starter clang

[stevek]

If my battery remains hooked up then I have a parasitic electrical drain. I have removed ALL of the fuses and it still happens. It is a brand new Everstart battery and it happened to the one I had to replace because of this issue. If the battery gets below 12.7 volts(checked with my meter) then I get a loud "clang" on the flexplate from low voltage.I just replaced the starter because it sheared of the teeth when I turned it over while it "clanged". I shimmed the starter. When I had this motor in my 82 Z-28 I had no issues. Even though the computer has been eliminated I still have a lot of electrical issues. I have hooked up the positive meter lead in circuit with the ground off but hooked to negative meter terminal and do not see any drop in amps or volts. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[melsg5]

1. What year firebird and I assume you are talking about a Cheyv engine since it's from a Z-28?
2. Never heard of low voltage causing a Bendix gear to not properly engage a flywheel or flexplate. Have you measured the gap between the extended Bendix and the flywheel/flexplate. Should be about a .020 gap between the top of a tooth and the valley between the other two teeth. Another measurement is 1/8" gap between starter shaft that Bendix slides on and top of teeth of flywheel/flexplate. There are also times when only a half shim is used in order to change the angle of the starter. The video below demonstrates the 1/8" measurement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucG-yh4oiLU

 

[stevek]

It is an 89 GTA with a 68 Chevy 350 that is just over 400hp.I bought a "roller" and it is much nicer than my 82 Z but a lot more complicated. I had no shims in it in the Z and not sure I need them now. Teeth sheared off the starter(so I replaced)after very loud banging when the battery voltage is even a little bit low. I also replaced the flexplate. I will check the clearance tomorrow(weather permitting). I was also hoping for some insight into the possible electrical drain causes, because it starts perfect every time if the battery is fully charged.

 

[melsg5]

Try unplugging the connections at the alternator, first the double wire and check the drain and then the single wire if drain is still present.

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[stevek]

Checked the spacing on the starter and it is correct. I may have discovered the electrical leak. I think it is the "arc radio" in the convenience center fuse box.Going to check timing next