I built a sbc 350 tbi and married it to a 700R4, all is fine except that the starter bindix travel is limited by the nose housing from fully engaging the drive gear (168 tooth)on the flex plate. It only engages 1/2 of the ring gear.The starter is shimed properly for proper lash. The flex plate is installed properly. Bendix/delco/remy do not show a diference except for the 153/168 drive housing and mounting blolt position. Is there a chance that someone knows the answer to my problem? I am not going to get a lot of life from the ring gear this way.

 

Flex plate put on backwards

 

how can you tellif the flex plate is put on backwards?

 

If the starter nose is too short, the flexplate is on backwards.

The "bumps" on the flexplate around the torque converter holes should be sticking out towards the transmission.

 

 

that is what I have been told and the 'pads','bumps',or what ever are pointed to the torque converter so that the torque converter rests on these pads. any other ideas???????