1971 Ford F250 390 6.4L starter fitment issue
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1971 Ford F250 390 6.4L starter fitment issue
Hey there,
I recently purchased a 1971 Ford F250 with a 390 4.6L engine.
its a manual.
I recently had to change the starter and I made the rookie mistake of trading the old one in too early. Now I am having fitment issues with the new 3131 I am trying to install. Has anyone run into this issue? I ordered a mini starter to try but it hasn’t come yet. Just want to make sure I’m headed the right direction. I am getting a grinding sound from the 3131 in there, it’s not meshing right with the flywheel. The flywheel is in good shape.
I recently purchased a 1971 Ford F250 with a 390 4.6L engine.
its a manual.
I recently had to change the starter and I made the rookie mistake of trading the old one in too early. Now I am having fitment issues with the new 3131 I am trying to install. Has anyone run into this issue? I ordered a mini starter to try but it hasn’t come yet. Just want to make sure I’m headed the right direction. I am getting a grinding sound from the 3131 in there, it’s not meshing right with the flywheel. The flywheel is in good shape.
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,569
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From: San Jose, CA
Don't have my book in front of me, but do the FE engines utilize different starters for manual vs automatic transmissions, like the Windsor family engines do?
Seems like yours should just have one starter available, but I don't remember for sure.
Speaking of certain... Are you certain that it's a 390? Or at least an FE of any size, instead of something else?
And I assume you meant to type 6.4 liters, as opposed to the 4.6 in your post? Just making sure!
And yep, rookie mistake for sure!
Back in the day, that wasn't such a big deal. Nowadays, you almost NEVER turn in an old part until you're sure that the new one not only fits, but also works.
Just from your memory, does the new one at least look like the old one? Could just be a defective unit, rather than the wrong one.
Good luck. Let us know how the new one works out when you get it.
Paul
Seems like yours should just have one starter available, but I don't remember for sure.
Speaking of certain... Are you certain that it's a 390? Or at least an FE of any size, instead of something else?
And I assume you meant to type 6.4 liters, as opposed to the 4.6 in your post? Just making sure!
And yep, rookie mistake for sure!
Back in the day, that wasn't such a big deal. Nowadays, you almost NEVER turn in an old part until you're sure that the new one not only fits, but also works.
Just from your memory, does the new one at least look like the old one? Could just be a defective unit, rather than the wrong one.
Good luck. Let us know how the new one works out when you get it.
Paul
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