7Stingray1

So my dad has a 1971 corvette that has an aftermarket 502 block stroked to 540. We installed the engine almost 10 years ago and had the original starter rebuilt at the same time. In the last 10 years the car mostly sat and was driven less than 500 miles. During that time we never had an issue with the starter, no whine, no binding, nothing. Then last week we started hearing the starter spin but not engage the flywheel. At first, you could try again and the starter would catch. About three starts later,?all it does now is spin and not engage no matter how many times you try. So I dropped the starter and found this. Any idea what would cause this so suddenly? I already checked the flywheel teeth and they look good

bj1k

Possibly just a defective part but most likely just not shimmed right.

7Stingray1

If it wasn't shimmed right, wouldn't I have heard a noise or had issues prior to this? It just seemed like it went from perfect to catastrophic failure in about a week. Also I already have the starter disassembled, does anyone have any recommendations for a quality replacement manufacturer for a new starter drive?

Hammerhead Fred

Looks like just the end of the bendix is broken.
No big deal - they're cheap and easy to replace.
Perhaps it locked up from lack of use over all that time.

Tampa Jerry

Looks like the engine was running when the Bendix gear was engaged. Check your wiring and your ignition switch. I would also check the starter ring gear on either the flex plate (automatic) or the ring gear on the flywheel (4-speed). I would also replace the solenoid. Good luck. Jerry