Need Help! Starter issues.

1970 340, 4 speed, 130 tooth ring gear, 17466 mini starter the one everybody seems to use successfully. My problem is the bendix doesn’t mesh. It acts like the bendix is too big. I can engage the bendix manually, but when turning the motor by hand with the bendix engaged, it clunks really hard. I found this out the first time I bumped the key to test the starter engagement, and it sounded awful. The starter fits perfect otherwise, bolt holes align, the nose fits in the receiver hole. Any thoughts? Could the ring gear be larger and still be 130 tooth? Please help!