'86 5.0 with '73 FMX tranny in my little Ranger. Seems like an odd combination but that's how I got it. Starter (new) pinion gear seems to be overshooting the flex plate ring gear. The starter is correct for '86 5.0, but I wonder if it should be one for a '73 FMX car. Might try shimming it until I figure this out. Any insight welcome. Thanks!

 

Looks like "they" list different part numbers for 1986 5.0l starters, one for manual trans and one for automatic

FMX would need the flexplate model starter, auto.

And some flexplates use a shim between crank and plate which is often installed over the flexplate by mistake so you would need to shim out starter because it would hit ring gear.

Just guessing

 

Thanks RonD. You're confirming my suspicion although it never occurred to me that the flex plate itself might need to be shimmed. I'll keep that in mind when I install an AOD, hopefully springtime. By the way, that looks to be an engine & tranny R&R to make the swap. If the temperature ever gets above 20 degrees here, I'll get under it and fiddle with starter shims. Thanks!

 

Something new popped up: My research indicates that a '73 FMX flex plate could have either 157 or 164 teeth - figures eh?. Also, a couple online stores say that their starter will work with either tooth count. Simple physics says that is not likely. Can anyone shed some light on this? Online parts interchange sites aren't telling me much. Going under it now to count teeth. Thanks!

 

Pulled the starter and it is correct for '73 FMX tranny with 164 tooth ring gear. Last week it engaged but last time I started it, it scraped a little. Now the starter spins but scrapes - does not engage. Looks almost new and little or no damage to the gear from scraping. Ring gear looks good too. Now at a loss and any ideas or alternate diagnosis appreciated. Thanks!

 

Is the starter motor gear still tight on it's shaft?

 

It had a little play, so I put a new one in and it starts, but with some not so nice noises. Should have done a trick I learned in high school: Just turn the crank a few degrees and try again- ring gear is buggered up. Wasn't obvious to the eye when counting teeth in poor light, but that seems to be it. Whoever put this thing together also neglected to install the block plate, which probably doesn't help the situation. The boat anchor FMX is coming out this spring anyway to make room for an AOD. Thanks for the help and insight!

 

Good work spotting the ring gear wear, reads like that is just eating up starter gears

 

I did the radical fix and swapped in an 89 OAD - what I wanted anyway. Zero problem with the starter now except it's REAL close to the headers. Mini starter in the works. Waiting for the new driveshaft and we should be on the road