LUVTruck.com

Do your self a favor and shim straight across both bolts and you will not have any problems down the road. If you shim just one bolt the starter can start moving then soon you will have a loose starter,another bad flexplate,and maybe a broke bolt to get out.Been there done that got the t-shirt.And worse of all you will be pissed at your self cause of the money you just wasted.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

I agree with TJ White, shim both sides. Also, I've used regular washers as a shim in an emergency before, like trying to make a race, and the bolts will eventually back off. Using the correct starter shims from the parts store will work much better.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I had a flex plate go bad because i didn't correctly shim my starter. With a new TCI flex plate installed, i took a serious approach to fitting the starter correctly.
With the starter in place (without shims), i had too much of a gap between the bendix gear and flex plate teeth. To correct this, i had to fit 4 shim pieces to the outside bolt of the starter. This rocks the starter towards the flex plate. It seemed odd to use so many shims on one bolt but i gave it a shot. If it didn't work, i'd have to figure out a fix with the motor back in the truck.
Luckily it worked out fantastic!! All i hear is starter spin with no whining.

One aspect with my install is that im using a stock style rebuild unit made in Mexico. They're cheap and not perfect but with some forethought, this one should last for a good while.
The next one WILL be a quality mini starter.

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Previous setup: 4.1 Buick V-6/TH 350
Current setup: 400 Small Block Chevy V-8/TH 350
9" ford rear end/short bed/blue
What do Water, Electricity and Humans have in common... They all travel the path of least resistance.

I also have the hitatci , no shims no problems , 153 tooth for 1-piece rear main seal .

Last night I rechecked what my son had done and he told me he was measuring the distance side to side and not the distance between the teeth at the bottom - With the way he had done it I was MUCH to close so we took out the shims and measured the right place and we are dead-one what it's supposed to be. Put the motor back in last night and hopefully tonight we'll be able to get everything back on the motor and start it up and see what happens. But I'm hoping with a brand new TCI flex and new PowerMaster mini starter, I won't need any shims or at least just one and no one-sided ones. I'll let ya know in the AM.

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

Good move rechecking the starter now lets hear it run.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Oh, the wheels on the Luv go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheels on the Luv go round and round, all through the town.

Yeap, it started - what a relief. The mini starter is soooo quiet and not a whine, not a grind, not a grab - just the roar of the engine 'cause I didn't have the collectors bolted to the headers - my neighbors always love me.

Gonna get the radiator put back in tonight and then go cruising over the weekend and make sure it starts again when I turn it off so I'm not left stranded like before. I could almost write a book over this build )

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Drove around all night and it never failed me once. Now, maybe I can get back to getting it ready to paint.

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

Looks like a sleeper to me can't wait to see it painted GOOD JOB and nice truck.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Good looking truck.

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I've Ran Hitachi Starters Before They Work Well

I Currently Have A Jegs Mini Starter On My Camaro It Works Great

Sounds Like A Dodge Starter...LOL

As Far A Shims I've Never Had To Shim A Chevy V8
I Know People Thats Had To, Think It Was A Bad ReMan

Now On A Ford...lol I've Hardly Every Got Away Without Shimming

Great Looking Truck Man

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Hey BlackLuv80 - I just noticed you're from Georgia - just about had a stroke - I didn't think any other Georigians were out there. Where you located at? Is that your Luv on the avatar? Gives a new definition of low rider.

Yeah, the only wierd thing about the starter is the way it sounds - My neighbor said it sounded like the ole Chrysler. As for sleeper, not a chance - dual exhaust with flowmasters - you hear it a mile away.

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

I Need To Change My Avatar LOL

Here Is A Link To A Bigger Pic Of It

http://www.minitruckinweb.com/events/we ... t_view.jpg

No, Its Not My Truck, I Just Love How It Looks
Mine Is Currently In About 50 Pieces

What Part Of GA R U From

They are 2 More In This Town Who Have V8 LUVS, One Is Built To Drag The Other Is A Rock Crowler...They Are Also 3 Stock ones Riding Around

I WANT EM ALL....lol

Yeah All Gear Reduction Starters Sound Like Old Chryslers

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I'm in Austell - where are you? Mine was in pieces when I got it - I think my gallery pics show what it looked like when I bought it last November.

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

Mine Was A Running Truck When I Cam A Cross It All Origional Low Mileage Truck But Had Been Wrecked and Needed A Driver Side Fender and The Core Support / Inner Fender Fixed

I Pulled The Motor Out Sold It and Started Cutting Thats When i Descovered How I Could convert It To Five Lug and Just Finished Doing That Earlier This WeekEnd

I Think I Have Everything To Finish It Sept Motor, Radiator, Motor Mounts, Front Valance, and Hood

I Plan to Have It Four Linked By The End Of This Week

Then It Will Be Sheet Metal and Body Work Time

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I Live In Gordon County Up Near Rome

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Welp, guess you're going to keep it a secret where you're located.

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

I posted the "secret thing" right as you posted where you were. I used to go to a salvage yard near Rome that actually had pot belly pigs roaming around in the yard. One Saturday we watched one having babies in a van - only in North Georgia )

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1980 shortbed Luv - 350 40 over, etc. - Like I told my momma, it ain't no fun growing up!

LOL! Yeah

Actually I Live In Calhoun Witch Is Like 10 Min From Rome

The Bad Thing Is I Think I May Have Been To The Same Place

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