MY TEETH ARE CHIPPED

[Mr Haney]

Having starter problems/engagement/noise. 1971 J2000 360/400 with nailhead adaptor plate. Now it wont start at all, so I yanked the engine. When I got the truck from the p.o. the starter was very loose. I tighened that up ,but it was still very noisy. Finally ended up with some dead spots on the flexplate. I'm not totally sure that the starter was engaging deep enough into the flexplate. Only the leading edge is all chipped off. Also., there was a spacer plate between the starter and the bellhousing about 3/16 thick. Is this supposed to be here? It would hold the engagement back by that far. It has a rebuilt starter on it and it is stamped 'American Motors'. Are there different starter nose lengths?? I need HELP! I pulled it anyway because of a dead cylinder, too. I bought a 78 360 from the junkyard for $100 for parts. Condition unknown. (has starter and flexplate, heads) Any one experienced with this 1971 setup?

[jaber]

I had the same issue with a '77 360. The starter bolts would back out even with lock washers. I swapped the flex plate out and it did fine for the rest of the time I drove it. When I put the starter in, (new starter with the new flex) I got a longer bottom bolt and put a jam nut on it to keep it into place.

Hope this helps...

[shackwrrr]

Id say remove that spacer under the starter

[eyotajeeper]

I have that same combo in my '71 and this is NO spacer between the starter and bellhousing.

[Mr Haney]

thank you all for the response. Are there any difference between nose lengths of the 360 starters? 71-73 vs 74-79? I would like to get this right before I put it back in.

[eyotajeeper]

Any AMC starter that bolts in should work. I have had several used starters in my truck and I think they are all from the '70's and '80's.

Just compare to your old one first.