'81-'83 Starter problems

[rockhop051]

I have an '83 Jimmy 4wd w/ a TH350 trans and 350 motor. Through a series of trial and error starters I have discovered that the trans and transfer case are actually out of an '81 which takes a different starter than the '83. The problem that I am having is that it has taken 6 shims stacked to get the starter to engage without grinding however once the truck is warm it grinds and is almost impossible to start. I have purchased a new flexplate for an '81 to install but my question is do I need to change the torque converter to make sure all three pieces are '81?

Thanks for any help.

John

[Old88]

I purchased one of these a few years ago and my starter problems have dissappeared.

http://www.tommyjohnsons.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=52

If you insist on using a stock type starter make sure you check the clearance with a 1/8" welding rod. Sounds like you may be missing a toth or two or may have a worn teeth or the flexplate is bent.

When installing a new flexplate, make sure you install it with the correct side toward the starter. There are two basic configurations for the 350 v8. One has 153 teeth, one has 168 teeth.

Either will work presuming:
A) you have the correct starter
B) the converter attatches to the flexplate with 3 bolts (not 6)
C) The flexplates are drilled for "dual pattern" applications

[Quyonmob]

"warm chevy-itis"... build a heat shield, its likely acting as a heat sink from the exhaust. This happened on my buddies c-10 with long tubes and a 468ci. Some header wrap and a heat shield cured it.

[Old88]

One page two are the recomended clearances between the starter gear and ring gear.
They recomend .100", of course this is for a Hitachi starter. A factory GM style starter likes closer to .125"

Check the clearance on three points of the flexplate. I usually check em at the converter mounting points.

http://www.hitachi-hap-la.com/Downloads/Installation_Instructions/Acrobat/Intimidator_PE_106-en.pdf

[Old88]

If you are using a "staggered bolt" starter, this may be the root of your problem.

[fast68chevy]

it sound sliek he has the wrong starter for the flexplate he has

he needs to see if he has the 168 tooth or the 153 tooth plate and if he has the 168 then he needs the staggered bolt starter and if he has the 153 then he needs the straight across bolt starter

its real simple

real easy

he definitely has to have the wrong starter nose on it

he could just swap the opposite style nose cone on his starter and be good to go

all the starter motor housings were the same on the large style motors that the trucks and most cars had

and all the bendix drives were the same regardless

the goal is not to get the same year of parts, its to get the right parts period

these same parts were all used on trucks from the '60s through the '80s

its a matter of pairing them up correctly,


theres large and small plates

and theres staggered and non-staggered starter nose-cones


ou should not need a shim at all if you have matched them correctly

it sounds like you hvae a straight bolt nose and a large plate

the straight bolt nose allows the bendix to be closer to the center of the engine than a stagggered one

and so with a large plate you would need to shim the hell out of a straight bolt nose cone to use it

in which sounds like your ordeal

good luck