ford fe starter index question

[RICK LAKE]

wrench87 Clocking the start is easy, loosen bolt just enough to rotate plate to correct position with cable clearing block
The other issue is starter drive and how far out it extends. This is an IMPORTANT measurement. If your motor has a block protector between the bell housing and motor block, you may need to remove this to get enough contact between the drive on the starter and the flywheel teeth. If you have only half contact you will break the starter, starter nose, or drive. This will also give a wear pattern on the flywheel and prewear out the teeth. It's a pain in the butt but pulling the trans and check the starter engagement is the only correct way to know everything is OK. there shoule be a. 035" airgap between base of the teeth in the flywheel and starter drive. This way you have no noise on startup. Some guys have milled down there starter to get enough depth. I removed the block saver and trimed out where the starter goes and reassemblied. This worked the best for me. Got 13 years out of a tilton starter. I did have to replace the drive because of the problem with not enough engagement of the teeth to teeth. Had about 50%. Rick L. Ps I did replace the flywheel to a lighter one for 40# to 22#