Okay so here are my problems with my 1987 ranger 2.9 liter 2 wd manual. I recently got my truck stuck in the mud and my starter went out. I replaced my starter and it started twice and then would only grind. I then took it to a shop who tried to fix it but put the wrong starter on and killed my flywheel. Since then i have replaced the starter solenoid, starter cable, battery, flywheel, clutch, and bellhousing. Once i replaced my flywheel my battery was pretty much dead and it turned my engine over great but would not start the truck, i then replaced my battery and it, like before, started my truck twice before the starter started grinding and eventually lost all contact with the flywheel. I cannot shim it due to the fact that theses starters cant be shimmed, and i have tried spacers with no luck. I truly don't know what to do now, any advice would be helpful at this point.

 

i have 98 with 2.5 same problem

 

Hey I figured out the problem, once I put it back together I enlarged the starter bolt holes and messed with the starter until I found its sweet spot, then I tightened it down and put some glue in to fill the gap and now it starts every time... It's not very professional but it got the job done

 

i figured out it was the starter i bought and returned 3 times had same problem went to scrap yard and bought one .starts every time now with no grinding noise.