I have a 1987 Ford F150, 4X4, 1/2 ton, automatic, with a 5.8 winsor. Just put a new engine in this truck. It was a 1987 winsor small block and everything else is brand new. Only the block was reused. The truck starts fine when cold. When it warms up it makes a grinding noise from the starter. Replaced the starter 3 times. It just keeps eating them up. First it grinds then throws the gear in the starter. Like I said everything is new. New starter, solenoid, all wires replaced, new battery, new flywheel (Not bent and all teeth are there and fine) its in time, starter has been shimmed and didnt need it so thats not the problem. I really need help. Just put 5000 in this engine and cant even drive it around the block. No mechanics have been able to figure it out. Any advice is appreciated.

 

What do you mean when it gets warmed up it makes a grinding noise from the starter? As in, you're driving along and the starter engages, or when you try to start it warm the starter grinds?

 

What exactly does it do to the starter drive gear?

Pictures would be helpful if you have any or can take some to post.

Oh and yea I assumed you meant it grinds when starting it, not while its running or is that wrong?

 

The bushings have broke on one starter. On the other the gear some how came loose around the shaft and when it engages the flywheel it just spun. They were 2 new starters. One was even a high torque starter.
And yes it only was grinding when it was starting/once its running it is fine.

 

The torque is too much for the starter drive clutch when the engine is warm.
Sounds like an engine problem and not the starter.
Somebody did not check clearances when they put the engine together.

Are you are not trying to put a newer gear reduction starter in an older style set up?

 

Hmm, I'm just going to brainstorm here a bit.

At times the starter has to push against an ignition impulse, this can at times be too much, have you tried to either retard the timing or see if it sounds different with the ignition disabled?

Was the block line bored when the block was machined? Line boring moves the crank up in the block, and the way Ford starters mount this can't be adjusted for in the starter. The solution for this is eccentric bellhousing locator pins, you can get them from Lakewood. You gotta get the tranny off the motor, then place a dial plunger mounted on the crank so it runs on the bellhousing bore that the tranny fits into. Doing this you can line up the bellhousing with the crank. Which on a Ford will also line up the starter. This should be minor though, I can't see it causing your starter problems, unless the machinest messed up, or went too far on the line bore.

This brings up the bellhousing, have you checked it out, that it's strait, not cracked, etc.

Edit, OK I just noticed it's an automatic. This makes the bellhousing problems a little tougher to diagnose. It can also be part of the problem, flexplates(auto version of flywheel) do just that, they flex. If the crank and transmission aren't lined up because of the line bore then this will case the torque converter to bend the flexplate. I think you need to get yourself a stock manual bellhousing, and line it up with the crank, if a stock manual bellhousing is off center then your stock auto should also be off by the same amount. Use the bellhousing to set up the eccentric pins, loctite them in place then re-install your auto. I know it's alot of work for a guess, but it's my best guess. I think it's less about a hot engine and more about a hot transmission placing more torque on the flexplate.

You said the flywheel is strait but, have you checked flywheel run-out while mounted on a warm engine, to make sure the crank is strait. Warm up the motor, take out the starter and place a dial plunger on the ring gear, then turn the motor with a wrench and check the runout, it's easier with the plugs out.

How about crank end play, how far the crank moves front to back in the motor?

Some ideas, hope they help you find a solution, or at least fiqure out what the problem is. Let me know what you think.

 

when you start it up it sounds fine but when it gets hot it makes noise and doesnt start sometimes or destroys the starter when it does? hmm.what do the battery cables look like? are all three still wound tight? is there any and i mean ANY corrosion in the wire? could be low voltage causing it to stick or not have enuff torque to push the gear all the way out sometimes.

 

i am having the same problem with my 1987 f150 i also have a 351 winsor advance crate moter ive been threw 15 starters in a year rangeing from after a 78-87 year ive put 2 new flywheels on it have you firgured out what your problem was or can anyone help me when its cold it starts fine but when it gets hot it grinds and kicks back it will work like that for about a month than got to get new starter cause the teeth are grinded please anyone help (fivestultz10@yahoo.com)

 

Did you time it at 10* BTDC with the SPOUT out?

 

I had a starter that made a grinding noise and wouldn't start when hot, changed to a starter for a 95 and solved the problem, had do modify the wiring but its simple.