Starter Problem

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bandamnits

9/14/2007 2:14:55 PM

Hey everyone, i have a 1976 400 ci small block that i had rebuilt by a machine shop here in Vegas. When i got my motor back and it started and ran fine . about a month later the starter started grinding and it would not start. I found out that the outside starter bolt broke off in the block. I took it to the machine shop and they drilled it out and put a heli coil in it. I got it home and noticed there was a small crack on the side of the starter bolt hole. I took it back to the machine shop and they welded the crack up and i put it back in the truck hit the start button and all it did was grind (same noise as before). It seems like the starter is moving around.

this is what I have tried to fix it:
4 starters (3mini 1 full size)
shims
ground top of starter off to get the teeth closer to the flywheel
new bolts
made an adjustable bracket from block to starter to hold it steady

Greywolf

9/14/2007 4:54:18 PM

Do me a favor - just out of curiousity.

With a beam-type torque wrench and the right socket, measure how much force is needed to turn the front pulley through two complete revolutions, and note the highest readings - then post what they are here.

I've got a bad feeling about this...

Something isn't right. Either the engine is too tuff to turn, or the flyplate is out of round for some reason. The first could be mechanical, the second would likely be from damage.

I suppose if the flywheel or flyplate didn't match the crank exactly it could shift to the side, but it took a month for things to go to pieces...