I have a 83 460 sitting about five hours away that has the medium to loud howling scrape sound of a bent flexplate. My buddy borrowed it and he said the nose broke off the starter "for no reason" and a new starter has not cured the problem. I have to drive over there and lay in his soggy yard to repair and am prepared for the worst but hoping for the best. MY question is: If the crank holds the center of the flexplate and the T. converter secures the circumference...just what am I going to see when I remove the starter? Exactly what does bend? The ring gear? Any chance I can temp a fix (space the starter or cut/grind off the damage) to get this beast home for a permanent repair? Thanks for your advice.

 

You are gonna find a two piece flex plate, broken around the center part that is bolted to the crank. I will promise you it is not bent. It's broke because of a bad misalignment or abuse by the driver. I broke one in my 428CJ automatic race car because of the 4000 RPM converter. Dropping the trans into gear while reving the motor will do it also. In any case pulling the engine and trans will be a damn sight easier than trying to fix it in the truck. Chances of a temp fix are zero.

 

Sounds like the flexplate failed and took out the starter nose too. Well Dang! In my hands I now have a new parts to install and will head out in the morning. I have heard scare stories on fitting a new flexplate, poor fit, backwards installation, starter teeth alignment...I hope this all goes well...I need my Van! Thanks for demystifying the whole "bent" flexplate scenario. Jerry in Oregon

 

I guess the horrible noise in the starter area (just forward of the flywheel) is in actuality maybe a spun bearing? No knock whatsoever, rather a very loud low squeal/squawk. I hope the engine can be lifted on an 83 E350 and the oil pan removed! I am going to do temp repair of some sort to drive it the 90 miles home for a rebuild. Towing is too much. Anyone ever slap in a rod bearing as a temp repair?

 

I read in one article here he filled it with slck 50 I think it was and went a long ways hauling his monster truck one time.. quite a story actually..

 

FYI...the flexplate was bad but...looked perfectly good (minus 1.5 teeth off the ring gear). I was certain the new flexplate would not cure the problem but it did. I installed a SCAT brand plate that I bought on Amazon.com. Fit great, works great andeven looked pretty nice. Thanks to everyone for the help, Jerry