Mysterious Starter Noise in 55 chevy

Hey guys, I am posting on here as a last resort as I cannot figure out this problem. I have a 55 with a 350. Over winter, the vehicle sat undisturbed for about 6 weeks. Before I started it up, I replaced the battery cables and when I engaged the starter, it made a horrible clenching noise. So I took off the starter, disassembled it, ended up replacing the solenoid as it looked pretty bad. The starter drive looks brand new. I reinstalled the starter, fired it up, same nosie. Also the starter will engage the flywheel if I keep trying. I also tried a couple different shim setups, so I don't think that is it either. I even went so far as to replace the battery cables to 2 gauge (which I was planning on doing anyway). Does anyone have any other suggestions? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps I need a new flywheel?
-Cory

 

clenching noise?

 

it doesn't sound good, but at the same time it doesn't sound like the starter drive is spinning freely, so somewhere it is touching. The problem is random. If I engage the starter 5 times, two of them it might make that noise, and the other 3 it sounds like it normally does. Maybe flat spots on a certain point of the flywheel? Still open to suggestion....
-Cory

 

youre sure yer seliniod fork is moving freely? and the gear comes out on the shaft smoothly?

 

Yeah, I've had the starter out and disassembled twice

 

I got one once from a parts store,no spring between the solenoid
and plunger. Yep it was noisy.

 

You sure your battery has enough juice?

 

Full charge optima red top. Whenever the battery is low it usually makes that slow growl

 

when i say growl i mean like the starter is getting weaker, not a different noise, just slower which is obviously normal

 

Sounds like you need a high torque mini starter. I had a stock replacement do exactly what you are talking about and I tried all possibilities of shims. I finally gave in and got a high torque on there and ran it WITH NO SHIMS and it has been in place for years with no trouble.

 

It sounds like the starter is turning the gear before it engages the flywheel. When the solenoid pulls in the gear is pushed out. At a certain point contact is made the starter turns. You might check the pivot on the lever that pulls out the starter gear. It might be worn or something might be bent. Or check that the contacts are not touching early.

Hotroddder

 

even though I just spent 30.00 on a new solenoid, I might crack and get the mini high torque starter. I have one on my big block and haven't had any problems with it

 

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions
-Cory