[Jac Mac]

The idiot is the guy at the parts store, the starter on a ford is indexed by the sandwich plate between block/bellhousing, if the starter pinion or clutch assy is grinding into the flywheel its the starter end housing thats wrong for the job. Large dia flywheels use a different end housing on the starter to those with small dia flywheels due to the ring gear being positioned forward & closer to the cyl block assy. Difference is about 5/16".