I've got a 1987 Chevrolet C20 truck that I've had for about a year and a half now.The auto dealer that I bought the truckfrom said that the motor had been completely replaced with a 305. It's computer,sensors,etc.aren't hooked upand it's got a four barrel carburetor.
My problem is with what I thought was a bad starter but now I'm not so sure. The original starter one day just made a grinding, popping noise but not every time I tried to crank it. It gradually started getting worse/ more frequent. So I bought a rebuilt one to replace it. the old starter didn't have any shims on it, so I didn't install any shims with the rebuilt one. The first few times I cranked the truck, it sounded good. But it quickly went bad and fast. So I added shims and took away shims. It would sound good then bad.
I've done this same ritual with 3 other starters with the same results. I've looked at the flywheel and the teeth are fine, it's not cracked and it doesn't look warped. I did notice that as the truck is being started, that the flywheel is moving straight up and downjust a little bitas the starter is engaging. The flywheel doesn't look warped. What could be my problem?

 

Its TUFF to get the correct starter on these older trucks that have had engine swaps...your only hope is to find a "real" parts guy who can help

 

just llok for a start for a 305 / 350 ... know how many teeth it is as well .. i think your starter is over ingaging .. goin past the ring gear enough to slip .. mabie the teeth on the ring gear is worn out ... or fly wheel if i ts standard ...good luck

 

fgd

 

do you have a heat shield on your starter? alot of those 305s and 350s get the starter to hot and then they never work right.