinding and never again will i chew off teeth on a flywheel... hope this helps or at least is a thought

[saltbob]

Thanks the starter gear still goes on flexplate half way but is working ok

[Gary Kosier]

If it's only engaging halfway, it'll never last. Corvette downsized their
starters in 1988. I put one on the TPI firebird motor in my S-10 in
1992 and it has never failed me. AND, it fits.

Gary Kosier

[Old Fool]

Originally Posted by saltbob

ok I now have my paper from summit gear reduction starters it states distance from pinion to flexplate.100+/0.040 inch) (2.54 mm) see photo
I need to know this plain terms 1/8 1/4 so on I have not had any luck
converting it. Thanks

In the photo it appears the leading face of the pinion gear is much farther away from the edge of the flex plate, which would account for only partial engagement.

Old thread - but I just wanted to pass along I purchased an 80 Vette a while back that the PO had used a Summit or Jegs starter with the exact same results.
BE cautious and check the engagement out before you ruin a ring gear when installing an aftermarket starter.

[boneyard Buick]

I installed a Powermaster Sbc starter and I had opposite results.
The starter gear was about 1mm away from the flexplate. I tried to run it to see how it would work and there wasnt enough room to let the gear come back, the starter ran with the engine. When I shut it down the gear came back.
So I got an Internal shim kit from Summit. Moves the body/gear back and is now clearanced to spec.

[saltbob]

Originally Posted by saltbob

Thanks the starter gear still goes on flexplate half way but is working ok

'not working'