I keep breaking ears off of starters and dont know why. We are also having a balancing problem, the motor shakes. Casting #s on the block say its a 79 302, harmonic balancer date code is a 76, and the flywheel is an 84 aod. What different flywheels, balancers and starter can work together with this motor?

 

Starter problem is directly related to the flywheel problem most likely. Since the starter gears are what spin the flywheels to begin with, you must have the wrong starter paired up with the flywheel, or visa versa. Is the starter made for an 84 AOD? If not, there's your problem. I didn't think that the flywheels were that different but it sounds like they are. If it's just a little shake, that's fine, that's what all 5.0s do because of the cam from the factory, but a larger shake means your obviously unbalanced due to cylinder outage, or crank problems, or something else.

 

Heres your problem.In late 1980-81 they went from a 28oz to 50oz balance.Whats going on here is you have a 50oz flywheel and a 28oz dampener.This in very little time will tear this engine apart you need to get the correct 28oz flywheel.

This should be taken care of IMMEDIATELY!Youre driving a time bomb thats ready to blow!

 

I had an 84 306 that i built up and was assured by the shop i got everything done(MACHINE WORK ANDBUYING A ROTATING ASSEMBLY) at that this was all the correct parts well being that at the time i was a trusting guy i didnt bother to check and guess what?45 miles down the highway after the rebuild which was nothing more than a 30 over bore job and a rebuild kit i heard KA-BOOM and the truck seized right there.Well i get out and to my suprise theres antifreeze and oil everywhere.Get it home and pulled and guess what BROKEN CRANKSHAFT.Well when this thing let go it took the first two cylinders with it.I wish i still had the pics of that poor block.

Needless to say i check everything a hundred times and always recheck what i buy.And i sure as hell do not shop where i bought that rotating assembly from (LOCAL SPEED SHOP).