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Starter Problems - '74 350

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Starter Problems - '74 350 - 4/25/2007 5:04:15 PM

dustinjshaw

Posts: 3
Joined: 4/25/2007
Status: offline

Here is essentially the problems that I�ve been having with my truck and what I�ve done to fix it so far.

The truck is a �74 with a 350 4barrel � it appears to be the original engine.

The starter that was on the truck when I bought it died on me, and I replaced it with a AutoZone starter. After a month or so, the starter would make a grinding noise occasionally. It sounded to me like the gears would start to engage properly, stop engaging, not mesh, and grind against each other. After that, I tried two Corvette starters from AutoZone (to see if they would work better), and another truck starter. I ended up returning the AutoZone starter all-together and got a Napa starter with a lifetime warranty. I�ve been through at least 5 Napa starters so far (I�ve fractured the nose-cones on two of the starters, telling me that when it grinds, it�s pushing the end of the nose-cone away from the flywheel).

I�ve also replaced the flywheel, thinking that the teeth might be two worn out on the flywheel (it looked like it could have been the original). That worked for about 6 months, then when the temperature changed, the problem came back.

I replace the battery cables, but this didn�t do anything. I�ve also had to replace a bad battery, so it has a new battery on it.

I�ve tried shimming the starter up and down, and made sure that it is exactly where it is supposed to be. This will sometimes fix the problem for a month or so.

Just this last weekend, I replace the entire wiring harness � front to rear. I figured that even if it doesn�t kill the problem, it was a thirty year old wiring harness after all. The problem has already come back.

I think that if I can fix this starter problem, I will have not too many more major problems with this truck for a long time (I�ve already replaced the timing belt, water pump, etc.).
Any help would be appreciated. I just can�t seem to wrap my mind around what else could be causing the problem. All of the fixes that I�ve tried so far were based off of things that I had heard/read might help.

Post #: 1

RE: Starter Problems - '74 350 - 4/27/2007 9:52:12 PM

dustinjshaw

Posts: 3
Joined: 4/25/2007
Status: offline

Well broke another nose-cone. At least I made it to Friday this time.

What might be of interest is that I noticed that when my starter grinds, my engine seems to kick backwards and then quit cranking. I would guess that this is what is breaking my nose-cones (as I've had someone tell me that this can break a nose cone), and it might be what is causing the grinding - maybe forcing the starter out of the flywheel teeth because of a kick back.

I'm going to double check my timing after I fix my starter, just to make sure.

Dustin

(in reply to dustinjshaw)

Post #: 2