I'm not sure just from looking at the photos but it's possible that you have the flex plate us installed backwards?
You could try changing the starter drive (or the starter)
The noise could be the pump in the transmission especially if you didn't get the torque converter installed correctly in the pump.
I would suggest disconnecting the torque converter bolts and see if the converter will slide back slightly ~.100-.125" if it's OK tyrap the converter back start and warm the motor see if the noise is gone.
If it's still there bolt the converter back up go to the front of the motor and try disconnecting the alternator water pump, power steering belts one at a time.
Shimming a delco starter is done to adjust the mesh between the starter drive gear and the flex plate gear but if it cranks without making any odd noises I doubt that this has anything to do with what your hearing.
If you can eliminate the water pump alternator etc as cause of the noise, I would remove the oil fliter and cut it open look for bearing material.
Did you check the crankshaft end play on assembly if not check it now.
Also are you using the correct starter bolts ?they should have a knurled on the shank.
The flex pate is correct, I'm wondering if the crank needs to go forward a bit? I checked the clearance from the flex plate and that piece on the starter from the picture above and the clearance is 021. Is that normal? Seeems awfully close
Exactly how do you plan to move the crank forward? .021 is dependent on the TIR of said flex plate. Many of them are not made very good. Is it new? You can try shimming the flexplate away from the starter. Is it an aftermarket crank? What's the crank endplay?
Is the flexplate new, or has it been used without issue before?? Same with starter, new or used before??
That hardened collar around the starter main shaft that it appears too close to has a step on one side, so it will fit down over a wire snap ring in a groove on the shaft. Is it down over the wire ring??
This looks very similar to a problem I helped a guy with except on his the starter wasn't engaging all the way. Turned out the flexplate was on backwards which didn't allow the bendix gear to mesh all the way but his did not contact the thrust bushing to create any noise.
The flex plate is the original one but the starter is brand new. The gear engages fine and has no issues starting it. I turned the flex plate around and it wouldn't even hit the starter gear. I was able to bolt the torque converter and tranny up with out issues so that tells me the flex plate isn't too far back
Just do a search for Starter Shims. You should get instructions with them. Be sure you are using the proper bolts. Let us know how it works out.
Most parts stores will have what you need
We have the same problem ith a 70 Truck with a 396. The flywheel went south and after replacing it correctly we could not get it to engage correctly even after shimming a new starter. We're perplexed
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Is the flexplate new, or has it been used without issue before?? Same with starter, new or used before??
That hardened collar around the starter main shaft that it appears too close to has a step on one side, so it will fit down over a wire snap ring in a groove on the shaft. Is it down over the wire ring?? Quote ericNova
That collar should be pushed down over the wire snap ring as Eric stated if it's not you need to fix it.
If the starter cranks over fine you don't need to shim it and I'm not aware if any shims for the starter drive and never had a problem with one.
It seems logical that since the starter is the only thing different it's probably the problem.
Problem started with original flexplate and starter. Installed new starter and flexplate, like before the starter gear is only engaging 1/2 way on flexplate no matter how much shiming is done.
Thanks will inspect
I have had a similar issue last summer on a chevy 383 which is really a 350 block. I messed with shimming for quite some time and finally just replaced the starter. Although the problem starter was new (rebuilt) it was my issue. There must have been something wrong with it internally because a bench test was fine. The new starter (rebuilt too) solved my issues. Using the correct starter bolts is key also to getting the alignment correct.
Or maybe the flex plate is slightly warped. Thing is could use a black marker and mark starter gears to the bottom of gear then install, crank over engine a few times, don't start, then remove starter and check depth of where marker is wiped off of the gear to see if it is engaging to deep, if it is then use one or 2 starter shims between starter and block.
Just out of curiosity. What happened to the original poster of this thread? Looks like another person is now responding to this post? Did "mauls" morph into "chevytrucksonly"??
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