Starter motor not engaging correctly - advice?

Hey Fellas – I apologize in advance. I'm usually on this forum for my 51 plymouth, but this question is about my 72 Caddy. I know that's not appropriate but this is the best place to go for help.

I was changing the starter motor this weekend. It bolts to the block with bolts that come up through the bottom. When I took it off, between the starter and the block, the bolt looped through a ground cable and a bracket to keep the wires off of the exhaust (or so I thought). I ***umed these were necessary as spacers, but when I put on the new starter in that way, the starter was spinning but not engaging with the fly wheel and turning the motor. I tried adjusting the plate and the ground cable a bunch of different ways to make sure it was laying right but no luck.

I know for sure the plate has to be there, but I moved the ground to the bolt underneath the starter so it's no longer adding space between the block and the motor. That actually starts the car but it doesn't sound right to me.

Anyone know how I can trouble shoot this? Bear with me as I'm a newbie. Really appreciate any advice you guys can give me!

 

The ground should not be between the starter and block there are shims that go between the starter and the block whenever you change a starter it may be nessary to adjust the shims adding or removing to get proper bendix engagement with the flywheel. Shims are available At any parts store and a lot of quality rebuilt starters come with them

 

As GTOWAGON jus mentioned , some G M applications need a shim to make a starter engage a flywheel. I've noticed too that some "Modern " Chrysler stuff needs them too. scrubba

 

thanks fellas! aside from the car starting, how do i know if the starter is engaging the flywheel correctly? its starting the car now but it doesn't sound totally right to me. any other way to fine tune aside from listening?

 

you can put a big glob of grease on the flywheel teeth bolt the starter up engage the soliniod with out main power to the starter and see how much grease is pushed away by the starter