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Mystery Solved. I knew there should be no interference and didn't want to force it in. I bumped, humped, jiggled, giggled, measured, checked for interference with the bendix with grease, looked, looked, looked and finally found the problem. The starter housing was hitting a non standard freeze plug installed. The plug was the rubber type and the bolt extended out and hit the starter housing. The part (made in INDIA) is completely the wrong plug. I cussed my son for breaking the flange on the old starter and had to apologize today, it was already broken from improper installation.
Thanks for everyone's help. This is a great resource.
Hope you replace it with a brass one. Those can a bear sometimes. The size is 1.3/4" I've use brass replacement ones. To prep the hole surface, I use a hand drill with a small wire wheel on it to clean the mating plug hole shoulders to clean all the yrs of rusty scaling crap finished off with some sand paper then a good wipe with acetone or Lacquer thinner works good, don't have then good old alcohol is a good cleaner to not the drinkiing stuf tho. Use a seal on the shoulders before installing the new freeze plug put some sealer on it and drive it in with a socket that just fits inside your new F-plug. If you don't have a big socket set, then get some large washer placed inside so you don't goof up the bottom of the plug, now use a piece of pipe as a driver. Any ways you have the idea. Or maybe you've put them in before and have the know how..My 2 cents.. orich
Pickle, Before you install the new brass plug like Orich said it is a good time to try and flush out the inside of the block with a hose nozzle inside of the hole, you will not believe the amount of sludge that is trapped inside. Do not do it over your driveway unless you want a nice brown stain that your wife will be proud of ! Kenny
Pickle, Before you install the new brass plug like Orich said it is a good time to try and flush out the inside of the block with a hose nozzle inside of the hole, you will not believe the amount of sludge that is trapped inside. Do not do it over your driveway unless you want a nice brown stain that your wife will be proud of ! Kenny
Oh Kenny your right for sure!
Also a wire coat hanger works good for cleaning between the cylinders, these are areas where all the good old Stop leak ends up. The Aluma & Copper seal if ever used..
orich