[OKP]

Hi, I have a 67 Coupe autom. with a 302 2V from a 68.
When I start the car, you can hear sometimes a little grinding sound coming from the flexplate touching the housing of the starter slightly.
It gets worse when I put the car in Drive and hit the gas.

We took off the tranny twice already. First we replaced the separator plate, which was not the correct one. Noise was still there. Last week we changed as well the flexplate, bought a new one. Installation was done correctly. Torq convertor was put on correct with the drainplugs through the wholes. It fitted perfectly and the bellhousing went straight on the engine without any effort. Now it looks like the flexplate tooth slightly touch the housing of the starter. What can I do here? Grind off a bit more of the starter housing? It looks like the correct type of starter.
(the car by the way starts right up, no problems here)

thx
Eric

 

[Tony 64]

Have you changed the starter motor recently?

 

[OKP]

No I did not, it still is the same starter as how I bought the car. But the grinding sound has always been there from start.

 

[Driveway]

Depending on where the interference is, you should be able to grind a small amount off. But no sharp edges.

But I think maybe you need the proper starter for the engine, rather than for the year of the car.

Photos would help.

 

[rex1965]

Okay, here's my 2 cts from an old mechanic. Can you see where the flexplate is rubbing against the starter? If so can you take a picture and post it? Some part must be wrong, I have never seen a 289/302 flexplate rub a starter, did the 302 come from a car with a manual transmission, if so, did you remove the pilot bushing from the center of the crankshaft? If the engine is a 68 302, then it should have a 28 oz type balance weight and should look like some of the pictures of them. Your starter should be a 2 bolt mounting type starter, there are 4 different starter drives used on starters, if the flexplate is hitting the starter drive, depending on where it is hitting you may need a different starter drive. There is a spacer that should be under the heads of the bolts that go through the flexplate into the crankshaft, you didn't put the spacer next to the crankshaft by mistake? What transmission are you using, is it a c4 automatic for the 67 year, or is it something else? Please provide more information, too much is better than not enough, we will sort through it for what we want. Good Luck.

 

[OKP]

I am not sure if the 302 came off an automatic or not. I will check tonight the serial nr of the C4. Seems to be original.
Meanwhile here are some pictures of the starter. The flexplate is a 157 teeth and brand new. It is correctly mounted with the spacerplate on the right side. 28 oz type balance weight.Torq convertor also correctly installed with the drainplugs through the holes.
Here are some pics of the starter. I cannot see any serial nrs on it.

 

[Tony 64]

The reason I asked if the starter had been changed is that there is a difference between the length of the shaft between the manual and automatic starters.
I have a manual car and got my starter replaced, they gave me a starter for an auto. I started the car and got horrible grinding noises.
When they gave me the correct starter for a manual car, all was quiet.

 

[OKP]

We found the cause. We disasembled the starter and found out that the pin that holds the mechanism that engages the starter was not in. Meaning that after starting the axle was not put completely back in the housing. The pin was swimming around somewhere in the starter housing. The cause of that was that the cap which holds the pin was dented and coud not hold the pin in place. We dented out the cap, put the pin back in. Then installed the starter again. Noise was gone, problem solved.

Here is a pic of the starter, you can see the pin is gone. That caused the small wheel with the teeth not to draw back completely in the housing. And the flexplate was grinding that part.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Another old mechanic read your post. I am currently building a 289/toploader 4 speed to bring my 66 back to original. My engine is numbers matching but came from a car with an automatic transmission. I have removed the flex plate and will install one for a 157 tooth? flywheel. Already have the right bell housing and the toploader. Now I am wondering if I have to be concerned about spacers and other items that have to be removed, installed or otherwise repositioned to make the switch. I have a starter that came with the original 351 W that someone had installed in the 66 but was told not to use it. Which starter do I need and what else to I have to look out for. I am already straight on the peddle assy. and associated linkage for the change back over to manual. Thanks Bobby