Got a little clicking in reverse but I think it is starter solenoid. I have a 54 ford pick up with a 302 that was an automatic [AOD] that I have put a T-5 5 speed into. The T-5 is a world class out of a 90 mustang which was recently rebuilt. I used a 90 mustang starter plate between the trans and engine so you can't tell how she is meshing. Has anybody done this swap and had to install a starter shim??? Working the bugs out.


Bill

 

I would have no idea how it would only happen in reverse if it was the starter. If you want to just eliminate the possibility though you can buy shims for the starter at autozone/O'reilly's for about 5 bucks in the HELP section.

 

I have never shimmed a starter on a small block Ford. I thought that was something that you had to do on "brand-X" to align the starter drive.

The engine turns the same way all the time, so your noise is probably not the starter. Even if your trans has end play, the input shaft would float in the clutch & shouldn't put any odd forces on the flywheel.

Dan

 

302 ford are not shimable, at least it will not fix your issue.

 

Like we've stated the starter won't cause a clicking only in reverse but why were talking about it did you change the starter when you went from auto to manual. The Pinon length is different between the two (deeper on the auto).

 

They do make shims for Windsor fords. Ive never needed one or heard of someone needing one. Maybe to use the auto trans starter with a flywheel?

 

When I got my transmission back from the rebuilder I installed it and it had no fifth gear so I had to take it out and send it back to them. Doesn't fifth and reverse work on the same slider?? I did have reverse before I took it back but no fifth gear and I don't recall having the clicking then. Fifth now works great but in reverse it clicks. If it's in the tranny what would cause the clicking in reverse??


When I first researched the swap the AOD starter and trans mount were supposed to be compatible with the T-5. but not if I had a C4 or C6.

 

The starter for the T5 is the same as for the Automatic AOD just like Bill said.

 

302 starters can use a shim .

 

Just cause they make shims doesn't mean it is supposed to have them. As long as you have the proper starter for the transmission and have the bellhousing cover/plate between the engine/transmission, you won't have a problem.

Since Ford indexed the starter off the transmission mounting face, it will always line up with the flywheel no matter what. The Chevy 350 sometimes needed shims because the engine blocks were never machined exactly the same height where the starter mounted. Of the million plus made 221/260/289/302/351W, none left the factory requiring a starter shim.

Starter shims for a 302 are about as useful as this thing:

 

Thanks Nathan. Jim read the second part of that sentence, it will not fix his problem.

 

"Be kind, rewind!"

 

So a starter for a C4 is not the same as an AOD?

 

Not necessarily. The other variable Ford changes in pinion depth - the aluminum nose of the starters are where this variable is controlled. They are all very close, but I can tell you that early Mustang starters don't interchange between certain automatics and manuals.

Of course, the starter motor is the same, which allows just replacing noses too!

 

Its getting confusing I had a C4 and went to a 4R70W and used the same starter and then later bought a newer starter for a 2002 mustang and it was the same as my original for the C4. Ive seen a manual starter and the pinion depth is about 1/4" different than the auto. But from my understanding reading this thread is the T5 uses the same starter as an auto so maybe ford got away from using 2 different starters by the time the T5 showed up.