Lifted engine and tranny almost out of the engine bay to replace oil pan (bottomed out in jan.). Now almost everything is together, and the starter grinds HORRIBLY. The flywheel doesn't budge. There has been no oil in the car since jan, but the crank spins when I put a wrench up front. I would normally think shims, but it is the same exact starter that was in the car b4 I bottomed out, and never did it b4 (it was brand new then). If it helps, i have a remote soleniod. Also, I have not yet readjusted my shifter cable, so could the fact that it my not actually be in park be the cause? Also the timing is not set...probably way advanced....thanks for ur help.

 

there is no way the flywheel couldn't move if you can spin the crank, unless the flywheel has sheared the bolts or something similar, but then you could move the flywheel and not the crank. i'd guess maybe a bent flywheel but it's not logical the crank spins and not the flywheel. same flywheel and starter right? i'd inspect the flywheel a bit more.

 

When I spin the crank, the flywheel spins as well, and so does the torque converter. I just dont get why the starter wont turn the flywheel at all. Yes, same flywheel and starter. I just took a look at the flywheel, it looks alright....but I dont have anyone around to turn it while i watch it go round...

 

that starter prolly went bad while it ws off the car or somethin

 

a little help please? Step dad says he wants the car out of his yard (i'm a college student) or he's getting rid of it......

 

try the smallest shim possible, it worked on my buddys monte ss with the same problem, took us a month to figure it out

 

Did you ever have the flexplate off the motor? If you reinstalled it facing the wrong way the starter won't engage. The big ring gear around the outside is offset slightly to one side. It should be offset towards the starter, not towards the trans.

 

No, no flexplate. As far as the shim, I'll try it, but i still dont see how it would be a shim problem when it's the same starter on the same motor as before. But anything's worth a try

 

I have 2 days this upcoming weekend to get the car running, or I have to get rid of it......a little help please? anyone? Help me save my thirdgen!

 

SAD. I have ONE WEEKEND to get my thirdgen running or I have to get rid of it. A thirdgen I've had since I was 18...for 3 years. And I've gotten 4 replies. We have 24,000+ members, and I get 4 replies to help save my thirdgen. There's no telling how many people i've helped, hell, i've helped more than 4 people in TBI to TPI swaps alone, and all I get to help save the camaro i've sweated and bled over for the past 3 years is 4 replies. Thanks guys, my view of this site has taken a complete 180* have fun w/ your cars, cause i wont have one anymore......

 

Did you check this out, if not just put the lever on the trans all the way in the park position, it could possibly be the cause! Also since the car has sat for a while, the starter gear that moves up toward the flywheel may be sticking. and not fully traveling and meeting the flywheel.
My best advice would be to remove the starter, and test it to see that it is working correctly, after telling your stepfather to relax a little.
Good Luck!

 

yeah i agreee you need to have the car in park, also you might want to have the starter tested, guess i'm not 100% sure what you're saying it does, or doesn't do.

 

Yeah, I did check the park....wasn't the cause. But i'm planning on checking out the starter when I get back. The way it's grinding, sounds like it's moving foward but but not catching all the way. The starter seems to be the culprit thus far, but I'm just trying to get some ideas of what to try if that is in fact not it. Thanks for your help....

 

The starter grinds BADLY. So this means that it's catching, but it's not even catching enough to move the flywheel/crank at all (they move freely w/ a wrench on the crank). So i'm guessing that it's catching the corner, but not moving all the way into position. I'm going to try the starter when I go home this weekend, but i need some more ideas of what to try if that's not the problem.

 

Maybe when you slid the engine back in the compartment it jarred the starter a bit? could be that it cause the starter to move just close enough that the gear catches the flexplate to grind but too far away to move it... in this case I would take the starter down..inspect the holes and bolts... I am having this problem with my 84 right now... the bolt hole closest to the firewall is egged out and causing the starter to sit just far enough away from the flexplate.... I dunno...hope you figure it out... I have to do the helicoil fix lol... I didnt even know what a helicoil was till yesterday lol...good luck.

Chelly

 

did you use starter bolts and not some hardwear store type bolts?

 

dp

 

Yep, starter bolts. I dunno if I mentioned this, but when it first grinded, i took the starter off, inspected it (couldn't test it), made sure I put it back w/ the correct bolts, hooked it up etc.) So I know it's not an install problem. Also, I think i did mention, but I have a remote start solenoid, but I dunno why that would matter since it was on there b4 when the car was running fine.