Ok I have a 77 F-250 with a 460 and a C6 and it was built Aug of 1976 according to the plate on the cab. I don't think the cab has been replaced. Ok when I bought it the starter ground alot so I had a new Flex plate put on it along with the stater. It has never sounded like a Ford should sound. I have been doing some research on maybe a better quality starter and have realized there are 2 different starters for that year one for trucks before April 77 and after. The one before April which woud be my truck has a selonoid. My truck currently has the one without selonoid and I have a selonoid mounted on the wheel well. Would the grinding come from the wrong starter or do they both have same gearing. Also my tranny has been notched for bolt and nut on starter mounts. Thank you in advance

 

I was hoping someone had the same problem I would appreciate any help thank you

 

Sorry I can't help on the 77,all I can say is my 79 had the starter with the solenoid on the inside fender wall. It had the c/6 transmission and came that way from the ford factory.

 

Have there been anyone that might have bought a truck where starter mount bolt holes where stripped. I took it down and the mechanic notch my transmission and now both holes have a nut and bolt holding the starter on. My starter hasn't ever really sounded like a Ford starter but more of as high pitch. I have had a couple new starters although they where Oreilly cheapies should I buy a more expensive Napa starter

 

First of all a 460 was never installed in a 1977 4X4 F250. Your engine has been transplanted and could have been transplanted with any host of 429/460 engines built from the late 60s to early 90s.

Josh

 

There are two types of starter for the 460 one is a solenoid type and the other one is a positive engagement type. The both do the same thing. One uses a solenoid to pull the drive gear into the flexplate and the other one uses the field coils to pull down an actuating lever to engage the drive gear into the flex plate. Go to
http://www.bcbroncos.com/ford%20starters.pdf and it will explain the differences in starters.

As far as the threads being stripped. I have done this myself. Being in a hurry with an impact wrench and bumping the forward/reverse lever when taking bolts out can do a lot of damage in a hurry. “Haste makes waste.”

 

I am sorry, but I am confused. I have read this thread over and over. Where does it say that this truck is a 4X4?

 

That might have resulted from my contact lenses not focusing this early in the morning...

Josh

 

I've seen 2 of the solenoid/starter combos and both were 351m/400s. This is purely going off my experience of pulling parts not opening a book.

You may want to check the frame vin.....

 

I've never had any experience with a 460 but I know starters with too little clearance between the drive gear and ring gear or too much clearance will be noisy. Maybe when they notched the holes out they moved the starter one way or the other and messed up the clearence. Hope this helps.

 

Yes my truck is 2wd all the numbers match but i think your right when they modified the bolts they may have moved the starter i guess time for a new tranny

 

Check the plate between the block and bell-housing, if it's bent or distorted it will cause your problem.

 

I was just under my truck and noticed when they changed my flex plate they didn't put in the 2 top bell housing bolts but the other 4 where tight. Would not having the 2 top bolts cause the tranny to move a little causing the starter to contact the flexplate wrong? Also where could I find a new plate that goes between engine and tranny?

 

I've got 10 used ones. Let me know if you can't find one closer to you.

 

I would look into verification of the flexplate installed, make sure the starter is the right unit. The local alternater shop told me that a 4 spd starter and an auto starter in those years were different. They had different drives. I would check into that as well. They will bolt right up but the drive is wrong. Might make noise.