Brand new starter, shims? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMCjunkie · 07-18-2010, 06:16 PM

hey yall!

Just before I brought my truck home, the guys put a new starter on my Burb for me. Well, its making an ungodly noise when I try to start it, and Im being told that it needs to be "shimmed" Im familiar with the concept, but have never done it. How do I know how much it needs and how do I do it?

Thanks again, and again and again!!!
junk

**68 Stepside** · 07-18-2010, 08:32 PM

Honestly Jodie, I dunno if this will help or not

http://macc.chevelles.net/starter.htm

**68 Stepside** · 07-18-2010, 08:35 PM

Actually, from what I can gather from this pic, you need a piece of 1/8" rod (maybe a drill bit would work?) and just set the gear gap with it. I've actually never had to shim a starter or I could probably help more....

Hubscrub · 07-18-2010, 08:37 PM

i think there is a process, but i just do trial and error, i have had to sand down the nose where it bolts to the block to make them quiet down, instead of adding shims and sometimes you might have to just shim one bolt

Alex Hayley · 07-18-2010, 09:05 PM

The url that 68 stepside send will guide you. Use a 1/8" drill bit and check the gap between the ring gear and the nose shaft of the starter gear. If the gap is greater than 1/8", cut the shim in half and place one of halves between the starter and engine on the outer starter bolt. If the gap is less than 1/8", place the entire shim between the starter and engine. Repeat until the gap is 1/8".

Since you mentioned the starter was already installed, you might not have the shims. Try autoparts store...they probably will have extra shims.

GMCjunkie · 07-18-2010, 09:09 PM

THANK YOU!!! yalls info helps so much, i couldnt function with out yall!!

07-18-2010, 06:16 PM	#1
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Brand new starter, shims? hey yall! Just before I brought my truck home, the guys put a new starter on my Burb for me. Well, its making an ungodly noise when I try to start it, and Im being told that it needs to be "shimmed" Im familiar with the concept, but have never done it. How do I know how much it needs and how do I do it? Thanks again, and again and again!!! junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

07-18-2010, 08:32 PM	#2
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	Re: Brand new starter, shims? Honestly Jodie, I dunno if this will help or not http://macc.chevelles.net/starter.htm __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

07-18-2010, 08:35 PM	#3
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	Re: Brand new starter, shims? Actually, from what I can gather from this pic, you need a piece of 1/8" rod (maybe a drill bit would work?) and just set the gear gap with it. I've actually never had to shim a starter or I could probably help more.... Attached Images __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

07-18-2010, 08:37 PM	#4
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: Brand new starter, shims? i think there is a process, but i just do trial and error, i have had to sand down the nose where it bolts to the block to make them quiet down, instead of adding shims and sometimes you might have to just shim one bolt __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14 Last edited by Hubscrub; 07-18-2010 at 08:37 PM.

07-18-2010, 09:05 PM	#5
Alex Hayley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NC Posts: 987	Re: Brand new starter, shims? The url that 68 stepside send will guide you. Use a 1/8" drill bit and check the gap between the ring gear and the nose shaft of the starter gear. If the gap is greater than 1/8", cut the shim in half and place one of halves between the starter and engine on the outer starter bolt. If the gap is less than 1/8", place the entire shim between the starter and engine. Repeat until the gap is 1/8". Since you mentioned the starter was already installed, you might not have the shims. Try autoparts store...they probably will have extra shims.

07-18-2010, 09:09 PM	#6
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Brand new starter, shims? THANK YOU!!! yalls info helps so much, i couldnt function with out yall!! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

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