My 88 Camaro will not start

First off, I've rarely seen any chevy that needed shims at the starter. 99% are bolted up direct. The only time I've ever seen shims used was in modified vehicles where the flywheel and engines were of different 'sizes' or years. You say you have an 88 camaro, did the 350 you put in come out of an 88? Next thing, is this a stick or automatic? Different years as well as stick or automatic use different drive end housings on the starters. Some bolt straight across, some are diagonal. If you remove your starter and look at the flat part of the engine block where the starter mounts, you'll see what I'm talking about. There will be 3 bolt holes there, of which you're only going to use 2. Which 2 dependends on the starter.

Not sure of the year on motor or trans. Trans is auto. And bolt pattern are on a diagonal.

OK, Then is the starter you are using from your original engine, or did it come with the engine and trans you put in?

The stater is brand new I called a few part store and the maker of the stater I bought they said fits a gm 350 and he told me there where only two that would work. The frist one I put on and would not even toucj the fly wheel the scond one the one I have on there now barly touchs the fly wheeland is stripping the teeth on the fly wheel.

Now start shimming it and get to .060 and your done.[/quote:54da602bfc]

rasmataz: You are reading this ... right? If the starter is 'barely' touching the flywheel teeth, then 'shimming' the starter is going to move it farther away, making it worse.

As for there being 'only 2 starters that will work' , that's because you're probably telling them it's an 88 camaro .... Do you know what the engine and trans came out of? Another camaro, impala, monte carlo, van .... And did it come out of another chevy? buick, pontiac .... The starter you've probably got right now looks like this -

A1 Cardone #39-3510MSN right? ..... Have you tried this one? -

part# 39-3838SN

Not sure what the motor came out of? It is a gm motor.
I tried a d-3510ms
but what is in there now is d-3733ms
it needs a longer top to hit the fly wheel.

Well according to A1 Cardone, the starter you have in there (3733) only came in GM Trucks Whereas the 39-3838SN came in numerous gm cars and trucks from 64 til now. If you look up the 88 camaro 5.7 (350) Automatic starter, 39-3838SN is the number you'll get.

So what starter should I use in my car?

Raz!1. Go back to toyota section. Ur customer is lookin for u.N also that poor guy on overheating.U probably get him busy till next yr.I was thinkin u kinda service writer. Now u are a parts guy. Hehh heh heh.I better go. Too much old school for me.I like no school

Casting # 460776 on motor