So ever since I got my GTA back with the transmission rebuilt about a year ago it's had a weird clicking noise when accelerating and stuff. I took it back to the tranny shop a month ago and we determined the teeth from the starter were tapping the flexplate teeth. We could see the starter gear worn down and the flexplate teeth a bit too. We figured the starter gear was not retracting all the way because the car sat for so long.

Fast forward, I bought a new starter (LT4 starter, Denso, just like the one I had already) and I just removed the starter from the car, guess what?! The new starter gear sticks out just far if not farther because the new starters teeth haven't been worn down like the old starter!

So I got under the car to see if the flexplate was on backwards. I just can't remember what direction it should be but the flat side is facing the stall converter/transmission and the 1/2" deep side is facing the engine. Is this correct or backwards?!

Thanks!

 

If it was backwards, you'd notice it right away when you tried to bolt the torque converter to the flexplate.

What's your crankshaft endplay?

 

Heck if I know lol. I had the shop do my last 2 tranny rebuild/installs. You think the crankshaft is suddenly sliding back a bit after the tranny rebuild? Would I have a rear main leak if it was? I don't.

Hmmm, so chances are it's on the right way? Weird, it's the same flexplate I had for like 10K miles before this most recent build and it never touched the starer teeth...

 

If the thrust face on the #5 main bearing is worn, it could allow the crank to walk forward.

 

Crap crap crap. I hope they didn't bang on the flexplate or anything installing it that caused this? I mean it was just fine the day it went under the knife

I guess with 211K miles on the stock bottom end I should have seen this coming