1984 Ford Ranger V6 2.8L 4x4 Starter Issue

[ThatRanger00]

I got a 1984 Ford Ranger V6 and when we tried to start it, the starter just makes this loud af grinding noise. the flywheel teeth are good and it has the right starter on it. the starter gear comes all the way out so I'm at a loss now. please help.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

It probably needs shimmed.

I also had this happen on a 460. Turns out the flexplate was broke around the mounting bolts.

 

[ThatRanger00]

It probably needs shimmed.

I also had this happen on a 460. Turns out the flexplate was broke around the mounting bolts.

Alright, I will look into it. was this on a manual too or does it matter? Sorry, I am still learning quite a bit, I'm 15y/o so still have a lot to learn. but also how does shimming it work or I guess what I'm wondering also is how do you shim it?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Alright, I will look into it. was this on a manual too or does it matter? Sorry, I am still learning quite a bit, I'm 15y/o so still have a lot to learn. but also how does shimming it work or I guess what I'm wondering also is how do you shim it?

Heres a video that explains shimming.

No my 460 was bolted to an automatic but it doesnt matter.

Good luck and we'll be here to help lol.

 

[ThatRanger00]

Heres a video that explains shimming.

No my 460 was bolted to an automatic but it doesnt matter.

Good luck and we'll be here to help lol.

awesome thanks. i will watch the video after school and let you know what I find out.

 

[Terrys87]

Orielly can test it for free for you. I have had flywheels with good teeth on them but just one or two broken can cause issues.

 

[ThatRanger00]

Orielly can test it for free for you. I have had flywheels with good teeth on them but just one or two broken can cause issues.

sounds good. napa tested my starter and said it was good but you say they can test the flywheel or what

 

[Terrys87]

They can test starter for you. You will need to pull the starter and have someone to turn crankshaft bolt with a ratchet and do a full 360 degree inspection of flywheel.

 

[ThatRanger00]

They can test starter for you. You will need to pull the starter and have someone to turn crankshaft bolt with a ratchet and do a full 360 degree inspection of flywheel.

I will probably do that tonight. I got home from school last night, walked up to my grandpas and he goes, "Well I got bad news for you" I said "what is it" he said my fuel tank has a hole in it so we need a new one of those but somehow he said he got it pushed up against the flywheel as tight as he could and it starts now when we spray gas down the carb but it still grinds really bad while the engine is turning over before it starts. We are looking into the 10-tooth starter drive conversion if you guys know much about that or if that would help at all?

 

[Terrys87]

I have not heard of a 10-tooth starter conversion. I don't know if it applies to our generation of trucks, but Ford in the past has had separate starters for automatics and manual transmissions.

Part store starters and alternators usually are not rebuilt that well. Find a mom-and-pop shop that rebuilds starters and alternators, and they usually do a much better job.

When did this problem start? Did you replace the starter?

If the problem started with this same original starter, I would still look at my flywheel and make sure no broken teeth.

 

[AndyB.]

Out of curiosity, is your starter held to the bell housing with two bolts or through bolts with nuts?

 

[ThatRanger00]

Out of curiosity, is your starter held to the bell housing with two bolts or through bolts with nuts?

just two bolts threaded into the bell housing

 

[Shran]

Count the teeth on your current starter bendix gear. May have 9 or 10. The 10 tooth repair works for some people. If you already have a 10 tooth bendix, the problem is elsewhere.

Couple other things to check include the bolts - are they really loose in the holes, are the threads in the holes damaged, bolts the right length, have they been drilled through all the way? Lots of potential for damage there. Check the block plate between the engine & trans as well, the hole in that aligns the starter to the flywheel. If that's egged out, you will have trouble. If it appears to be misaligned with the transmission or starter mounting holes, you will have trouble.

IMO shimming the starter is not the fix. I've never had a Ford starter that needed to be shimmed although shims do exist... the problem is just worn out old junk and crappy rebuilt starters.

 

[SenorNoob]

I'll second that. Starter shims are a Chevy thing... Ford's tolerances are better. Never seen a shim on any Ford.