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[BirdNester]

I thought there might be some good help from someone on here for this question.
Dad's car (festiva) starter motor went. Got a new one, put it in and we get a nasty metal on metal scraping sound. My buddy said to put in some shims to give it more space I guess. My question is this.. if you buy a starter (brand new) that's made for that car, what's the difference between the two that would make the spacing different?
RobertO

[BirdNester]

Heheh, thanks fulcrum.. just curious as to why it wouldn't fit perfect being as it is built for the car. And as for the Ford comment, my buddy tells me it's much more common on the Chev's.  
P.S. Whats FWIW?
RobertO

[leadbelly]

its pretty common to be given the wrong part at the parts shop, get another one and try that.

[BirdNester]

its pretty common to be given the wrong part at the parts shop, get another one and try that.

Already have... it's my buddies parts shop... same problem with this one... it's the right one.. He just told me it was a common thing that you have to add shims... he didn't have an answer as to why though.
Oh yeah if anyone needs a deal on parts, PM me and I'll make a phone call.
RobertO

[otto]

After a quick googling, i see that many different divisions of Ford built the festiva in various names.  I bet dollars to doughnuts that it's the same starter motor for all of them.  Which adds to why it doesn't fit perfectly.

hence the shims i think

[casinoJim]

F ound
O n
R oad
D ead

'nuff said
CJ

[BirdNester]

I had msn'ed another buddy earlier. He used to work in a motor rewind shop... this is what he said.

It's because the parts are not all made at the same place, like the end of the starter, and the mount on the car may not match so the gear doesn’t line up. Or the armature that the gear is not the same as the original. Mechanical parts are never identical their is always some tuning up needed and that is what the shim is for.

Good enough for me I guess.
RobertO

[BIG T]

usaully you have to put the old shim back on the new rebuilt starter(when bolted on)-not the new shim come with the new rebuilt starter..

[BirdNester]

Oh and everybody forgot the famous...
F*%$ed
On
Race
Day

RobertO

[otto]

or if it is my old 78 Bronco, = First On Race Day......

[Jimmy]

take the two and lay them down on you bench and compare.

Or if the shop is saying put shims in it well put shims in it and see. Starter motor is just 2 bolts and some wirers right

[BirdNester]

take the two and lay them down on you bench and compare.

Or if the shop is saying put shims in it well put shims in it and see. Starter motor is just 2 bolts and some wirers right

Ahh Jimmy, you missed the point. I was just curious WHY that would happen, thought there was some science behind it. Pretty sure I got the answer I needed now. Thanks to all.
RobertO