I just got my car back from having my headers,cat,exhust back, and now when I start it the starter is veryhigh pitched and whining, zipping? Anyway it engages and starts the car fine, Could it be they did not bolt it on tight, droped it and dammaged it? Its only a year old and never sounded like this before. Could it be its touching the new exhust and the sound is just resinating? Opions please.

 

It's likely that they forgot to install the necessary shims to space the starter pinion from the flywheel correctly. You can ask them for your old shims, or purchase replacements at almost any parts store.

It sounds like the pinion depth is too tight, causing the starter gear to bottom in the flywheel gear. This is pretty common, but should be adjusted to prevent starter or flywheel damage.

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Later,
Vader
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If you want to beat the World, it might reach up and pull you down...
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Check to make sure the starter is flush and that all bolts are in place and tight first. If you're still getting the sound, look for shim and/or position problems. My IROC's starter was removed and put back in when I had the local GM dealer change the flywheel (I didn't have time to) and they bolted up the main two bolts for the starter, but didn't line up the third bolt on the rear of the starter causing a similar sound to what you've got. When I saw what they did, I took it back and they pulled the starter and had to change the rear bolt they'd bent trying to force the starter in position without lining it up first, and also had to change the flywheel again since the starter had ground the corners off the new flywheel. The mechanic said he'd never seen that third bolt before in use. Lesson - Never hire out a job you can do yourself.

 

Thanks Guys,
When you say the starter is flush, flush to what? third bolt?

 

Flush to the block, with the third bolt in place (if you have one).

 

Check one easy thing first- make sure they reattached the support bracket to the FRONT end of the starter. Without it connected the starter will try to pivot on it's mounting bolts and cause it to get slightly out of alignment with the teeth on the flywheel.

 

Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about!

 

Anyone know where to pick up this "starter bracket"?? My '84 didn't have the bracket and likes to throw itself out---pivoting, as mentioned above....