Did a swap on my 97 blazer vin w, put in a 01 vin w- went well, had to tap knock sensor, switch some sensors, get bolts for bellhouse and starter, and it fits snugly in its new home.

The problem i am having is with finding a starter to work. The starter i took out (97) went back in, and it cranked for a bit but now it grinds horribly. Did some research, found the starters are different for an 01, so picked one up. Same result. Different brand for an 01, no change. Got one for a 00, no change.

Grinds horribly and kicks out. Starter gets hot and it goes "tooth to tooth" and bucks back hard enough that it actually bent a starter bolt.

I am now wondering it the motor i received is actually from an 01? My flywheel is getting chewed up to the point i may have to replace it.


I attempted to shim it a little, it got worse. So i know my starter is not sitting deep enough to mesh properly with the flywheel.

Just curious as to if you guys had maybe run into this at all? Tooth counts on the flywheel is 168 teeth and i cannot use the flywheel i took out of the 97 motor, the offsets are different and it would not let me bolt it to the TC. The flywheel on my current (01?) is visibily offset toward the converter whereas the 97 is basically flat.

the starter gear seems to be contacting the whole width of the flywheel, just not deep enough into the teeth.

Any help would be appreciated!

Dylan
Sauk Rapids, MN

 

Is the flywheel straight and round? If you bent a starter bolt, you likely also damaged the flywheel as it is weaker than the bolts...

 

I had a freind turn it over by hand, used a dial indicator to measure runout along the ring gear. had at max a few thousandths. i may have to replace the flywheel but i need to know what starter mates to it before i can do that.

Anybody have experience with what year fits what as far as flywheel/starter combinations go? The 97 and (01?) are visibily different. the new motor's crankshaft flange doesent stick out as far, so im assuming it used a offset flywheel to accomidate the space towards the converter

 

How about out of round? You said it turned over and then started grinding.

As far as differences starter to flywheel... You'd have to have all of the combinations in front of you. Part numbers would only show you when they changed, not what changed.

 

This is exactly the reason I've deciced to let the shop handle my reinstalation good luck bird. let the forum know when you find what you find works.

 

You should have used the flat flexplate off of the 97 with the 97 starter. I put a 2007 engine in that had the same offset flex plate you are referring to, Just changed it out to the flat flex plate off the original engine and starter no problems. Not sure why your T.C. would not bolt up? Did you use a different transmission or T.C. other than the original one from the 97 ? Good Luck T.J.

 

Transmission and converter are the original (i assume) and i didnt not change them.


I used flat flex plate originally. Put bell bolts in, then before i hooked anything up made sure my converter went bolted in ok. there was 3/8ths inch between bolts and converter, and i had not touched it while removing old engine. i would have had to pull converter out of transmission part of the way to make it work and i didnt want to have it half engaged with the oil pump.

The second flexplate had an offset to make up the gap to the converter.

So by that logic, considering the flat flex plate worked with the oe motor, and not with this new one, the crankshaft flange on the new motor is recessed farther inward, not sure why that would be.

 

There should be no problem with pulling out the torque converter enough to mate with the flexplate and stay engaged with the front pump on the transmission. The Converter may have slid back that much when you unbolted it anyway. As far as the crankshaft flange being recessed, that is so as GM Has multiple use combinations for this engine. Hope this helps. T.J.

 

Even that far? it is seriously almost a 3/8ths to 1/2 inch away from the flexplate with the 97 flywheel in it. the 3 short little bolts dont even reach when in their holes.