cant figure out which starter i need
 

I've got a 96 4.3 and a 153 tooth flywheel.Ive tried 3 different starters and none of them worked.does anybody know what starter I need?

Are you shimming them or just bolting them straight to the block?


What exactly is the problem with the 3?

I did not have to shim my starter when I put it in the jimmy last weekend.

What Neo said, what is it doing, or not doing?

I've had to shim them on one starter then remove the shims when I replaced the starter. Just depends on the starter but 90% of the time they do need some shim or they will bump the flywheel/flexplate and not engage the teeth. Also seen them hang and not disengage.

I must have gotten lucky than, Even the old starter was not shimmed.

The starters were way off.it used to have an automatic trans and I went to a manual

Starters no longer need to be shimmed

I've got all kinds of trucks in my yard that still use shims. From a 64 with a 292 i6 to a 98 4.3 s-series. Just got done putting a starter on a 96 2500 with a 350 and it didn't have shims but we had to add them. Maybe on the new ls engines they don't need shims but any gen 1 based sbc design or older 6 and 4s might need them.

What do I know I only work in/run a mechanic shop.

LOL neo, No doubt they need shims, sometimes you just get lucky and dont need to put any in.

The issue I'm having isn't a shim issue.I guess GM used a bunch of different starters.I think I found what I need.its expensive though