If a big block Chevy on alcohol is tearing up flex plates and starters what do you do?

Answer

Starter is not disengaging properly..... maybe a bad bendix drive or your ignition switch return spring is weak or you have the wrong flex plate or starter.

The mesh between the pinion gear on the starter and flywheel needs to be checked. You can sometime pry out the starter drive into mesh with a screwdriver. Or you may have to remove the return spring located behind the solenoid, then reinstall the starter on the block. This allows you to pull out the drive to check mesh. The backlash between two of the teeth should be about .020-.030". Shims are available to adjust this. Just make sure the teeth don't clash.

Some aftermarket starters have mounting blocks that are mismachined and will never work right. Some ring gears have been found to be welded onto flexplates off-center. creating a wobble.

Use the remote Ford-type starter solenoid wired to a separate ignition switch. To make this work, the starter motors solenoid has to have a bypass link or wire added from the BAT terminal to the start terminal. This makes the starter hot and only needs power from the remote mounted Ford solenoid to engage.

First answer by Mike. Last edit by Debrouxauto. Contributor trust: 36 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 183 [recommend question]