1962 Chevy Impala STARTUP ISSUE

TDAVIS3608

MEMBER
1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA

Engine Mechanical problem
1962 Chevy Impala V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

What I've got is a 62 impala with a 350 engine that a previous owner dropped in it. Its still got the original powerglide.

We've shimmed the starter with every size shim imaginable, and it will work fine for the first few startups. At some point, however, the starter starts to grind on the flexplate and get knocked away from it. This causes the starter to be at a strange alignment and miss the flexplate completely. It also doesn't help that when this happens, the starter drive grinds down the teeth of the flexplate, eventually making lining up the starter almost impossible. The starter and flexplate are both for a 350 engine.

Up until this point, we can get it started by getting under it, unbolting the starter, and bolting it back on. If I ever do get it started, it comes back immediately when you have to start it again. This is especially inconvenient when stopping for gas, so I have to crawl under there with a socket every time.

The only advice I ever get on this problem is 'shim it' and I don't think that's it since we have done that. We also replaced the flexplate which just got ground down like the one before it. The starter is a rebuild and works fine.

1 Reply

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

So it starts then when you stop it you have to unbolt it then rebolt it. Have you tried it without the shims. Had one year ago that did something like you describe. Removed the shim and it worked fine.I don't remember if one of the bolts is threaded all the way through the bell housing. Since you have to loosen it up and re-tighten it I wonder if the bolts are letting the starter move each time you start it. Also check the flex plate to make sure it is tight. The only way I can see the starter moving is that it the bolts are loosening with each start. Is there any flacked metal on the bolts when you take them out? If you see any then the threads are getting stripped letting the starter to move a little with each time you start it.