I have some starter problems.... Can I get a little help?

[gatlin04]

Oreillys said that the transmission is the same for a 4 cyl and a V6... but they didnt say anything about the flywheel.... I will investigate!

 

[gatlin04]

can anyone see the pic?... i cant... and i posted it... jeez....
Here is the link if no one else sees it

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/junkmaileddie/?action=view&current=DSCF1219.jpg

 

[gatlin04]

the starter that i saw with 3 bolt holes didnt have the holes in the right spot.... ARRRGGGG.....

 

[Mutant Pony]

The 4cyl flywheel will not bolt to the 2.9. The 2.3 starter has three bolts and bolts to the opposite side of the engine.
The inspection plate or separator plate is what locates the starter. If it is damaged or removed the starter will not work. It does bolt between the motor and trans but, the trans does not have to be removed to replace it. You mearly need to separate the motor and trans enough to clear the dowel pins (about an inch). Put a new plate in, your truck will start.

 

[gatlin04]

that little thing could cause that? Its only like 1/8 in thick..... I guess im not understanding why that would make a difference. What is the purpose of a separator plate?

 

[gatlin04]

it looks like they tack welded the inspection part closed..... Freaking morons....

 

[Mutant Pony]

I fought with a 2.8 for months, I ground out the starter bolt holes and back filled them with weld to get the starter closer to the flywheel as a crutch for a while. While rebuilding the trans a month later I replaced the plate and solved the problem. As I said, It is the plate that locates the starter and not the bolts. If the plate is molested or damaged in ANY way, replace it.

 

[gatlin04]

just to make sure.... you are speaking about this plate right?
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/HPIM1606.JPG

I will probably change the plate, but i am also going to buy a regular ranger starter but with 10 teeth on the drive.

To change the plate, what exactly do i need to do?

 

[Mutant Pony]

Do NOT put the 10 tooth starter on it. If you put the 10 tooth drive on it now it may start for a while but, it will ruin the flywheel eventually. It is much harder to change the flywheel than the plate. The plate in the pic is for a 5.0 but otherwise is what you need. It has to be from a 2.8 or 2.9.
You need to remove the starter, 6 bellhousing bolts, Possibly a couple of small bolts on the bottom of the bellhousing if they are still there, the rear drive shaft and the nuts from the trans mount. Then slide the trans back far enough that the plate will clear the alignment pins. The plate for the 2.8/2.9 has a cutout on the top to clear the crank. Slide the old one out and slide the new one in and bolt everything back together.

 

[gatlin04]

the ranger is 4x4..... is there anything i need to do because of that?

The only reason that i am going to try the 10 tooth starter is because I spoke with a guy who had the same problem as me and had no problem after he put the 10 tooth drive on it.

 

[gatlin04]

he also said that he put that stater on there 2 years ago and has not had any problem yet.

 

[Mutant Pony]

I have heard that it does work. I have also seen the damage that it can do. Go ahead and try it. If it starts skipping, don't keep doing it. Fix it right.

 

[gatlin04]

So i decided to wait on the 10 tooth drive.....

I tried a 1991 ranger 2.9L starter on the truck.... But it did not work (obv)... I found out recently that the engine/trans was from a 2.9L 89 Bronco II..... Does anyone know if the starters are the same?

 

[gatlin04]

Mutant pony.... i found a plate but it came off a 86 V6... would that work?

 

[gatlin04]

I AM PULLING MY FREAKING HAIR OUT.....
I really need help with this problem..... someone please tell me something to do.... i have a POS truck sitting in my driveway just wasting space, time and money that i dont have. I would really appreciate ANY help that i can get from you guys..... i will try anything to get this thing going........ I really dont have the cash to tow it to a shop and then pay them $65 an hour to figure out what is wrong.............

Throw me a bone here people....