solving the starter grinding issue on the 2.9L 177 CID

[JoeLeFou]

so I'm making this post hopefully to help others that might have this issues in the present or the future where the starter might start to grind when starting the truck or does grind when you try to start it. Personally I couldn't get it to start at all since the bolt holes where stripped to shit so that would be to check

using Heli coils, time-sert, locking insert or just use a bolt that goes all the way and 2 nuts to solve that part of the problem (don't forget that you need to tighten the bolts real good so that they don't come loose and 'free' the starter)
Also gonna need to use some lock washers and/or thread locker, blue works great. I've learned that Permatex released some orange thread lock "3x stronger than blue" but you can remove the bolts without heat unlike the red one so that might be good too.

okay now for the starter we'll need to get a 10 tooth gear
personally I've ordered on canadian auto part but otherwise the part number is E6FZ-11350-A or also E6FZ-11350-AA, you should be able to find it on ebay or some parts store.
you'll have to disassemble the starter to replace the 9tooth for the 10 tooth drive FYI you might have to file down the shaft where the C clip goes as there might be a lip that prevents you from putting the new 10T drive in. make sure you don't forget anything while putting it back together.

some people have gotten away with putting a 4.0L starter but you'll have to run some wires straight back to the starter for the solenoid since the contactor/solenoid for the om is under the hood should be right next to the battery.

if I missed something or if you have any feed back or more info for a starter swap what models would fit please let us know ! hope this helps !

 

[franklin2]

I have heard of the 10 tooth starter trick. But I believe you are really compensating for the thin plate between the bellhousing and the engine being worn out. That large hole locates the starter, not the starter bolts. But when the plate is worn out, the 10 tooth bendix trick to fix it would certainly be easier than pulling the engine or dropping the trans and then trying to find a new plate.

Is the 10 tooth bendix for a older escort?

 

[JoeLeFou]

Is the 10 tooth bendix for a older escort?

it's the bendix for a mercury, escort and explorer not sure about what years tho

the separator plate was in pretty much perfect shape somehow not warped or ovaled holes. since I had to pull out the trans and transfer case to change the clutch and repair the threads I inspected it, cleaned it and reinstalled everything fairly easily but when the time came to start it for the very first time with a new starter and new flywheel it just made the same horrible sound it did with the old one's. I know the old owner told me the "original" also started to grind and thats why he changed it but couldn't figure out why it still did it after so who knows. As of now there has been good results for some people and for me after almost 100 starts in the week no issue the bolts are still tight there's no shavings in the bell and it starts 1/4 of a turn in sub 0 (not freedom units) I don't think the plate really was the problem I think Ford did something with their OEM starter/flywheel ( have them in really tight specs) that the after market parts dealer/manufacturer couldn't reproduce perfectly or as good as the OEM