Starter grinding

[Guest]

Hi everyone

Hope someone can help me. I just replaced my starter, bendix and flywheel on my 64 due to it grinding.

All new and I still have the grinding issue. Not every time but enough that it's going to destroy either my flywheel, bendix or both.

Any ideas?

[simplyconnected]

Are you sure your flywheel and starter motor are properly matched for that year and that engine/trans? It's important to move the starter and flywheel with the transmission. - Dave

[jopizz]

Are you sure your flywheel and starter motor are properly matched for that year and that engine/trans? It's important to move the starter and flywheel with the transmission. - Dave

Good point. The flexplate in 1964 had 153 teeth; in 1965 they changed to 184 teeth.

John

[Guest]

They didn't change the number of teeth. They changed to the C4 transmission.

Yes the count is correct.

[simplyconnected]

Gary, this is the 'story' you gave, so this is the ONLY information we could go by to help you:

Hi everyone

Hope someone can help me. I just replaced my starter, bendix and flywheel on my 64 due to it grinding.

All new and I still have the grinding issue. Not every time but enough that it's going to destroy either my flywheel, bendix or both.

Any ideas?

In a later post you gave new information:

They didn't change the number of teeth. They changed to the C4 transmission.

Yes the count is correct.

You don't say whether the transmission/bell housing came from a car, truck, station wagon, etc. For many of these cars, 1964 was the last year for that style of starter motor. 1965 Fords used a different starter motor on some models.

The bottom line is, we need a lot more information to help solve this puzzle. We cannot even begin without knowing what all the parts are from.
As I already mentioned, we normally change the starter and flex plate WITH the new transmission. Right now, I have no idea what any of your parts are from. - Dave

[Guest]

Hi there.

It is the original transmision. When I mentioned below about the C4 tranny. That was a response the the post on the change of tooth number.

I purchased a new starter, bendix and flex plate. All correct parts. I got a response from the thunderbird forum on Facebook. Recommendation is to put the spacer plate in. This plate was used on the Galaxy with the same tranny and starter.

Hope to have the part this week

[Guest]

I also just found this on the FE forum

Early FE engines did not use a plate between the engine block and the transmission, but they were required on most of the applications you are likely to find in a muscle-carera 360, 390, or 428 block. These thin metal plates seem innocent enough, but can cause an occasional problem.
If you are experiencing starter troubles, it’s worth noting that the FE starter mounts to the transmission and not to the block. This means that the block plate, or lack of same, can have an impact on starter drive-gear engagement.

[Joe Johnston]

I seem to remember that sometimes this spacer plate will need to have a couple of holes drilled in it to allow clearance for 2 set screw type of plugs in the back of the block. Just depends on the mix of parts from what I understand, or am I confused with something else?

[Yadkin]

The spacer plate hangs on 2 dowels, and the dowels align the transmission with the engine.