BIG PROBLEMS!! I am having problems starting my engine. I posted in the 1976 forum and figured i would try here to. The previous owner bought this engine/truck(old farm truck), it had a bad starter, he changed it. It is brand new, even has the barcode sticker on it. I transplanted it over a 4 month period. When i turn the key, all i hear is grinding. I took the starter out and bench tested it, A-ok. I manually threw out the bendix and it works, i even rotated the motor with my thumb. I put a 15/16 wrench on the crank bolt and it turns smoother than a new engine. I tried shims, and everything else. The flywheel has no play in it. This morning, i bolted it in the engine and manually engaged the bendix. It meshed. Then i tried turning the crank/flywheel, and it locked up. I can't get the starter to stop jumping teeth. The flywheel is decent, and getting worse by the day. The starter is just rounding off the tips of the flywheel. Any thoughts??? I am stumped.

 

There are two different starters, one for automatics, and one for manuals. The nose length is different. This sounds like the problem you have.