spacer for m20 flywheel has more then 1 use!

[nickmpower]

well you all know that the bolt protector thing from the m42 fly is supposed to be used between the crank and m20 flywheel so it flywheel doesnt hit the oil pan. Well i have a nice JB racing flywheel and i checked and it didnt hit the pan with out the spacer. so i thought why not leave that unbalanced POS out. Well after i got the engine in with the tranny i turned it over by hand with some oil in the chambers to get them coated because i wasnt able to finish it up before i had to leave for santa clara. any ways there was a grinding noise that i wasnt too fond of. I was bummed because The flywheel actaully did hit or something. Well i took out the starter and the noise was gone!!! so i guees i need to make some sort of a spacer for the starter. would a couple grade 8 washers be good enough or would it not have enough support?

[kowalski]

that would be fine, tho it might be to agressive of a move. you could try starter shims from a chevy or something...?

[nickmpower]

naw, it needs to be at least the thickness of the spacer

[bmwman91]

Without the spacer, isn't there still the issue of the TOB not being able to fully disengage the PP from the clutch disc? Shimming the starter seems a little risky as well...that leaves a gap for water to possibly creep in up there, no?

[Alpine003]

so i guees i need to make some sort of a spacer for the starter. would a couple grade 8 washers be good enough or would it not have enough support?

If you use washers for the starter, you have a very good chance of breaking off one of the mounting points since the torque won't be distributed to the entire housing. I've already broken one of the mounting points on my old starter. IMO, it's better to just install it correctly and redo it then suffer consequences later.

[nickmpower]

using an unbalanced probalby not even completly flat spacer for the flywheel is not the correct way to do it

I think the clutch should hopefully still disengauge, but i think i should make a clutch stop to prevent the tob from going to far. If your guys pedels go all the way to the floor then it should be fine.

I think i will cut some aluminum plate for a spacer for the starter

[nickmpower]

what do you guys think?

[romkasponka]

I think steel spacer will be fine too..

[nickmpower]

does anyone have a picture of their starter with the m20 gear on it???

[Vladi]

Unfortunately no, but i didn't need to make a spacer for the starter.

[nickmpower]

and you used a m20 flywheel?

[Vladi]

Yup. Car runs fine after 3200 miles of city driving, highway driving, donuts, etc. so i've tested it. :D

[nickmpower]

hmmm, maybe something is wrong with my starter then???