1969 barracuda engine swap 318 to blueprint engines 408 Crysler compatible

[69barracuda68]

Starter gear sticking in flywheel.
I have the 318 four speed 833 bellhousing that came with the junk 318. I have a 130-tooth 360 flywheel 10.5" clutch and pressure plate. The high torque mini starter from summit racing (sum-820441) for la small and big blocks. It turns over the engine without spark plugs but starter gear sticks in flywheel. I disconnected the positive battery cable and wired in a momentary push button switch and took video from under the car when firing just the solenoid. First video is gear going out and second video is sliding the gear back with a screwdriver. Notice the starter gear rotates toward the camera. Seems like a rotational drag and not a side-to-side mis alignment.

Is the starter nose cone location different from the 318 bellhousings to the 360 bell I don't have?
Any ideas why it sticks with the bellhousing, flywheel and starter combo?

 

[TT5.9mag]

Downloads don’t work. You have to post the video to you tube and drop a link here. But to answer your question, the 360 and 318 bellhousings will be identical. The problem is likely with the new starter.

 

[jawbone]

Got the video to download. Have you tried starter off the engine on a table to view bendix opetation?

 

[Moparpuller]

Also is your 360 flywheel external balanced. Don’t want to have that tear up the engine

 

[69barracuda68]

Got the video to download. Have you tried starter off the engine on a table to view bendix opetation?

yes

 

[69barracuda68]

Also is your 360 flywheel external balanced. Don’t want to have that tear up the engine

yes also 360 harmonic dampener up front

 

[69barracuda68]

engine swap still stuck with this problem. I hope a Mopar guru can solve this equation?
Bench tested both starters. summit returned mini starter no questions asked.
Got a 94 Dakota starter and it bolts right up but still ...

There is rotational drag preventing the starter gear from retracting.
I can push the starter gear backwards and it releases.
Seems like the problem is with compatibly of the bellhousing starter and flywheel.

The blueprint Chrysler compatible 408 is a 1976 or newer magnum block and crank

 

[92b]

I'm not sure if I'm understanding the problem but does the starter gear retract if you slightly rotate the engine in the direction of rotation by hand? When the engine starts up it spins faster than the starter and takes up the backlash between the starter gear and the ring gear allowing the starter drive return spring to pull the drive gear back into the starter. If you crank the engine over with the starter without starting it the drive will stay out bound up on the ring gear. Hope this makes sense.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

It seems like if my memory is correct, there is a little spot on a magnum block that sometimes needs grinding to prevent interference with the starter. That could lead to the starter being in s bond possibly.

 

[69barracuda68]

I'm not sure if I'm understanding the problem but does the starter gear retract if you slightly rotate the engine in the direction of rotation by hand? When the engine starts up it spins faster than the starter and takes up the backlash between the starter gear and the ring gear allowing the starter drive return spring to pull the drive gear back into the starter. If you crank the engine over with the starter without starting it the drive will stay out bound up on the ring gear. Hope this makes sense.

Thanks, I will try turning the engine over by hand in the direction of rotation which should be the same as pushing the starter gear backwards. Just never saw a starter gear stick in the fly wheel when power is removed from the solenoid.
I am still at the point recommended by blue print.. turn engine over for 15 min w/o spark plugs to break in the lifters and cam. Then I'll bolt up the header and carb, spark plugs and see.

 

[92b]

Thanks, I will try turning the engine over by hand in the direction of rotation which should be the same as pushing the starter gear backwards. Just never saw a starter gear stick in the fly wheel when power is removed from the solenoid.
I am still at the point recommended by blue print.. turn engine over for 15 min w/o spark plugs to break in the lifters and cam. Then I'll bolt up the header and carb, spark plugs and see.

I've never heard of turning an engine over for 15 minutes without sparkplugs to break in the lifters and cam. Can you share those instructions?

 

[4spdragtop]

Whoa what did you say? "Spin engine over for 15 minutes?? With no plugs?"

