Starting issues

[79BIG10]

On the blazer I'm having an issue with the starter or flexplate. I'm not sure which but thinking more towards flexplate. I'll turn the ignition over then the starter will engage but sometimes you hear grinding then other times I hear whining like the starter is running but not engaging the plate. I've shimmed it out and taken shims away with no luck at all on it except for once. That time it grinded a bit and caught and ran until the carb ran out of gas. I've added more fresh gas to the tank and I've left the key in on position hoping the sending unit would kick in.

If it's the flexplate I'm thinking about this procedure:

Lossening the torque converter bolts
Unfasten the front drive shaft (rear is already dropped)
Loosen the transfer case crossmember bolts at the frame (if it slides in the frame rails) with jack helping balance
Transmission bell housing bolts lossened from the engine but get some grade 8 bolts longer (4 or so) to slide the tranny back with the transfer case still attached
Then with the tranny back far enough while still on the 4 long bolts to hold the tranny up with the transfer case frame and jack slide it back to reach the flex plate and replace with new bolts.

This sound like a good plan or is the transfer case and tranny going to be to heavy together to be slid back?

[qksilver]

Check the teeth thru the inspection cover before going thru all that. Rotate the engine and check all the teeth. In some ways it sounds like the solenoid isn't kicking in completely. There are a few reasons for that

[Green Machine]

I've changed a 4x4 flywheel that way before, worked for me !!!, but be sure that is what the problem is. Some people have cured their stater problems by getteing a starter with a cast iron nose. Seems the aluminum one warp or give too much.

[79BIG10]

Originally Posted by qksilver

Check the teeth thru the inspection cover before going thru all that. Rotate the engine and check all the teeth. In some ways it sounds like the solenoid isn't kicking in completely. There are a few reasons for that

I've roated it and the teeth looked okay except a ouple where you could tell the starter tried to catch but didn't all the way. It's straight not bent which is why I'm thinking it's the starter itself. It's a newer one and I think the PO had gotten the wrong one.

[79BIG10]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

I've changed a 4x4 flywheel that way before, worked for me !!!, but be sure that is what the problem is. Some people have cured their stater problems by getteing a starter with a cast iron nose. Seems the aluminum one warp or give too much.

Where can you get one like that? This one is a rebuilt/new one installed by the PO. It was a bad wiring job which I already fixed with all new connections etc. but the starter was the same. If anything I'll get a different starter to see if it helps.

[Green Machine]

I don't remember the application that used the cast iron nose, but I am thinking big block something. Maybe a C60 big truck with a 366 or 427 ? or maybe a C30 with a 454. A good parts person (if they exist), should be able to find the application.

[79BIG10]

Well I went to AZ and compared my starter to theirs for the blazer. There's was about 1/2" longer on the nose so I bought the new one and installed it. After some gas it fired right up. Now it can fire up easy. Seems like the PO didn't get the right starter.

[grayw0lf]

I went through this for weeks! In my case, it was the flexplate being bent. You can shim the starter till your hearts content, but it won't do a thing.

I finally determined it was the flexplate by looking at the nose of the starter in relation to the flexplate while turning it by hand nice & slow.