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View Full Version : Need engine starter help ASAP


ENP
03-22-2007, 05:28 PM
I am having terrible problems with my starter. I have a GM 502HO with an 700R4 tranny. The starter is a high torque 168teeth starter. When I am driving the starter is hitting the flex plate. I had my mechanic shim the starter and it still does it. It seems to do it more on moderate acceleration. It seems to work okay when I drive the car like a granny. Does anybody know what I can do to cure the problem.
Goatman
03-22-2007, 05:45 PM
Is your flywheel for a 168 tooth starter?
ENP
03-22-2007, 06:31 PM
The starter box says it's for both SB and BB 153 and 168 tooth flywheels. The funny thing is I don't remember it doing this with a TH350 only the 700.
CarlC
03-22-2007, 09:13 PM
It is a gear tooth or gear face interference problem? Perhaps the starter drive is not retracting enough.

Does a 700 flywheel have a specific direction? Is it possible that it could be reversed (forward biased) and rubbing the face of the starter gear?
ENP
03-23-2007, 11:29 AM
Hopefully, on Monday I will have the problem fixed. Somebody told me to check my flexplate to see if it's cracked and to check the bolts holding the torque converter. He said the converter might be loose. I really want to drive my car,the restoration took over 16 months and now it's parked in the garage:crying: .
ZZ430
03-23-2007, 12:18 PM
If it's a mini starter you can shim the starter body out from the mounting block. I have to do that to about 1/2 of the starters I do. Mostly the Hitachi style. It pulls the starter drive out away from the flexplate.

Flexplates really do flex when putting into gear or under load.
ENP
03-23-2007, 02:16 PM
I bet that will work. Does anybody know where I can find shims that will push it away from the flexplate. My starter came with one but it's still close and hits. I did notice, when the car shifts into a different gear it hits the flexplate.
ZZ430
03-23-2007, 02:43 PM
You could call Summit. I'm pretty sure you can buy just the install kit by itself. The shim is shown here with the others:

http://store.summitracing.com/largeimage.asp?part=SUM-G1659A&Prod=Summit+Ultra+High%2DTorque+Starters&img=sum-g1659a_w.jpg

Edit: I just saw where yours came with one. They only recommend using one.