2.3L ('83-'97) Washers on the starter?

[Trentela]

The previous owner when i bought the truck said something about a pinto motor, he said the starter didn’t work without the washers being on there, what can I do to correct this? Also is this flexplate on correctly? I thought maybe he installed incorrectly and that’s why it wouldn’t catch, but not sure, thanks in advance for insight i’m looking forward to fixing all the little shit

 

[Uncle Gump]

I believe it's installed right... but the leading edge of all the flex plate teeth are tore up. Looks like the engine plate is also broken and some of it missing.

I think I would try to source a flex plate... engine plate and starter motor all from the same vehicle and see where that takes you.

 

[Curious Hound]

Probably the wrong starter motor.

 

[Trentela]

But do i order a flexplate for a 2.3 from a ranger? Or a pinto? Anyway to tell the difference? I have no idea what year pinto if it is a 2.3 from one

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm not exactly sure... maybe @scotts90ranger will chime in... he knows his way around a 2.3L pretty well.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'm not exactly sure... maybe @scotts90ranger will chime in... he knows his way around a 2.3L pretty well.

I agree. Wait for a 2.3 expert. But I would tend to think you need a flywheel, clutch and starter that all match to that transmission. In other words, all truck parts.

 

[RonD]

The 2.3l SOHC Lima engine was nicknamed "the Pinto engine" because it was first used in the US in a 1974 Ford Pinto
(was used in Europe by Ford since 1970)

So that's were the "Pinto" name and reference came from
Also called "the Lima engine" because it was made in Fords Lima, Ohio engine plant
This engine was made in 2.0l, 2.3l and 2.5l versions over its 27 year life in North America, 1974 to 2001

Pretty much all engines had a Block Plate between engine and bellhousing for one reason, to align starter motor with ring gear
But over time if a starter bolt gets loose the nose can shift and wear down the block plates hole and you start to get grinding noise from starter from misalignment
Need a new block plate if that happens but most new ones are long gone in 2021

The "washers" are called "shims" in this application, a way to realign starter and ring gear
People also "shim" the bolt holes in starter, thin crescent shaped metal piece that holds starter over to one side more, to align it


And then there is "the wrong starter"
Some engines have different starters for manual or automatic transmissions
Or different years
Need to compare the old starter with new one
Wrong starter in the Box, is not uncommon
Wrong part number look up

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, what Ron said... It really depends on what transmission it has, on automatics I have no clue as if I ended up with an auto rig with a 2.3L it'd probably end up with a M5OD and I wouldn't pay any attention to the auto... I've ignored most info on auto 2.3L's , I know most of the earlier ones didn't have EGR for whatever reason but that's about it...

To make an educated guess I would say it's the wrong starter, could be a manual trans starter or something, as the 2.8L/2.9L/4.0L guys know there are several different starter options, I wasn't paying the most attention over the years but I remember something about 8 and 9 tooth bendix gears and possibly depth differences, and whatever makes the starters different going to a 4.0L flywheel from a 2.9L... Basically get parts for what transmission you have, probably an A4LD, and probably get a flex plate and starter and it should just work...