C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Brain Dead

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 01:34 PM
  #1  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default Brain Dead

New problem. I keep getting ripped off by so called mechanics so i decided to do it all my self plus running out of money. I recently had a 350 GM motor put into my car. It is suppose to be high comp and cam etc etc but i got into a little fight with the mechanic so i really dont know what the hell is in it. It need a high torque starter which we got from advanced. The problem is.

1. It dosnt seem to turn the engine over good
2. The gear gets stuck in the flywheel. (probably need shims?)
3. When it did work the bendix at the starter would engage and disenge while driving
4. I am rewiring the complete car with the Painless system
5. Just tried to start it bypassing the ignition system and the Bendix got stuck in the flywheel
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 02:00 PM
  #2  
CQRT's Avatar
CQRT
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,499
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Why not fill out your profile with your location ?

That way, forum members can recommend parts and service providers you can have confidence in.

Good luck-
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 02:08 PM
  #3  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default

Originally Posted by CQRT
Why not fill out your profile with your location ?

That way, forum members can recommend parts and service providers you can have confidence in.

Good luck-
Will do
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 02:37 PM
  #4  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

If the starter is hanging up, that is your PRIMARY problem. Install a shim, and see if it helps. Then proceed from there.
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 03:40 PM
  #5  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default

Going to try now
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 05:06 PM
  #6  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default

Well it seems like the flywheel is warped or bent? Question could this damage the engine?
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 08:20 PM
  #7  
markids77's Avatar
markids77
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Default

It will surely eat your new starter! And if it wobbles because it is not bolted in correctly, or the bolts are loose it will cause other damage as well until you repair whatever's wrong. Manual or automatic? Either way the trans needs to come out so you can determine what is amiss, and repair the problem before you drive it even once more.
Reply
Old Sep 1, 2012 | 10:12 PM
  #8  
scrappy76's Avatar
scrappy76
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
Default

Is it a flywheel or flex plate ? Did you actually see it bent or warped while running ? If so, as said previously, you will need to remove motor and replace it, or if its not bolted up correctly, you will need to remove motor either way.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 08:06 AM
  #9  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default Pissed off Brain dead

Automatic Trans
As i watched the starter trying to engage the flywheel i noticed that it was either wobbling or bent. This motor was laying on a garage floor for two years i was told.

Now when i did pick the car up at the garage it ran a whole five miles before the car stopped running. In neutral it sounded fine. When i put it in gear you could here a rattling noise coming from that area?

Any suggestions?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 08:36 AM
  #10  
Roco71's Avatar
Roco71
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Default

If your torque converter was not seated correctly when the engine was mated up to the transmission it can bend the flexplate. Or if there was rust on the end of the crank shaft the flex plate may not have seated flush. Either case the flexplate needs to come off.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 08:49 AM
  #11  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default Thanks

So i might have to also replace the flywheel ? So me doing this on jack stands should i pull the motor or drop the trans?

One last thing could the crankshaft be bent?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 08:57 AM
  #12  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by mk8035
So i might have to also replace the flywheel ? So me doing this on jack stands should i pull the motor or drop the trans?

One last thing could the crankshaft be bent?
The crank shouldn't be bent, but if the engine was "laying on the floor", you never know. What you'll need to do, even though it's a PITA, is drop the transmission, and inspect the flexplate. See if it's bolted tightly to the crank first. It could just be loose bolts. Also check to see if it's seated squarely to the crank.

If anything doesn't look right, it's a good time to simply replace the flexplate with another one. A heavy duty unit, from TCI, B&M, or ATI is only about $60-75 from a variety of sources. Since it's not an easy item to replace, it might be a good idea to put a new one in and be sure of what you have.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 09:04 AM
  #13  
Roco71's Avatar
Roco71
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Default

No need to pull the engine the center of the flexplate has a hole that slides over the crankshaft end if there is rust in there when the flexplate is bolted up it does not always seat correctly or flush. Grease should be applied to the end of the crank before the flexplate is bolted up. If the flexplate is bent or not seated correctly it needs to come off. You can do this by just sliding the transmission back a few inches or dropping it if you prefer. A new flexplate is fairly expensive. I do not believe you have a crankshaft issue.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 09:06 AM
  #14  
Roco71's Avatar
Roco71
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
The crank shouldn't be bent, but if the engine was "laying on the floor", you never know. What you'll need to do, even though it's a PITA, is drop the transmission, and inspect the flexplate. See if it's bolted tightly to the crank first. It could just be loose bolts. Also check to see if it's seated squarely to the crank.

If anything doesn't look right, it's a good time to simply replace the flexplate with another one. A heavy duty unit, from TCI, B&M, or ATI is only about $60-75 from a variety of sources. Since it's not an easy item to replace, it might be a good idea to put a new one in and be sure of what you have.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 09:15 AM
  #15  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default Flexplate

Thanks
So it seems everyone is saying it is probably the flex plate? A little confused being Brain Dead and all. Would this cause the starter to not line up with the flywheel and make the flywheel look like it is wobbling?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 10:44 AM
  #16  
Roco71's Avatar
Roco71
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by mk8035
Thanks
So it seems everyone is saying it is probably the flex plate? A little confused being Brain Dead and all. Would this cause the starter to not line up with the flywheel and make the flywheel look like it is wobbling?
Yes, If the flexplate was on the engine when it was laying on the ground it could warp it as well. More than likely you would have a engine vibration as well. When you replace the flexplate make sure that the end of the crank is free from rust and grease it to help seat the flexplate flush. When you mate the torque converter to the flexplate during the re-install make sure that the torque converter is correctly seated as well. If you are not familiar with what I am talking about search "torque converter install on youtube.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 10:47 AM
  #17  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

Cars with auto transmissions don't have flywheels, they have flexplates.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 11:06 AM
  #18  
mk8035's Avatar
mk8035
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Westminster
Default Well

I feel stupid. Live and learn. Didn't know that auto trans only have a Flex plate.

So i will drop the trans.

Thanks for all your help
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Brain Dead





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:37 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE