# Chevy starter **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet\ **Created:** [April 22, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818 "2010-04-22T02:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dollars78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@dollars78](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dollars78)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/1 "2010-04-22T02:58:16Z")
I recently bought a 78 nova with a 383 stroker and turbo 350. the car was built to race but never driven. the starter makes a grinding noise. the bendix will stick in the flywheel. i can pull the starter off and shim it but it will only start a few times before it does it again. ive tried several starters and have shimmed it multiple ways. any suggestions? thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/2 "2010-04-22T16:14:54Z")
It’s possible the flywheel is out of line or has damaged teeth (somehow). ---
**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/3 "2010-04-22T16:16:56Z")
You need a heavy duty high torgue starter ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/4 "2010-04-22T16:28:03Z")
The starter and flywheel may not match. The simplest way to properly shim the starter is to disconnect the battery hot lead and connect a jumper from the battery hot post to the solenoid S pin with a push button switch in series. With the dust boot removed you can view the bendix jumping out and attempting to engage the flywheel without the starter turning. A few minutes of trying various shims and viewing the results might lead to a better understanding of the problem and the proper solution. ---
**Author:** ![dollars78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@dollars78](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dollars78)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/5 "2010-04-22T23:37:02Z")
thanks for the suggestions but ive done everything except actually replace the flywheel. im wondering if the flywheel doesnt match the starter. i was thinking of trying a pontiac starter but im not sure if it will fit. there are 3 bolt holes for the starter. chevy bolt patter is offset whereas pontiac is straight across. i think ill try that and at least see if it fits. ---
**Author:** ![cobalt327](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@cobalt327](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cobalt327)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/chevy-starter/47818/6 "2010-07-14T05:00:13Z")
The starter for a Pontiac will not fit, it mounts to the opposite side of the engine than a SBC. The starter’s holes are what determines what size flywheel or flexplate the starter fits- the staggered holes are for the 14" diameter flexplate (the larger of the two), and has 168 teeth. The straight across hole starter is for the 12-3/4" diameter, and has 153 teeth. Most Chevy blocks have both staggered and straight holes in the block. One hole is shared by both, so this means there will be a total of three starter bolt holes in the block if it is machined for either starter/flexplate or flywheel combination. Along w/properly shimming the starter (only do this if necessary) by using the instructions provided w/the starter or from online, use a starter brace like sold by GM and Summit, etc…