Hi all! I've had my 1972 slant six (automatic) dart for about a year now, and the starter finally quit on me. Well I replaced it with a remanufactured unit, but now I'm getting a metal-on-metal knocking/ringing noise coming from the starter area.

At first, I thought the starter bit might not be disengaging, but after carefully listening, both my father and I destinctively heard the knocking noise while the engine was still cranking, and heard the starter wind down as the engine revved.

I did some careful listening, and poking, and feeling, and I don't believe the sound is goming from the starter itself. But the dust shield-plate-thingy that seperates the flywheel from the fresh air seems to vibrate with the sound, (the starter doesn't) The sound gets markedly louder and more painful-sounding when the engine is revved, which suggests to me that either the dust plate or the part underneath it (I don't know what it is or what it's for) is being hit by the flywheel bolts.

Now, I was wondering if anyone here has had this problem, or if there's a solution, or if I did something boneheadedly wrong.

thanks for any help!

Sounds like your inspection cover rubbing on your flywheel. Remove the cover and see if the noise goes away. Most people wouldn't agree with me but unless you live in an excessively muddy or dusty area, I would leave it off. I hardly ever run one and have never had debris causing me problems.

_________________

my engine didnt even have one, figured i would spend the money to throw them on. when i did all i got was terrible noise. so back off they came... sigh. this was many years ago too and no probs yet.
check the flexplate(flywheel of auto's) bolt tightness while your under there too.

_________________
'72 Valiant DD for over a decade-225-Disc brakes, big T-bars, big Sway bars f/r, carter bbd/super six, GM HEI, 2- 12" subs in trunk, 1000w amp...
'77 cherokee cheif widetrack-360-33x12.5 tires-no lift. keeps driveway dry-project/backup DD/mudder

okay, as long as it's just the cover, I'd doubt I stand a chance of scrambling my flexplate and torque converter if I leave it on. (I've got to drive it tomorrow.)

Thanks y'all.

i would verify this is the prob before you go back to DD land.

_________________
'72 Valiant DD for over a decade-225-Disc brakes, big T-bars, big Sway bars f/r, carter bbd/super six, GM HEI, 2- 12" subs in trunk, 1000w amp...
'77 cherokee cheif widetrack-360-33x12.5 tires-no lift. keeps driveway dry-project/backup DD/mudder

absolutely. I just need to get to school and back before I can work on it again.

If you got noise when you had the inspection covers on I suspect a larger problem than the starter. The fact that the noise is worse when you rev the engine adds corroborating evidence. Watch the damper and snap the throttle open and closed. If you can see the damper move fore and aft then you have excessive crankshaft end play allowing the torque converter bolts to hit the starter dust shield. This means at a minimum the thrust face of the #3 main bearing is wasted and possibly the thrust face of the crank.

_________________
Joshua

you have no idea how happy that would make me. The only reason I've not gotten to go through my engine is because nothing is wrong with it. But should there be something seriously wrong with it, (like that) I'd have the perfect excuse to park it and doo all the work it really needs.

But, sadly, I kinda doubt that's the case, just because this noise didn't exist before I changed the starter, and nothing about the motor has changed since I replaced the starter. Suggesting that I simply put something back screwily.

However, tomorrow, when I take the cover off, I will update about the noise, and request more help if nescessary.

That's the first time ever ever heard of someone being happy to hear about potential mechanical failure. I usually go with holding my forehead with both hands and swaying back and forth.

Anyways, if you're itching to build something then I strongly recomend you get yourself another core block to tear down. Keeping in mind that no machining can happen until careful measurements have been made and pistons ordered. Not to mention the fact that we're coming into Spring and all the slacker gearheads are in panic mode trying get their cars on the road so machine shops will be busy. Just a thought to save you any down time for driving your machine.

_________________

You could also have a broken flex plate.

Hey!... I resemble that remark...

Kidding aside, I agree that you should find yourself a "core" engine to rebuild as a "side project" and then switch it in when the time is right.
DD