Ok folks, last post for the night unless someone replies, which I doubt. Ok, I removed my transmission and bellhousing the other week and everything went smoothly. I now I have the dustguard on correctly for the bell housing but for some reason my starter does not fit in as snug as it used to.

Now when I start the car I get a nasty grind noise. It is either it is too far away from the flywheel or too close and was wondering if maybe I missed something. It bolts up fine, but I really have to shove it in before I can get the bolts straight and it was never like this. Maybe you guys can give me a hand on what to check cus it is really bugging the **** out of me. Thanks.

BTW, it never had to use the shim before so I don't think spacing it is the problem, I can't see anything obstructing it at all, but maybe you guys know something I don't, thanks.

 

uhhhmmmmm..... that grinding noise is the teeth on your starter gear wrestling with the teeth on your flywheel, guess witch one will break first, i say flywheel will strip first, that starter has one hell of a doubleleg (wrestling move)

::rundown in english::.. stop starting your car till you fix this. just park on hills and bump it. you are going to break somthing.

BTW i apologize for the first paragraph, i am tired and it is 2:17 am. i am leaving it cause it is just too funny

 

Ok, anyone else with ideas....BTW I already knew its touching the flywheel, liek I said, its either too close or too far . Just need to know if maybe I missed something possibly while putting the bellhousing dustgaurd (flywheel inspection plate I hear it being called here) on. In fact, it would be great if someone with a manual 88-92 V6 could just snap a picture of the starter going into the bellhousing and get a good enough picture to where I can see the dustgaurd and i'll go from there, thanks.

 

up you go.

 

maybe when you took the starter off either:

1) shim(s) stuck to the motor & fell off afterwards
2) a shim agrevatingly flew off in the removal of said starter (been there, seen that)
3) shiz happens

 

Hehe, suppose I could try using the shim.

 

Yeah, definately use the shim.

It's been a while since I looked it up, but I believe for proper clearance, you need a depth of a paperclip's wire's thickness for proper operation. As in, when the starter gear engages the ring gear, you can slide a paperclip between the "extreme ends" of the meshing teeth.

 

Would just like to take this time for everyone to know that yes, they need shims, works great now. Suppose you were correct, I bet the shim got stuck on when I took the original off and just fell off somewhere. THanks folks.