Hi, Ive got a 68 chevelle I bought in March of this year and when checking te car out I noticed it had a new starter on it.When starting the car up then and also now ,it makes an awful grinding noise.The guy I bought it off of sid it probably just needed another starter shim.I have the car up on ramps and blocks now with the turbo 350 tranny out of it getting rebuilt.I looked at the starter ,it stamped in the housing Delco Remy #1998516 5A . A white sticker on housing says: Palladium P351OMS 5220459 Also a green sticker on housing says: Important: This starter motor may require shimming. I looked at the teeth on the starter gear (9-teeth) and it looks like all but maybe one is wore off at the tip about a 1/8 inch or more . Is this an indication that the starter is too far away from the flexplate? Needing another shim? I had even took the shim out and tried it without any shims and it still does it. Im going to look at the flexplate to make sure there is no teeth wore off of it and no cracks in it. Is this starter shot now because of the angled wear on the teeth? Is it worth shimming again to try and get it right? I never had to shim a starter before ever in any of my chevelles before. Is this because the manuf. makes it fit so many mor applications? Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks,Mark

Hey Mark,these starter problems can be a real pain sometimes...look that flywheel over real good, if its damaged or bent,this is the time to change it...replacment flex plates are very cheap...$45 in Summit.
Starter shiming is very critical to have proper operation.Some starters go in with out problems,some are a real pain.I havent use stock replacment stuff in a real long time.When I buy starters I use a good quality mini style starter.They operate with lower amperage and have higher torque # to make starting more efficient.Id suggest returning your stock one(if you bought one) and use a mini one instead.
Shimming your new starter is real easy now your trans is out.Start buy removing your solinoid(stock unit,minis arent removable as easily)and mount the starter to the block.Now push the plunger in by hand,this will cause the starter gear to come out and engauge the flexplate.now you can use a paper clip as a gage to set gear clearance.Shim till you get the space.You can use shims in different ways.You can even cut one in half to angle starter closer.Remember to leave the starter bolts alittle loose then cycle the starter,then tighten,this will center the starter.Take advantage of the space you have to do it right. Good luck C-yaa Vince

Give me your email and I'll send you an excellent procedure for shimming and what to look for. It is also in a couple of last months Chevy magazines, not sure which.
I just went through this and it took a few times to get it right, but afterwards, no problems. If you do a search on this site you'll find a lot of great advice on starter shimming as well. I used both.
Best of luck, if you want the procedure I have, email me at phipwood@yahoo.com

I have had great luck by using the cast iron nose cones on the starter instead of the aluminum one. The aluminum flexes under load a lot more than the steel. I have replaced 3-4 aluminum nose cone starters that were noisy with the cast iron ones now and used no shims and the starters work great!

Thanks, o1mrquick,phipwood and marty for all of your advice. Marty where can I get the cast iron nose cones at? maybe at a salvage yard? Can I buy just the starter gear new itself, or since the teeth on the gear are all wore at the tip on an angle Ill probably have to get a new starter. Do they make new or remanufactured Delco Remy starters with the cast iron nose cone instead of the aluminum ones? Thanks Again Everyone, Mark

I originally had a problem with a 68 SS 396 Elcamino starter I couldn't solve. I went to see a fellow in the starter and alternator business and he suggested the cast iron nose cone. Told me I could bolt it in with no shims!. I am not sure where he gets them, but I'm sure a competent shop could get you one and replace your drive gear and whatever else you need. I think a GM dealer could fix you up too...New starter bolts and the starter brace might help too. I currently have a .060 over 400 with a cast iron nose cone starter. Good Luck