iv been having an issue the last few days with my starter not completely engauging with the flexplate when i go to start the car, i just did a new motor swap, including a new flexplate, starter, and i installed a new battery. it was after i installed the battery that i noticed the issue. when i go to start the car i can hear the starter engauge into the motor and try and crank it over, but then it will stop and just spin like it broke free of the starter, it will do this for a few more times before it will catch and start the car up. any advice?

 

probably a bad starter"bendix"

 

Make sure the starter bolts havent came loose! Broken bolts can suck!

 

already checked those, they're fine

 

Did you re-shim the starter? you need to add shims.

 

Don't expect everything to fit exactly like it was before. Those tolerances are very strict. Changing anything down there can throw off things dramatically. You probably just need to add a shim now.

 

Save yourself the trouble and just have the starter checked by a good place. Sounds like the bendix is just kicking out on you.

 

If a starter is too close to the flywheel it will make an awful racket screeching, grinding, also the starter drive will get hung in the flywheel and that means add a shim or two. Too far away and they start kicking out, grinding, eventually tearing up a good flywheel!

 

This guy will show you what to do.

 

Yes , it could be the bendix not coming forward like it should.

 

Is this a mini style starter? Mine had the same problem and it tore up my flywheel. Got it shimmed after I replaced the bendix and flywheel and it still tries to kick out every once in a while, they are junk in my opinion.

 

Check the easy stuff first like others have suggested but also double check to make sure the flexplate is facing the correct direction. My father in law bought a 72 monte carlo last year with a 350/700-r4 that was swapped in by the previous owner and the starter would occasionally grind and sometimes not engage at all. I found the flexplate was installed backwards causing the starter to just barely engage the flexplate. Took the engine out and installed a new flexplate the correct direction and its been working great.

 

Also check to make sure you have good grounds.