Hi torque mini starter motor on FE428

[RICK LAKE]

KevinW It's not a simple cut and dry installation with Lake wood. Kevin first off you have to center the bellhousing on the back of the block.
Once you get the bell housing centered, does for bellhousing have a block protector?? If YES you are about .275" to far away from your flywheel. This applies to almost all mini starters. Yes you will chew up the teeth on both the flywheel and the bendix on the starter. You have 3 choices now.
#1 remove the block plate and run without. Need to measure the depth of the trans input shaft to the tip, then measure the depth of the surface of the bellhousing on the block to the bottom of the crank shaft and pilot bushing or pilot bearing. If there is not enough clearance the trans input shaft will push the crankshaft in the block and tearup the thrustbearing surface and you will destroy the crankshaft, bearing and possibly the block. This is they important things to check. If this works you will have almost complete teeth to teeth contact across both. I don't like this if you are going to race to high revs on the motor.I have seen clutch parts come out through the starter hole after blowing it out.Damage to the block also.
#2 Cut the block plate just where the starter goes into and clear it so it bolts directly to the bellhousing. I have done my setups this way and have had 1 disc blow. everything stayed inside the bellhousing like it should.
#3 take the starter to a machine shop and have them mill off .250" at the mounting plate where it sits against the bellhousing.
I worn out to bendix on a tilton mini starter from this problem.
Couple of side notes. you want a .035" .55" clearance between the teeth when they are engaged at the bottom of the tooth on the flywheel. This will exstend thge life of the unit.
Allen head bolts. On shelby blocks the clearance is tight. A small washer on an allen head bolt is the easiest way to install the starter. ONE, small drop of loc-tite on the bolt blue or green, NO red.
Good luck make sure the measurments are correct. Rick L. from the other side of the pond.