new high torque starter not fully engaging

[HAWKER]

I hope someone out there has an answer for this one. I have a rebuilt engine and trans and the new hight torque starter mounted and in the car. Upon the first, tense, start attempt, the starter only chipped away at the flywheel. I tried a couple of times but the sound of flywheel destruction told me to back off. My son was manning the firebottle and he said that he saw the alternator belt attmept to turn, so... the starter was getting a little grab but not the proper one. Vick said that the starter has had nothing but good feedback. I have a 82 Pininfarina with the 2000 engine. I am being tested and a buddy from the site has already told me to go ahead a pull the starter back out and bench test it. I am afraid that if it spins and the drive gear extends, I would not be able to evaluate it more that that. Vick said they would make it good if it is a bad starter.... The Mech "Andy" at Vick suggested loose bolt causing misalignment, material in the way of the starter drive, wrong securing bolts with a shoulder, insure the metal gasket guard was there and finally a miss milled drive gear that is not syncing up with the flywheel properly..... all but the bad milled drive gear and the bench check have been checked.
Any Ideas, I would love to drive her once this year before the Chicago Snow hits......

[pastaroni34]

Hawker,
since you mentioned your engine was rebuilt, I question if perhaps you have one of the 'early' style flywheels which is smaller in diameter than the 'late' style versions. Did you change the flywheel during your rebuild? The different flywheels also require different bell housings for the gears to mesh properly. It could also be that you have put a late style bell housing on with an early flywheel, causing the starter to be too far away from the flywheel.

Then again, the early flywheels had 10mm crank bolt holes, so you can't bolt them to a 2 liter crank without modification but you never know. Someone could have put an early crank in your 2 liter block.

[launieg]

Here is a very low tech possibility: inadequate battery. I've certainly had solenoids that would not move sufficiently because of a bad or partially discharged battery. Just an idea.

[htchevyii]

I don't think that the flywheel/bellhousing thing is an issue unless you've got an 1438. The 1438 has a smaller dia flywheel and a special belhousing that relocates the starter to make up for it. It still uses the same starter as the rest.

[HAWKER]

I charged my battery, which, I thought was a bad one, and the starter engaged perfectly.... apparently it does take at least 100 plus amps to get some action on this starter. Just for a heads up, do not bypass your battery for a start with a charger cart attempt. It acts as a nice buffer for the cars electrical system....