chevy crank length problem?

[megaladon6]

i'm starting to think that the crank in my car might be a bit too long. mostly because the starter doesn't fully engage onto the flexplate. i have at MOST 1/8in of engagement. and that's if i'm lucky! how long should it be? if it matters i got it as part of the kit from speedomotive.
if it is too long, can i have the mounting surface for the flexplate machined down? or better yet can i just pull the trans out of the way and grind it down? i really don't want to have to pull the motor or disassemble it unless it's an ABSOLUTE last resort. oh, i checked the starter against a couple of others i have and they all extend the same amount.
thanks for the help
nick

[Fast01]

The bendix won't engage the ring gear all the way, 1/8" or .125" doesn't sound too bad to me. Don't start grinding or modifying things because this will affect the torque converter engagement into the pump and you'll break the pump drive if you're not engaged into it properly.

[another69]

Make sure that your flexplate is not backwards- it offsets toward the motor when correct. If its backwards, you would have very little clearance at the converter.

[megaladon6]

it's on correctly, and i've had this problem on 2 different plates. like i said it's engaging 1/8 if i'm lucky. i think the normal may be as bad as 1/2 of that. i've gotten the starter to the point that it engages most of the time, but no matter what it will kick out. and a lot of the time when the engine fires it kicks out the starter. the crank is the only thing i can think of (especially with what i've heard about S-O-M quality) does anyone know the standard length of the crank? or a longer bendix?

[Vegas69]

What type of starter are you running and did you buy it new?

[megaladon6]

i've tried 2 starters. one is a stock, staggered pattern, and the other is a "universal" mini starter--the one i'm using (the stock one sat too far away from the plate). i checked them both against another starter (for a 153 tooth) for the bendix extension and all 3 are the same.

[megaladon6]

for an example/visual http://static.summitracing.com/globa...tci-351100.pdf
i guess this is what it's supposed to look like with the gear retracted, but fig 1 is about what mine looks like with the gear extended.

[Pro Stock]

It sounds like the starter bolt holes in the engine block are to far forward for some reason, it would be easier for you to plug and re drill the bolt holes farther back in the block in order to move the starter back towards the flex plate or take the starter to a machine shop and have them elongate the bolt holes in the starter so it can be slid rearward. The bendix gear should be within 1/16 to 1/8" before engagement and engage 1/4 to 3/8" when engaged. I have never seen a SB crank that was the wrong length but I'm sure that I haven't seen everything.

-Dale

[Vegas69]

It's got to be a flywheel issue.

[megaladon6]

for sh!ts and giggles i'm gonna try and flip the plate around. but in the mean time, what is the crankshaft length supposed to be? it's a 2pc rear main, 4-bolt, 1973 chevy 350 010 20 block. thanks i'll also try and get some pics of the engagement.

[Pro Stock]

Did the flex plate flip work ?

-Dale

[megaladon6]

sorry, between the flu and metal concerts i haven't gotten there. i should be doing it this weekend. i'll let you know (with pics!) LOL

[MonzaRacer]

Where the toque converter pads sit should be indented towards the converter, also the flexplate wont bolt on backwards and get all of the holes to line up and the hole that centers on the crank does have a sort of bevel that goes out, it just wont fit right or atleast none of mine have if I have a California bleach blond moment.

[anthonys 69]

what size motor is it. did you put a 400 sb rotating ass to turn a 350 into a 383. a 400 crank takes a differant flex plate to a 350.......good luck with this one......... Anthony

[megaladon6]

monza: thanks for the advice there, you just saved me a bunch of work! i thought i remembered trying to do it backwards (as a double check) but it's been awhile...
anthony: it's a 383 with a 400 flexplate.

[megaladon6]

so, does anyone have the overall length of a crank?