Could I have the wrong flywheel?

Looks like I was backwards on my guesstimate. You may have short snout where you need a long snout. If you could have a long & short (manual & automatic) handy at the same time you could test fit to be certain. If need be, you could buy the opposite of what you have (or both long & short) and return whatever wasn't pertinent. Looks like the one you have is pretty close to whooped. Seeing those pics is very enlightening. They show the geometry of the setup which explains a lot of the why and wherefore.
Gene

I think you're correct horseballz. What may be causing confusion here is that the 157 tooth flywheels are now available with the early 28oz imballance but have the same ring gear placement as a late model '81 up which shares the same starter as the automatic. Why Ford does such goofball things like this is anyone's guess. The OP has provided part numbers for everything but the flywheel. If you match the starter to the flywheel. I'm sure you're problems will go away, however, if you've damaged the teeth on the flywheel, it will in turn damage the new starter, so make sure all the teeth are good before installing a new starter.
 
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Thanks to all for the great suggestions. Tried a new parts place today, and I may have a breakthrough to report. Took in the old starter, which he verified was for a '68 smallblock with manual transmission. He then brought out all his starters that were even close, and we found one that is identical, but the snout is a 1/4 inch longer. It is listed in his book as '68 Mustang Auto/standard. Talk about confusing.

New flywheel gear is installed, and I'm off to the garage to reinstall the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, bellhousing, tranny, shifter, starter, and driveshaft. I'll post again once it is all reassembled and tell you if the new starter did the trick.

Again, thank to everyone for all the great ideas.
 
Well, one problem solved but another created.

After changing the pilot bushing and flywheel ring gear, I put the car all back together with it's new longer snout starter motor.

Unfortunately, I must have screwed the re-assembly up somehow, because on startup a bad sound is coming from the bellhousing. Sounds sort of like the throwout bearing is not riding smoothly on the three clutch fingers and making a racket. Before I shut the engine off, I slipped the tranny into first (still on jackstands) and slipped the clutch to see if it was functioning...seems to work with no change is the bad noise coming from the bellhousing. I pulled the dust boot off the throwout arm and looked through the opening in the bellhousing (engine not running) to observe the throwout bearing action. It all looked normal to me.

Sadly, i think I have to pull the tranny and clutch again and inspect it all to find what I did wrong. From the sound, I'm guessing either the pilot bushing is eating itself, the throwout bearing is not correctly seated, or I somehow ruined the tranny input shaft while aligning the tranny on istallation (though I was careful not to use any force or place any weight on the shaft.).

If anyone can think of a potential problem I'm overlooking, I'd appreciate your thoughts. The tranny comes back out in the morning.

Thanks.
 
Yep, all better. Changing the flywheel ring gear addressed the damage I had done. Changing the starter to a longer snout has resulted in (so far) fifty starts without one hiccup. More careful readjustment of the clutch free play has eliminated the noise from the bellhousing. So, I'll call this one a success and move on.
 
Just wanted to say thanks..
Was working on an 89 GT for the past ten months and it had a starter problem where it would engage some of the time but grind a lot and it was a hard start when it did try. Pulled it in and out many times and bought a new one, same thing every time. Noticed little shavings on the flywheel and wear on the front part of the bendix teeth.
After reading this I had my parts store bring out about 4 different starters today and compared them.. There was one that was exactly the same insofar as the body and snout, but within the snout the base of where the bendix comes out was more flush to the body, hence the bendix came out about a quarter inch further. 5 minutes to put it back in and the mystery is solved, works perfect.

Thankfully it didn't screw up the ring gear too bad.

Thanks again for posting.

Rob
 
You mentioned your starter is stuck in the plate, I had a similar problem. I had to replace my starter, I have a 289BHS w/3spd manual, I bought a new starter for the manual trans. and it wouldn't mount up. Took it back and went else where and they had the same starter. The old timer paaparts guy that was helping me out looked at my old starter and said it was for an automatic. This this car has been in the family its entire life so I know its the original tyranny and starter. Bought the auto starter put it in the manual and it bolted right up and problem is solved. Yeah. FORD did some strange things back in the day.
 
CurlyA, did you ever resolve this issue. I too had this same problem. For me it was a combination of two things. For me it was the Starter and the Motor Block Plate. At first I too was using a stock type starter. I tryed 3 new ones, all stock and still had the same issue. I then purchased a PowerMaster starter and the issue almost went away. The other problem was a not so perfect Block Plate. After I changed that as well it startes perfect everytime.