hi guys, new to your group, but got 3 yblock cars.feel kinda stupid asking this after 40 years of messing with these engines, but , have put a 292 with a  tremec 5 speed in my 32,using 56 bellhousing, flywheel, and starter.  the  pinion drive is meshed with the flywheel and will not release. hence, cannot get the starter to turn the engine over, had the engine combo out twice, to check flywheel, starter out more than i care to tell, any help, could i have a bad starter drive?

I recently came across a starter in my stash that had a rubber cushion instead of the large coil spring on the drive.  In trying to utilize that starter drive, I finally discovered that the shaft was actually shorter on that starter, so that drive on a long shaft wouldn't engage, and a long drive on a short shaft wouldn't release.  Maybe that's what happened to you.  Don't know where the short shaft starter came from, but I would guess that it is a late Y starter or a 6 cylinder one.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

thank you for the input. dont think that is my problem, but will measure the shaft just to be sure, someone told me or i read somewhere long ago that these drives would lock up in the engaged position. is that possible? could that be my problem, because the starter hooked up to a charger spins great, only the drive does nothing but spin. was thinking it should move in and out on the shaft so that when engaged, it should start into the flywheel rather than being in it from the getgo.

32 Duece:

Yes, when the drive spins in to engage the flywheel, it will lock there to crank the engine.  When the engine starts, the drive spins fast, and centrifugal force releases the lock and the drive retracts.  The starter should be capable of cranking the engine, even when it is already engaged.  That's what happens every time you crank the engine without starting it, like on a compression test or a failure to start the first time.  Sometimes you can release the drive by holding the pinion teeth against a wire wheel and spinning it in the direction that it turns freely and ratchets.  If the wire wheel is turning fast enough it will spin the pinion fast enough to release the lock.  The pinion will not move back and forth during a spin test with the battery charger.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I had the same problem when I installed the engine in my 61 pickup. When I worked at Ford dealerships in the 60's, one of the old timers showed me a trick for releasing the drive once it had spun out, but after forty years I can't remember just how to do it, but the trick of John's sounds right. You learn quick not too pickup one of these starters by the drive, it will spin out and lock everytime.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Would love to see a picture of that Y Block powered 32

I don't know if this would solve your problem. but I have a high torque mini starter which I love. I also would like to see a pic of the 32.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

thanks john, you rattled the cobwebs loose, now cant wait to get out into the garage and try the wire wheel trick. if all else fails, i guess a new drive is in order , heh.

thank glenn, am sure that picking it up and carrying it by the drive is the reason i am having this problem. didnt know this, thanks for the info

where did you get your starter from, have one of my chopped 54 merc, but came as a complete kit . has a different bolt pattern because it bolts to a conversion unit which allowed me to put the od trans. behind that 292. thanks, will be happy to post a pic as soon as i get my camera back from my daughter .