I recently went into an auto parts store and I needed a new starter. The guy behind the counter told me I can swap the bigger starter for the smaller starter. I don't know any better, so I believed him and installed the smaller starter. Now the camaro just makes a funny whining noise from the starter like it can't connect to the flywheel. (Sorry if I got some terms wrong, "mit" in my name stands for "mechanic in training.")

Is it true that you can use the smaller sized starter on my 91 camaro? It has gone through the 350 vortec swap.

 

As long as it is for a 153 tooth flywheel/flexplate it should work. I assume the mounting holes are in the correct locations and make sure you have the necessary wires going to the positive and negative terminals respectively.

 

I don't really know how to tell if I have the 153tooth flywheel flexplate... The mounting holes were in the same place and I hooked up the cables in the same place as on the old one.

 

It sounds like you have it shimmed too far out and the starter teeth aren't connecting to the flywheel. GM made several different types of starters for their 350's...so you have to be careful to make sure they are shimmed properly when you put them in.

Is the new motor a roller block or not? When you did the engine swap, which flywheel did you put in? Did you get a new one or did you use your original?

 

I used the original flywheel