i had my engine redone this winter, and a new ring gear put in it. now i have already fried one starter, and the second one will not seem to catch the gear at all. maybe one time out of 5 the starter will catch and the car will start. what do i need to do, i really dont want to change the ring gear since that would require to drop the tranny. any suggestions? should i go to the shop who rebuilt my engine and make them fix the gear? thanks for the help!! i am so frustrated!!!!

 

could be afew things,
When you say "maybe one out of 5 times the starter will catch and start the car" do you mean the starter actually turns but doesn't catch the engine or do you mean you get a 'Click, Click, Click'
Make sure the bendix is actually popping out on the nose every time (remove the starter, take it to a parts store and have them bench test it)
Make sure you don't have a bald/balding ring gear (look through the inspection plate)
Starter could be incorrect for the year bellhousingits mounted tousing.
Starter might need to be shimmed to get the right angle for it to reach the gear (not as likely since it's normally used for clearance issues as in you need MORE clearance not less like in your case)
Ring gear could be wrong one for the year tranny/bellhousing being used (outer diameter might be too small)

If you had a shop rebuild your engine and they put the engine and tranny back together it would not be out of line to have them take care of the problem. Was it like that when you took the car in?

 

maybe its not the starter, could bethe points / condensor

 

I read it to mean that the starter is not catching the flywheel but once in 5 times. So, exactly what is the problem? The engine turns over and won't start, or the starter is not catching the flywheel?

 

all the starter does is spin. i think i might have figured out the problem, so i am goin to take the starter out and put a new one that i think will work in it tonight or tomorrow. i will keep everyone posted! again thanks for all the help!!

 

there are 2 different starters,1 with a longer nose.The same thing happened to me.I wound up putting an automotic starter on my 4spd car...works like a charm

 

That is EXACTLY what I had to do too. The one in the books for a manual tranny has a shorter nose, but mainly it has a fatter lip and just won't fit in the hole. My automatic starter works great in my manual car.

 

got it! went with the automatic starter and it works great! thanks everyone for the help!!!

 

Ain't that something? Ford really screwed up when they manufactured these old cars. At least we old mustang guys know this glitch and will pass it on whenever we have the opportunity.

 

Holy cow!! I just posted about having starter problems, and it sounds like i have a MT starter that I am trying to fit into my auto car, I can't get it to line up though, the original starter I began with is the long nosecone and fits perfect but works like crap, grinding after the car starts, like the bendix isnt going back in its home, anyone have any ideas???