question for you guys. Recently, there has been some loud thunking noises from my Chevy 350 when starting. It has been slightly reluctant to start since I got it, but the thunking is a new thing. It does still start. I crawled under to look at the starter and I noticed a crack in the flex plate cover by the starter...is this likely just a bad starter, or is there more to it? I can upload a video of the clunking sound if that helps...
You might have too much initial advance causing the engine to kick back against the starter and also, do you have the starter brace from the front of the starter to the engine block in place? The second photo shows washers between the starter and the bolt, but it looks like you already have a bolt with the integral washer, no reason for the extra washers, take them out and verify that those are the correct knurled starter bolts. Those help locate and hold starter position.
Fordors, If no one has told you yet today, you are a genius! Lol, you were right, I had my timing too far adavanced. This engine is odd, there was not a timing tab on it, so I wound up pulling the valve covers to find TDC when I set the timing. The timing mark/line on the balancer shows TDC when it is at 12 o’clock...so to try to get the correct timing, I used a vacuum gauge, but I guess that was causing the starter to drag. Any idea what would have caused that crack in the flexplate cover? I assume it’s ok to reuse it, since it doesn’t appear to be structural on this 2x4 truck?
My wife wouldn’t exactly agree about the genius part, but hey, thanks. Hard to say but could the cracks have been caused by the starter moving around because of the timing? That can break starter noses and even crack the block by the starter bolt holes. I’d put it back on and run it, but naturally if you have access to gas or mig welding you can patch it up.
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