Thread: Starter / Flywheel Not aligning

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Gents,

Help! New to the forum here. I thought I would ask you experts this. I have a 427 Aluminum Shelby Block in an Cobra replica and a bellhousing I think is Lakewood (its red) and a 184 tooth flywheel. I have went through two starters and two ring gears. When I align the starter to the block plate or bellhousing, the starter gear teeth do not engage enough laterally to catch the flywheel ring gear teeth fully. I could see this visibly after taking the transmission (Tremec 3550) and bellhousing off. The prior owner would have done the bellhousing alignment as there are dowels in place to locate it. I am not sure what to do to fix this. My problems started with having the wrong starter bolts. Right ones are on order. I would appreciate if anyone has any idea here on what to do. Could I have the wrong bellhousing? Pic of the issue is attached.

I'm running a TKO600, and I bought it with a Tremec bellhousing. It's my understanding that the 3550 and TKO were replaced by the TKO-500/600 product line back in 2004, and that today the 3550 and TKO are only available as used or rebuilt units. I'd say that you have the wrong bellhousing, and I'd talk to a Tremec rep, like Mike Forte of Forte's Performance, or one in your region.

Edward, forgot to say "Welcome" to you. Glad you're here and hope you stick around!

Good info on that FE Power Forum, but I recommend you invest an hour in a phone call to Mike - Home Page (508 875-0016 work), or e-mail him the details at mikeforte302@gmail.com, his work e-mail. Framingham, Mass is close to the Factory Five guys, and Mike's been a large part of their development works and knows the ins & outs of a lot of different combinations of parts, and he's seen all of the problems. He even developed some shifter parts that Tremec incorporated in their options. Mines a SBF, but Mike put together a package deal on the Tremec, bellhousing, clutch, clutch slave, and starter for me. He's a wealth of information, and a great guy, too.