Hey everyone, I have a '69 Chevelle Malibu and I just bought a new mini-starter from Summit. After installing the starter (no shims), I started the car and it sounded like a rod knock. It was loud, deep sound that varied with RPM. I let the car sit for a few months and came back to it and thought that there was something wrong the starter. I started adding shims to it and the noise continually got better. At 1/32" shim, the noise disappeared at idle, but once I started driving the noise came back. I have shimmed up to 1/16" now and it is started to grind with the flywheel, but it still makes the noise when driving! The pinion is VERY close to the flywheel, making me think it is coming in contact. What else can I do?? Is there a way to retract the pinion so it isn't so far away??

Thanks,
Nate

Is that even the correct starter motor?

I think that I would be getting in touch with Summit! Is this a stick or auto? What was wrong with the old starter? What size motor? Mark

I would pull it back out and look it over. There should be some telltale signs as to what is hitting. Go from there.

Resq302: This is the same starter that I bought before, so I am sure it is the correct one.

street454: The Chevelle is an auto with a 350. The previous starter got burned out because of the headers that I have on it. The old starter was barely turning the motor over. I am going to give Summit a call this morning and see what they say.

TDW: I can see the inside face of the flywheel teeth and they are shiny, which makes me think that is rubbing. The clearance between the flywheel teeth and the starter are somewhere between 1/32" to 1/16" (guessing).

Thanks for you inputs. I will call Summit also to see what they say. I am thinking that this starter is defective or possibly the wrong one, however the previous starter (same product #) as this one didn't give me any problems.

Do you have the old starter? If so, check them side by side. Take some measurements. Sounds like the new one is going in too far. It is releasing when the solonoid is denergized?

Yeah, it looks like it is releasing ok. Unfortunately, I threw out the old starter right away, so I dont have it to compare anymore. Live and learn! Anyways, I talked to Summit and they are sending me a shim that goes between the mounting block and the starter motor that was supposed to come in the box with the new starter. The apparently didn't give me one in the starter I have. So hopefully that will solve the problem.

Thanks for you help!