Just put in a new flex plate, the motor was
missing the spacer plate so I put in a used one off another 98 4.0!! Got it all together and now the starter is making a noise when it engages like it’s hitting the new flex plate!!! I don’t have a clue any ideas??? The threads on the top mount are fubared having to stack some washers to get it to bite!!!

 

Current video of the noise it’s making, any ideas!!!

 

if your referring to that small plate as a spacer and installed it first, then flex plate over it, then bolts into the crankshaft then you just installed it wrong. It does not go behind the flexplate - it installs on the outside of the flexplate like a big washer to spread the load of the bolts.

The 2 bolts used for the starter are not interchangeable, one is longer and one is shorter, off top my head i cant tell you which is which for orientation i.e long bolt top/bottom vs short bolt top/bottom.

Unbolt your starter and verify bolt lengths are in correct position, correct me if im wrong but they may even be different threads?

Should also do something about the fubared threads as well (heli coil?) Poorly threaded hardware won't secure the starter and a wobbly starter will not end well.

Fwiw I didn't listen to your video yet either

 

Would not having the dowel pins for the transmission cause this???

 

If one or both are missing it definitely isn't going to make things any better. They are more of an alignment sleeve than they are pins. They should be on either outside edge/corner (larger bolt size) of the trans.

 

Any update?

 

Did u figure it out ?