Well today I was setermined to get the engine running. The starter/flexplate had been an issue since I got the Blazer grinding everytime I tried to start it. Today I took the starter off and took it to Auto Zone. I asked them for a starter for the Blazer and they brought out one and I started comparing. The bendix gear looked the same which made me rethink needing a different flexplate. Then I looked at the nose cone and they were different! The AZ one was 1/2" longer than the one I got with the blazer. So I bought the new one and got it home. I hooked it all up and bolted it in. A quick test fire and the starter hooked up good. A little gas and it fired right up
So all along it was a good starter just not made for the engine.
It's idles pretty good but needs a tune up and some minor work inlcuding a small oil leak on the driver side valve cover, and replace the rear u-joint. After I get it all the rest of the bugs worked out I hope to get it road worthy soon. Still needs some stuff to make it street legal but I'm just so glad to hear it fire up. All the gauges work, 50 PSI oil pressure at idle, 14+ volts and water temp works good. The electric fans kick by switch inside the cab. I'm glad the PO didn't get the right starter