starter wont catch flywheel

[joshw0517]

ok i have a 86 chevy truck with an old style 350, its an 010 block and i replaced the flywheel and i cant seem to get a starter that will mesh up right. its like they arent close enough to the flywheel. im pulling out my hair can someone help me find the right starter please.

[BEAST477]

Sounds like you replaced a 168 tooth flywheel with a 153 tooth. Did you match them up or count the teeth?

[cjporter]

you might just need to shim your starter. i had the same problem on and older 350. i chewed up two starters before i found the problem. i put a .020 shim in it and after that it sounded like a brand new motor starting.

[Scorpion1110]

You always need to shim chevy starters. I believe you need about a 1/16" engagement space between teeth of flywheel and starter gear once you have everything lined up- I think they suggest about the width of a big paper clip.

Of course you also as Beast said need to make sure that you have the right tooth flywheel.