Starter/ring gear not engaging
these are the 2 ive been using
Can't see enough of these to identify the starters well enough to comment definitively – fix that, please, by at least telling us what you bought and where, and maybe showing some zoomed-out pics so we can see both starters entire.
Still, based on what we can see, it's a pretty reasonable assumption that either of these ought to work if they're not completely garbage quality (which is easy to buy).
What is between the starter and the bellhousing? There's meant to be a "seal" (shim plate). The lack of one would move the starter closer to Rudolf,* though, not further away. So if crummy starter quality isn't to blame, I suspect a fault in the engine-to-transmission, assembly, the flexplate-to-torque-converter assembly, and/or flexplate-to-crankshaft assembly.
*the red-nosed ring gear