Starter Woes Please Help

G3500 · March 28, 2010

Hello, I have recently replaced an engine in a 97 G3500 Van with a 5.7. We replaced the engine with a 5.7 from a 99 Suburban. Now no matter how many shims or bolts the starter jumps, it may crank good for a minute but eventually jumps and grinds. The flexplate is on correct and no teeth are broken yet the starter is a new one from pepboys, what on earth are we doing wrong. We have been shiming across the whole starter and have not tried one side only, At this point me and my father in law are confused.

thanks

Nytemare · March 28, 2010

Which starter are you using...the one from the van or the one from the Burb

And have you tried the other one.

G3500 · March 28, 2010

Which starter are you using...the one from the van or the one from the Burb

And have you tried the other one.

Currently using the van starter. The engine has the van flexplate. We did try the burb starter but the gears on the starter were different and it wouldnt turn over. The van starter at least spins the engine over well for a few sec.

Nytemare · March 28, 2010

was there a shim plate between the burb engine and trans?

There should be nothing different between the two blocks...and you are using the right ringear....

?????

G3500 · March 28, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Nytemare · March 28, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

Westlotorn · March 28, 2010

Are you sure you did not reverse the flex plate when you installed it on the Suburban engine?

G3500 · March 28, 2010

We thought that also, but no its installed correctly, I found the "engine side" and it is facing the engine.

G3500 · March 28, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

Nytemare · March 28, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

Was it a 1500 burb?? It would have had a different trans than your 3500.

G3500 · March 29, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

Was it a 1500 burb?? It would have had a different trans than your 3500.

Im not sure, I believe it was from a 1500

Nytemare · March 29, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

Was it a 1500 burb?? It would have had a different trans than your 3500.

Im not sure, I believe it was from a 1500

yup, it has a different trans. so spacers it is

Westlotorn · March 29, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

The starter size is just two types used. One is a gear reduction starter, deemed to be the better of the two types. The other is direct drive and uses a much larger starter motor. They are usually interchangeable.

You need a parts guy in a local parts store, maybe Napa, Carquest or Joes Auto Parts on the corner to look up the part numbers and compare what starter belongs based on the two engines comparison. I suspect flywheel damage to the ring gear. Check all the way around for teeth rounded off on the starter side, maybe chipped teeth. If there is damage the ring gear needs to be replaced. Did both use the 700R4 tranny or 4l60E, those should interchange. A parts guy could tell you what starter goes with what tranny in the two vehicles you merged. A weak parts guy won't look into it for you or maybe won't know how. I skipped some of the large Retail parts stores because many of those have young parts people that don't have the by the book experience to help you if it is not listed in a computer for them.

Nytemare · March 29, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

The starter size is just two types used. One is a gear reduction starter, deemed to be the better of the two types. The other is direct drive and uses a much larger starter motor. They are usually interchangeable.

You need a parts guy in a local parts store, maybe Napa, Carquest or Joes Auto Parts on the corner to look up the part numbers and compare what starter belongs based on the two engines comparison. I suspect flywheel damage to the ring gear. Check all the way around for teeth rounded off on the starter side, maybe chipped teeth. If there is damage the ring gear needs to be replaced. Did both use the 700R4 tranny or 4l60E, those should interchange. A parts guy could tell you what starter goes with what tranny in the two vehicles you merged. A weak parts guy won't look into it for you or maybe won't know how. I skipped some of the large Retail parts stores because many of those have young parts people that don't have the by the book experience to help you if it is not listed in a computer for them.

Yeah, the burb should have had a 4L60E and the van should have had the 4L80E

G3500 · March 29, 2010

yeah It came off the old engine and no there were no shims on the old one

Strange.

It should be no difference, same year,same block...should have been the same starter.

I found it odd also but the sububran starter bolted up the same but it had a larger motor and solenoid ?? and the gear on the starter does not match the ring gear

Was it a 1500 burb?? It would have had a different trans than your 3500.

Im not sure, I believe it was from a 1500

yup, it has a different trans. so spacers it is

Spacers on the crank?