Bronco 2 Starter Grinding

[storey618]

also i did the 4.0 clutch swap so 4.0 starter too

 

[wildbill23c]

I don't think you can do the 4.0 clutch and flywheel swap onto a 2.8L though. Oh well, going to try a factory starter first may be more expensive but may solve the problem.

 

[wildbill23c]

UPDATE:

I crawled under the bronco 2 this morning pulled the starter lose and realized that the spacer plate between the engine and transmission has about 1/8" - 1/4" of play in the starter hole. I'm guessing that would be my problem as to why my starter keeps sliding out of position. My only problem is finding a replacement plate. Auto parts stores I don't think carry those things, so my only option is a JY part I would assume.

 

[Gilbee01]

That play is the issue I have seen before. I think you can get the shims from auto zone but they tend to fall out becuse the starter will wiggle.. And for some reason the are gone.. Try looking at a pull&save for an original. Then rebuild. It's simple easy and most of all fits.


-gil-

 

[wildbill23c]

Didn't get to go the the JY this past Sunday, so I just crawled under again and shoved the starter back into the right place and cranked the bolts down again. I'll get over there when I can and get a couple starters and learn to rebuild them. I can get a rebuild kit pretty cheap. Not exactly trusting the parts suppliers "rebuilds" half the time I think they just wash them off and claim they've been rebuilt LOL.

 

[BabyBronco89]

The 2.8l has the same flywheel as a 2.9 the 2.9l/2.8l and 4.0 ring gear are the same diameter, the difference being the 4.0l flywheel has more surface area for the bigger clutch.

I agree the block plate might be stretched out a little bit, but it's really the holes in the starter and the holes in the trans that hold the starter in the perfect place. You won't have a 1/4 inch of play in the starter bolt holes. Even if your plate has 1/4 inch of play

The explorer starter is a lot better unit it uses a lot less power and is lighter and half the size.

When your factory b2 starter would not spin due to a low voltage the later starter will work.
,it uses less amps.

The way I look at it is id rather use a new and improved part on my truck then the old style

There is a reason ford didn't put that big old starter on the new trucks, even though it will bolt on the explorer..........

it was a pos, hence the revision.

Hope that helps auto explorers with 4.0 ohv are a dime a dozen in the local junk yards

I managed to find a brand new napa starter for the 25$ junkyard price grab the starter wording for another 5$ and be good to go!!!

 

[wildbill23c]

The 2.8l has the same flywheel as a 2.9 the 2.9l/2.8l and 4.0 ring gear are the same diameter, the difference being the 4.0l flywheel has more surface area for the bigger clutch.

I agree the block plate might be stretched out a little bit, but it's really the holes in the starter and the holes in the trans that hold the starter in the perfect place. You won't have a 1/4 inch of play in the starter bolt holes. Even if your plate has 1/4 inch of play

The explorer starter is a lot better unit it uses a lot less power and is lighter and half the size.

When your factory b2 starter would not spin due to a low voltage the later starter will work.
,it uses less amps.

The way I look at it is id rather use a new and improved part on my truck then the old style

There is a reason ford didn't put that big old starter on the new trucks, even though it will bolt on the explorer..........

it was a pos, hence the revision.

Hope that helps auto explorers with 4.0 ohv are a dime a dozen in the local junk yards

I managed to find a brand new napa starter for the 25$ junkyard price grab the starter wording for another 5$ and be good to go!!!

Great information, thank you so much for your response and your knowledge. I will now expand my shopping experience. I may also look at pulling a 4.0 flywheel to upgrade my clutch at some point as well, everything I kept finding was saying the 4.0 clutch would only work on the 4.0 of course and the 2.9l, but I was kind of questioning that because the 2.9L is really just a fuel injected Cologne 2.8L as far as I can really figure out, actually the 4.0L is still a version of the Cologne engine as well.

I'll definitely look at updating the starter, and if someone else has the info as to how to wire the 4.0 starter it would be greatly appreciated.

There's something definitely wrong with my current setup as the starter keeps sliding away from the flywheel, the holes in my starter are kind of oblong, and that's what I got from Autozone. 2 starters and the exact same oblong holes, then the spacer plate has a lot of play in the starter mounting hole as well so when that starter engages it forces itself away from the flywheel.

Sorry kind of learning as I go here. Thanks again.

 

[vdub]

This thread is 7 years old and I'm still having this problem. I searched Google to get some new ideas and find this thread. I read through it before I realize that I started it 7 years ago. The escort bendix actually did fix it for a while but it back to doing it again. Getting ready to swap out the 5 speed for a C5. Would love to keep the stick but it's just not workable with this starter problem.

Has anyone came up with any other solutions?