So I just bought this car and have been working on getting it tuned up and fixing all the little issues to get it running.

It was having problems starting and was flooding so I got the carb rebuilt. My friend and I also replaced the spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor, condenser, and starter.

Now the new starter is making an awful clunking sound and I'm not exactly sure what's going on.

Turn the key to fire up the engine. Engine starts. Let key go back to "on" position. Starter (or somewhere in that area from what I can tell) clanks a few times and the engine dies.

- Does not make the clanking sound if the key is held in the "start" position.
- Only makes the sound after the engine starts to fire, not when just cranking
- New starter and starter solenoid

This didn't happen with the old starter (the few times I got the engine to fire with it) but I don't have any idea what might be causing it. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking maybe it was bad and causing the starter to not disengage or something but that wasn't the issue. So I'm stumped.

Any ideas? Help!

 

Sounds like a clearance issue, have you tried shimming it?

 

I haven't tried that yet. Thought about that but ruled it out because the old starter wasn't shimmed and the new one appeared identical. Could that still cause an issue even if it were the same size?

 

Yea, I have run in into it before, just a small varation in the casting could be enough to get the spur gear hung up on the flywheel.

Its the easiest thing to try, just toss a washer between the trans/starter on each bolt and see wht happens

 

Ok, I'll give it a try and see what happens.


Thanks!

 

Ford starters DO NOT need shimming! You either got a bad or wrong starter. I'd take it back. Another possibility is that someone installed a wrong ring gear, but I wouldn't think so if the old one worked.


Edit; after further thought, the starter must have a bad spring in it. The gear is bouncing Back into the ring gear.

 

Good point Stepman, thats a possibility. However he did not state what starter he has...is this an original part?

 

It's ...... THIS


Ok, so why do they make shims specifically for Ford starters if they aren't supposed to need shimming?

I pulled it and put a couple washers and the clunking went away but now it won't start. Friend is coming over tomorrow to help me try to figure it out but if you have other suggestions please keep them coming!

Thanks!