Did I screw up? 331 stroker....flywheel and starter don't like each other

[Cobra912]

Ok after I finally bolted up everything on my year project 331 we dropped the motor in started the car. It fired up fine but the starter was making some strange cranking noises. It's a stock one that worked fine on the old 302 witthout issue.

We ran it for 30-40 seconds. No problems. Then we cranked it over again and a strange clanking / grinding noise was coming from the starter while it was running so we shut it down. I was fearful I was cooking the flywheel.

Now here is the question.........I bought the flywheel off of Ebay. The buyer told me it was a Hawks Racing 28oz flywheel. When I got it it was wrapped in a bubble wrap etc. but no labels other than a SFI sticker. It was brand new.

I didn't think twice about it. We bolted up my new King Cobra clutch to it no problems other than I needed new Metric flywheel bolts instead of using the standard ones out of my fms bolt/dowel set.

So my questions are:

1) If it were 164 tooth would the starter have bolted up (in other words teeth aligned?)

2) Is it possible that my starter needs a shim or would the starter need a rebuild?

3) do I need a new starter?

Help!!!!!

 

[Cobra912]

I just confirmed the ebay flywheel is in fact the same as the one I have.
Hawks Racing billet steel 28.8oz 10.5" 157 tooth.

So do I need a shim or is the starter screwed?

 

[347HO]

I just confirmed the ebay flywheel is in fact the same as the one I have.
Hawks Racing billet steel 28.8oz 10.5" 157 tooth.

So do I need a shim or is the starter screwed?

Sounds like the starter's bendix went bad and remains extended after the engine runs on it's own.

 

[Cobra912]

Replace the starter then?

 

[5.0ina66]

Replace the starter then?

Yep

 

[cobradvm]

Make sure you get a heavy duty high torque starter - I have a 331 and my stock starter wasn't up to the task - it could start it cold, but when I tried to hot start it, the old stock starter couldn't turn the engine over from heat sink. Had to wait until it cooled down and then it would start. Switched it out for a high torque mini starter - it will still start with the engine hot, but you can tell it's working hard!

 

[Gunnerm1]

what did you figure out, my 347 is having the same issue with the e-bay flywheel. I can start it the first time , sometimes, but after running for a couple of minutes the starter will turn it over very slow.. i bought a new starter, and same business.. it appears that the starter is not disengaging either, at times. I am at whits end. the vehicle has soo much money in it, and i cant even time it due to an a lazy starter, misalignment issue. I tried to back the starter away with one washer , and that only works until the starter cranks once, then it grips onto and holds the flywheel the next time I try to crank it.

Any help

 

[Cobra912]

Wow just by chance I happened to pop over to the tech section and found your new post.


I found a two bolt Ford starter shim at my local Napa store. I ended up needing two to shim the starter out. The guy at teh parts store didn't even know they made them for Fords! I can't remember size.

Anyways solved my problem and starts great everytime!

Looks like this:



View attachment 271918

 

[Cobra912]

oh and I forgot to add......I also bought a gear reduction starter made by powermaster that looked like the factory one just a little lighter. My factory one wasn't up to the task of turning over the new motor

 

[Gunnerm1]

great , think thats gonna do it for me. Thanks a million

 

[Crzyhrse331]

Stock 5.0 flywheel is 164 28 ounce flywheel is 157 u can shim all u want still not correct bendinx gear

 

[RaggedGT]

Fingers crossed that they resolved this issue in the last 11 years..

 

[7991LXnSHO]

With all the zombie threads lately, it must be the similar threads at the bottom of the scroll.
Ford starter shims are hard to find. I do not know why Chevy’s need checked more frequently. The brands at Autoworks/Checker came with them in Chevys starters boxes only.
But I am not surprised eBay flywheels were involved in this problem.

 

[MustangIIMatt]

Ford starter shims are hard to find.

Back in my retail parts counter days (early 2000s), we carried Dorman's Ford starter shim on the shelf at Advance. When I finally needed one myself, I had to order it from Amazon.

 

[2000xp8]

With all the zombie threads lately, it must be the similar threads at the bottom of the scroll.

It is. Sometimes i read them and goto post and realize the date.

 

[Mustang5L5]

They pop up at the bottom if there is related info. I sometimes click them too and go to reply before I realize it's a 10 year old thread. it happens

 

[7991LXnSHO]

Back in my retail parts counter days (early 2000s), we carried Dorman's Ford starter shim on the shelf at Advance. When I finally needed one myself, I had to order it from Amazon.

The HELP section (red bubble packs from Doorman) is the place I was picturing one. Glad you found it on Amazon.

 

[MustangIIMatt]

The HELP section (red bubble packs from Doorman) is the place I was picturing one. Glad you found it on Amazon.

Yup. The biggest mistake Dorman and/or the parts stores made was doing away with "HELP!" instead of modernizing it. At least 1/3 of my customers' problems could be solved with something from that aisle.