rock car backwards
yes. a starter made for the 168 tooth flywheel would not engage a 153 tooth flywheel.
A small flywheel needs to stay with the starter that goes to it. You can use either flywheel, and the block should be drilled for either starter.
The starter is underneath the car on the passenger side. The flywheel is in the transmission bellhousing.
the starter bendix is bad or the flywheel it self has some teeth missing The Starter Bendix drive is not close enough to the flywheel. Reinstall the starter and check to see if there are shims that can be removed to place it closer.
if the starter is spinning but not engaging then the bendix (starter teeth) is not moving out to grab the flywheel teeth or the flywheel has some broken teeth. The starter needs to be removed to see what the issue is.
This can be caused by a worn flywheel, or a bad starter drive. You'll need to remove the starter and look at the flywheel to see which is bad.
Remove the starter and inspect the ring gear on the flywheel.
starter not engaging flywheel properly. Replace starter, Checking for damage to flywheel while starter is removed.
Remove the trany and you will see the flywheel bolted to the rear of the motor. Remove the bolts & replace the flywheel. Check the starter as a bad starter can chew the teeth off of a flywheel very quickly.
starter gear is to close to flywheel install starter shim
Seek around the flywheel, The Flywheel is between engine and transmission. The starter is probably under the intake like the 7MGE.
Defective starter, or a problem with the flywheel. You need to check the starter and then remove it and check the flywheel.