Starter-Drive Problems

[Luxus]

Hi all,
I´m new here, and i post for a friend. my friend own a 1962 T-Bird with 390cui engine and cruise-o-matic. The Bird have a brand new engine. We install the all parts, prelube and so on. the old starter-drive broke near the starter-gear. we order a new starter drive and install them. we will start the engine and the new starter-drive is also broken. The facts: you can turn the engine with a ratchet on the balancer, when the transmission is not coupled on the engine. when we install the tranny on the engine, you can not turn the engine with hand. i think now, the starter drives brakes, is a problem with the tranny or converter. is this right ? thanks for your help.
greetings
Klaus

[tbird5866]

Do you have the spacer plate between the engine and the transmission? Maybe you should try moving the transmission back about 1/16 " and trying the starter again..

[A.J.'s Superior Automotive]

Klaus,
I've seen this happen many times when people install Automatic transmisions. Mostly caused by the torque converter not being completly seated into the trans. Some times this is easyer said then done. The lugs or splines need to line up. I've also seen burrs on the input shaft and in the torque converter. Be paitent and Don't seat it with a Hammer.
On the other end of the torque converter is a nub that needs to fit into the crank shaft. I've also added a light amount of lube on the nub when things get tight.

I don't know about a spacer plate. I don't have one in my '61.