302 is running but....

[JC13]

I got some great advice telling me to get the 157 tooth 50oz flex plate from summit. Well, I did that but I used the starter from my 250six...itseemed to have it's teeth partly engaged at all times. While finding top dead center I could hear them rubbing......I've been waiting a long time to fire it up, so, dispite the rubbing I did.....success! However, it did stall and the starter is fried.

What starter should I ask for when I get a new one?
Could there be something else wrong?
Thanks John C

[Rick Book]

It sounds like you found your MAJOR problem - the starter. If the teeth were partially engaged then the engine did a number on it.

Tell your (O'Reilly or other) parts counter man what set up you have (year of engine and tranny, size flex-plate, etc). He should be able to fix you up with a starter for your application.

The teeth should only engage during cranking, then retract away from the flywheel (flex-plate).

If the teeth still engage on the flex-plate when you put the new starter in, I wouldn't try starting it. It's only going to cost you another starter.

Good luck,

[JC13]

Right On......but has anyone experienced this. I was told that the 302 starter and 250six starter were the same

[Inshan]

just get a starter from a 92 mustang gt, that's what I asked for when I got mine. They are all the same for those years anyway. THat's the one you want. My 250 starter died in the first few days too, but it did engage properly.

[JC13]

Is the starter more based on the engin rather than the trans....because I'm using a late model engine, I should use a late model starter too? I returned the starter I fried for a new one at no cost to me.....it worked for a few times....I even cranked the engine by hand again to make sure nothing was rubbing. It seemed fine until today. I started it up to take it to the exhaust shop and all good. I decided to shut it off and check the header bolts one last time(instead of blowing the gaskets out on the road) The darn thing got stuck again. Oh, I used a shim....actually it didn't work at first. I bet it needs shims. Does the 92 starter have additional wiring needed or just 1 hot wire. Ideally I get the right thing. What have others used too?
Thanks

[Corbin Johnson]

I have the same flexplate as you, and I have a late modle 5.0 as well. I used my original 302 stater from my Maverick. (Don't know if the 250 and 302 are the same) I would not get a 5.0 Mustang starter, because the Maverick and Mustang flexplates are not the same. The Mustang has 164 teeth, while the Maverick has 157 teeth. You do not want mismatched parts because you will get unproper gear match/mesh. The Mustang starter is designed for the 164 teeth not the 157. If you use these together you will damage the flexplate and/or starter. I would recommend using a Maverick 302 starter and seeing if that works.
-Corbin

[JC13]

That's what I'm doing...I asked and the part #'s are the same between the 250 and 302. I think I'll just shim it out more?

[Corbin Johnson]

I am just curious what exactly you are shimming. Are you shimming the starter away from the transmission? I don't know why you would have to do this. Is it possible you put the flywheel on the wrong way (inverted)? If this happened, the teeth would be too close to the starter and it wouldn't disengage properly and mess up starters. This would also be a probable cause of the need for shims. The weight (balence) on the flywheel should be facing the engine block. Do you remember the way you installed it? I would check that if it keeps eating starters.
-Corbin

[JC13]

The flex plate is facing the right direction. I can't figure it out either....unless the new start is bad too. I might add that the weight actually shaved the case on the starter. It makes no sense. What else could be wrong besides my luck?

[Tony L]

JC13
Check to see if the Bendix is retracting fully and not hanging up.
This may be the cause of the the starter not disengaging.
Hope this helps.
Tony