Just installed a 465 in my CJ7 behind a SBC. Before the swap the bendix on my starter and flywheel had it out and the flywheel lost. I am replacing the starter and want to make sure I don't tear up the flywheel gear again (I am not pulling the FAWKING 465 again)

Any pointers on how to install the starter and what kind of clearances I am looking for? Shim usage?

Thanks

If it is quiet as it cranks you don't need shims. I don't remember the specs.
If you pull the connector screw and sleeve between the solenoid and the copper tab on the starter you can turn the key or run a jumper wire to the small terminal on the solenoid and it will kick out the gear without spinning the starter. Then you can see how they mesh and shim the starter if it looks crooked.
I'd try it first, it takes a lot of cranking to screw the gear up.

I have not tried this yet but it sounds reasonable.

From the Sept 01 Four wheeler
Remove the battery + lead from the solinoid, tape it up und move it out of the way.
Either using a remote starter switch or some one in the cab hit the switch and the drive gear will engage but the starter will not run.
Using a straightened paper clip and insert it between the top of the drive gear and the bottom of of the flywheel gear.
try to get the measurement within 30 seconds so that you dn't burn up the solenoid.

i just put a new gear reduction starter in my 4.3 and it came with instructions that i never read. belive it or not i did it by sound. you can hear it when it is to tight. then just look at it to see if it is making correct engagment.

Thanks for the info. I just don't want to dick up another flywheel. If I did, I would probably flip out and do something obscene with the sawzall, like cut my fenders or something. :D :D

There should be 1/8 inch of room between the teeth on the flywheel and the pin the starter gear spits out onto... how do I know... it took me 3 starers to firgure that out...

-red