starter and flywheel clashing big time!

[krue]

My brand new starter and my brand new flexplate are clashing big time (starter gear jams on flexplate). I have the engine out of the truck and mounted the starter to get the clearances right. I shimmed iaw instructions, then hooked a battery to it and it jammed first thing. I have all the plugs removed to do a compression check and the engine does turn over.

Is there more than one size drive gear? Would having the wrong one cause the problems I am having? How do I fix this?

Thanks, Krue

[69 Short Fleet]

Hmmm how many teeth does your starter and ring gear have (are they the same as your old ones) Is it (starter gear) getting stuck in the teeth of your ring gear and you have to tap it to release it? If you need I can give you a tooth count on mine (If that helps) Is your starter a stock type replacement or one of those mini ones. Doug

[krue]

Stock, the flexplate is the same diameter as the old one. The starter is the stock replacement. In the morning I am going to try some different shimming to see if I can get it to line up.

[chevyhouse]

you can get a 153 tooth or 168 tooth flexplate, you can count them if you like, other wise I don't think they are labeled. I just set the engine back in my truck after a similar problem, I had put the plate in backwards and ground a bunch of teeth off. I am using a 168 for my 383, works good installed the right way........

[passthebuck]

you can get gear clashing/locking if you have too many shims or not enough. You'd know big time if you had the wrong flexpalte/starter nose combo (they're not even close)... It's just a case of shimming & trying to start it until it works good. I found that the measuring method doesnt work for me either... I found it easiest to have somebody up top trying the key while I watched the starter do its thing & when it _sounds_ & _looks_ right, away you go. I discovered that there are a number of shim thicknesses available for fine tuning too. Keep us posted.

[krue]

Finally got it shimmed! I talked to a guy at a local auto electric shop and he told me to try some washers for shims, so one shim all the way across and one big a$$ washer on the outside bolt and it looks like it will work. It sure helps to have the engine out while you do it!

Thanks for all the help guys!