I have a sbc 383 & I'm having bad trouble with my starter. The trouble im having is no matter what I do shims and everything it wont stay quite. it will sound good for about a day then goes back to grinding or just the starter gear hitting the flywheel. Its a mini starter with the nose on it, its staggered bolt pattern & I have 168 tooth flywheel. Its a marine starter would that make a difference, but I have friends that are using the same starter on 400 sbc. Any help greatly appreciated! Oh it has 1 3/4 headers 6 quart oil pan so space is tight as far as trying to use stock size starter in 84 Camaro will not get between the 2.

 

Somehow, something is getting torqued up there if you get a noise after a day. Try getting new bolts

 

What kind of pan are you using? (Just wondering, I'm looking around for a pan for my 383)

Anyways, Are your bolts too long that they are bottoming out before they tighten the starter up enough? Did you chase the threads on the block before installing? If its ok for a day, then starts back up, that tells me that something is moving out of place.

 

I went and got new bolts, i think the other bolts might be too short not enough of the knurl part of the bolt in the the block possibly

 

Haven't got a chance to try them yet a lot of rain lately