Ok guys i'm running a 1991 rs planning on swapping my Lo3 to my other built 350 the 350 is what i'm having starter troubles with. Here are the 350's components 350 4bolt main bored 40 speed pro plat tops stock decking(shoulda 0 decked) holley systemax 2 kit (heads cam,intake) new flywheel and standard starter from advanced autoparts with lifetime warentee. so whats happening i can start the car once let it set and warm up shut the car off and try to start again and the damn nose breaks off the starter any clue why gone through a few starters is there a certain tooth flywheel i need to make this easier or more easier to start with the factory starter or should i go with the parts store advise and get a mini starter(high torque)? ty guys

 

Try adding a couple shims.

 

thats wat i would do

 

definitely in need of shims; your starter's binding up on the flywheel. you should be able to find an assorted pack of shims in the "Help" section of your local auto parts store

 

ok ty very much for all ur help

 

yea dude shim it up...i keep burning up those autozone specials lol

 

What is your initial timing set at? Too much advance at start can break starters like you describe. It can also chip teeth off of your flexplate, so you may want to inspect that while you're down there.

 

Sounds to me that Autozone's supplier has a serious quality control issue with porosity in the metal or thin walls of the nose housing. Go get a starter from a better brand name. Denso is top quality and a safe choice.

If the gear mesh were off so much that the gears bind, then I doubt the gears would even mesh in the first place. Improper gear mesh will cause excessive wear and loss of power transfer through the gear set. Usually it is accompanied by a squealing/howling noise when the engine cranks.

Broken teeth happen when the starter engages into a moving engine. The starter gears can't get hurt from the engine timing. If the engine timing was so far off that it actually went backwards then you would have much more serious problems then a damaged starter. At most, the output shaft of the starter might twist.