starter issues

[d9n]

Has anybody else have trouble with starters?
My ranger is a 87' 2.9 / 5-spd, 2WD. I rebuilt my 2.9 two years ago and put headers on it.
In the last two years, I've put 4 to 5 starters in it.
When I rebuilt the thing I put a new flywheel on it.
Every starter make a high pitch sound when it engages.
Is it a normal sound that they all make?
Do the starters have issues with the heat from the headers? Can you adjust the alignment somehow?
Any ideas?
thanks.

 

[low_five]

did you make sure to put the thin metal plate between the engine and the transmission when you reassembled the transmission to the engine? its pretty important for starter positioning.

 

[d9n]

yep, the flywheel guard plate is in place between the starter and tranny. Any more thoughts anyone? I'm stumped.

 

[chazzone]

Doesn't make sense to me, I'm on only my 2nd in over 300k miles...

How close is the header?

 

[low_five]

my next guess is you somehow got a flywheel with a different number of teeth on it.

 

[dawson111299]

it is possible that there needs to be a shim between the starter and where it bolts to some starters come with one just for that reason

 

[coulrophobian]

Where did you get your headers?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

shove a chunk of tin in between them will dissipate alot of the heat off of the header

 

[d9n]

thanks all, my headers are pacesetters and they're about 1-1/2" from the starter. The flywheel was from LMC and I counted the number of teeth when I installed it and it matched the old flywheel. Has anyone else purchased a flywheel from LMC and had any problems?