1983 k5 blazer starter grinding!

Hey guys, I have a 1983 k5 blazer 350 engine with brand new duralast starter. The starter is grinding bad, normally I can crank the truck once or twice perfectly fine before the grinding starts, I have the correct knurled shoulder bolts but I’m not sure if they are in correctly (One short one long, not sure which goes where?) I have the mounting bracket that is usually missing and I have an extra ground ran from starter to frame and brand new negative and positive battery cables everything is bolted down tight and clean. I have no shims on currently but have tried a dozen different combinations of shimming. The flex plate will turn a few inches by hand then gets really tight, is that normal? I think the flex plate could be warped? How do I engage the starter to check the gap? Thanks guys in advance!

Here's a nice article from Ray's:

^^^This is a very good article!! Thanks @Snoots

Ray has a very informative site.

Snoots said:

Here's a nice article from Ray's:

Ray's Chevy Restoration Site -- Chevy Starter Info

Information about Delco-Remy 10MT starters used on 1956 to 90's Chevrolet engines.

rmcavoy.freeshell.org

Click to expand...

Thanks for that! After reading through it I have realized I have the wrong bolts and will be ordering the correct ones of equal length with the 10mm shaft and will get those installed and check the gap and report back!

Usually, the only way to fix a noisy starter like that one is both the ring gear [flex plate] and starter have to be replaced at the same time. My experience is once the ring gets messed up it's done. If it's re-used the starter will produce more noise than normal or have issues.

Glad I found this post....now my whining/questions... I am working on a 78 GMC k15. 350 with 700rh. Here's my dilemma. I cannot for the life of me get the flex plate and started to line up and mesh correctly. It produces a horrific grinding sound. I've shimmed several different times but have failed miserably. I concluded that the flex plate was improperly installed as even though it's a new plate, there is a slight warp in it. Would a slight warp put everything out of sync that much? Any insight on this may safe the life of a 78... Thanks

My 02 cents replace the flex plate now,not later when it fails in 10 degree weather with snow. If the flex plate is warped its going to flex until it breaks the center out. Also when you get things right put the starter to block bracket on. I know nobody uses them.But I have had a problem my starter would walk just a little bit over time and start grinding again. IDK about a K but on a C you can replace 2 bell housing bolts with long starter bolts then remove the other bellowing bolts. You can slide the transmission back far enough to take a flex plate out through the gap in the bottom.

And put the starter nose bracket on when you’re finished! This will eliminate starter walk and broke bolts or worst cracked starter mounting ear on the block!