Starter refuses to cooperate.

I recently swapped out the tired old 305 in my '91 TA; also switched from T.B.I. to Carb. Every part of the install went fine until we got to the starter. Since the first day we tried to crank the car the starter will operate perfectly for about three times. On the forth time it sounds like it's chewing the teeth off the flywheel. However, if I loosen the starter bolts and retighten them it will work for another 3-4 times and do the same thing. I'm using a mini-torque starter and this is the list of things we have tried to do:

1) Tried shimming the starter(outside) at various distances.
2) Tried different starter bolts.
3) Even tried different starters.

Also, the flywheel is brand new (soon to be destroyed).
My next thing is to drop the trans. and try a different flywheel. I don't know if this is going to fix the problem though.

Has anyone experienced similar problems or do I have a Gremlin under the car???

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Since I don't have the mods listed in my sig yet I'll list a couple here:

350 w/ worked Vortec Heads, flat-top pistons, Edlebrock Super-Victor Air Gap intake, 296 520I 540E Crane Cam, Moroso Adj. FPR, Hooker Super Comp Longtubes, Holly 780 4brl Carb,

 

sounds like you didn't use the correct bolts. did you use starter bolts or bolts from the hardwear store

 

I have the same damn problem but it only happens when im in reverse and give it a little gas. I already put all the shims in and I used the new starter bolts. I looked at it and the gear on the starter is too close face to face with the fly wheel. What gives

 

Yea I went and bought "Starter" Bolts from AUTO ZONE. The kind that are diamond cut right after the threads.

I think this was the original problem (wrong bolts) and now I need a new flywheel.

Off to the shop, time to drop the trans. Guess this gives me an excuse to go buy a new torque converter (2800 stall). I've got a bad feeling that about the time I get all the bugs worked out, the stock 700R w/ 190K on it is going to grenade.

If anyone else has any similar problems or advice feel free to chime in.

Thanks again.

 

Sorry to resurrect the dead here, but I never posted what the source of the problem turned out to be: Cracked starter housing. It was very hard to see, but there was a crack that ran all the way down the housing. It would work for one crank, and then the housing would separate. The next time I would try to crank it.....crkkkkd. Loosening and retightening the bolts allowed the housing to come back together again.

That is all.

I think I win some kind of award for bringing back the oldest post or something.