Thanks, I will try turning the engine over by hand in the direction of rotation which should be the same as pushing the starter gear backwards. Just never saw a starter gear stick in the fly wheel when power is removed from the solenoid.
I am still at the point recommended by blue print.. turn engine over for 15 min w/o spark plugs to break in the lifters and cam. Then I'll bolt up the header and carb, spark plugs and see.

 

[TT5.9mag]

am still at the point recommended by blue print.. turn engine over for 15 min w/o spark plugs to break in the lifters and cam. Then I'll bolt up the header and carb, spark plugs and see.

What!? What?! What?!

@Johnny Mac your assistance is needed once again.

 

[TT5.9mag]

Thanks, I will try turning the engine over by hand in the direction of rotation which should be the same as pushing the starter gear backwards. Just never saw a starter gear stick in the fly wheel when power is removed from the solenoid.
I am still at the point recommended by blue print.. turn engine over for 15 min w/o spark plugs to break in the lifters and cam. Then I'll bolt up the header and carb, spark plugs and see.

Stop what you’re doing and carefully re read the instructions. I can almost guarantee you it doesn’t say to do that. Please post a picture of the instructions.

 

[NC Engine Builder]

This sounds like a crock of s#$t

 

[Johnny Mac]

What!? What?! What?!

@Johnny Mac your assistance is needed once again.

Starter gear sticking in flywheel.
I have the 318 four speed 833 bellhousing that came with the junk 318. I have a 130-tooth 360 flywheel 10.5" clutch and pressure plate. The high torque mini starter from summit racing (sum-820441) for la small and big blocks. It turns over the engine without spark plugs but starter gear sticks in flywheel. I disconnected the positive battery cable and wired in a momentary push button switch and took video from under the car when firing just the solenoid. First video is gear going out and second video is sliding the gear back with a screwdriver. Notice the starter gear rotates toward the camera. Seems like a rotational drag and not a side-to-side mis alignment.

Is the starter nose cone location different from the 318 bellhousings to the 360 bell I don't have?
Any ideas why it sticks with the bellhousing, flywheel and starter combo?

Thanks for tagging me @TT5.9mag

Wow are we all over the place with this one.

Nowhere in any of our instructions does it say to crank anything for 15 mins.

The engine is an magnum weight 360 damper (which we sell if the engine didn't come with it) (only bases dont) and an LA 360 on the rear. (We also sell a correct flywheel and starter, and flexplates)


Also states he is swapping starters bc a gear doesn't retract with no fire. Yeah. Thats common. It takes an engine firing to spin fast and retract.

As someone above points out, this is all way off.

@69barracuda68 please pm me a phone number. I'm happy to straighten all this out.

 

[TT5.9mag]

Thanks for tagging me @TT5.9mag

Wow are we all over the place with this one.

Nowhere in any of our instructions does it say to crank anything for 15 mins.

The engine is an magnum weight 360 damper (which we sell if the engine didn't come with it) (only bases dont) and an LA 360 on the rear. (We also sell a correct flywheel and starter, and flexplates)

Op states he has one off a 318. That's wrong regardless.

Also states he is swapping starters bc a gear doesn't retract with no fire. Yeah. Thats common. It takes an engine firing to spin fast and retract.

As someone above points out, this is all way off.

@69barracuda68 please pm me a phone number. I'm happy to straighten all this out.

I’d hate to be in your warranty department

 

[Dartsun]

My blueprint engine iron head I have a Mopar performance external balance cast flywheel. Never had any issues almost 20 years now.

 

[RustyRatRod]

yes also 360 harmonic dampener up front

That's wrong. You need a 5.9 Magnum balancer. The LA 360 and 5.9 Magnums are balanced differently. Just call Johnny. He'll get you fixed up. But you need to stop drifting like a boat without a tiller and follow his instructions. Good luck.

 

[69barracuda68]

Thanks for tagging me @TT5.9mag

Wow are we all over the place with this one.

Nowhere in any of our instructions does it say to crank anything for 15 mins.

The engine is an magnum weight 360 damper (which we sell if the engine didn't come with it) (only bases dont) and an LA 360 on the rear. (We also sell a correct flywheel and starter, and flexplates)


Also states he is swapping starters bc a gear doesn't retract with no fire. Yeah. Thats common. It takes an engine firing to spin fast and retract.

As someone above points out, this is all way off.

@69barracuda68 please pm me a phone number. I'm happy to straighten all this out.

My apologies to blue print engines!! I purchased your long block because of you good reputation.
The day I got my create I READ the installation instructions but only SKIMMED the beak in procedure.
My fault! I was getting my parts together and not ready to fire the engine yet.

There is no way I would even try to turn the engine over with just the starter for 15 min straight!
I don't think it is even possible w/o smoking your starter.

The pre-lubrication section I skimmed only says to "TURN ENGINE OVER W/O PLUGS FOR 20 SECOND INTERVALS TO VERIFY OIL PRESSURE!! Sorry for the confusion I created.

Johnny Mac I will pm you my phone number because I now have a question it's not too late to correct.
Should I have used the magnum balancer up front with the magnum weight on flywheel or what I chose is the 360 dampener up front and 360 weight on flywheel?

I appreciate constructive criticism and the knowledge base as well as answers on A bodies forum. Mistakes seem to get a lot of attention. Seems like the problem with my first swap is the mechanic (me).

Again, apologies to blue print and thanks for all the help on this forum.

 

[69barracuda68]

My apologies to Blue Print engines. I purchased your long block because of your good reputation.
The day I got my create I READ the installation instructions but only SKIMMED the break in procedure. My fault. I was getting my parts ordered and not ready to fire the engine.

I would not have even tried to turn over the engine with the starter for 15 minutes straight!! I don't think it is even possible w/o smoking your starter!

From the pre-lubrication section it only says "TURN ENGINE OVER W/O PLUGS FOR 20 SECOND INTERVALS AND THIS IS JUST TO VERIFY OIL PRESSURE!!! Sorry for the confusion I created.

I apricate constructive criticism and the knowledge base and answers from this forum and mistakes seem to get a lot of attention fast.
Seems like the problem with my first engine swap is the mechanic (looks a little like ME)

 

[69barracuda68]

I’d hate to be in your warranty department

Thanks for getting johnny mac involved, I'll wait to hear from him on what balance weights to use.
My apologies to Blue Print engines. I purchased your long block because of your good reputation.
The day I got my create I READ the installation instructions but only SKIMMED the break in procedure. My fault. I was getting my parts ordered and not ready to fire the engine.

I would not have even tried to turn over the engine with the starter for 15 minutes straight!! I don't think it is even possible w/o smoking your starter!

From the pre-lubrication section it only says "TURN ENGINE OVER W/O PLUGS FOR 20 SECOND INTERVALS TO PRE LUBE THE LIFTERS AND CAM AND TO VERIFY OIL PRESSURE!!! Sorry for the confusion I created.

I apricate constructive criticism and the knowledge base and answers from this forum and mistakes seem to get a lot of attention fast.
Seems like the problem with my first engine swap is the mechanic (looks a little like ME)

 

[TT5.9mag]

Thanks for getting johnny mac involved, I'll wait to hear from him on what balance weights to use

Look at his reply above. Post 16. I’ll quote him;

The engine is an magnum weight 360 damper (which we sell if the engine didn't come with it) (only bases dont) and an LA 360 on the rear. (We also sell a correct flywheel and starter, and flexplates)

My understanding is that you need a 5.9 magnum weighted balancer, and a 360LA weighted flywheel.

 

[AJ/FormS]

Quick question, did you align the Trans centerline to the crank centerline?
With a rebuilt engine, you gotta do that, cuz there is no guarantee that the engine still has it's crank in the factory location, Suppose the Flywheel ring-gear is now closer to the starter, because of a line-bore? I know it's grasping but mine moved a lot!l

 

[69barracuda68]

Look at his reply above. Post 16. I’ll quote him;




My understanding is that you need a 5.9 magnum weighted balancer, and a 360LA weighted flywheel.

I purchased the 360 balancer on the front from blue print. My 360 flywheel with the weight set had a 360 and a magnum weight. I used the 360 weight. Sounds like I need to change the flywheel weight to the magnum one. I will go with what Johnny mac says
thanks for your help