Searched....need some professional input for my starter-flywheel problem

[Boomer420s]

I have searched these forums all week, and i found many explanations for my problem. Some seem to kind of contridict each other. I have a 1990 eagle talon, 5 spd, AWD. I bought it from this kids mom. All i know, is that motor has been swapped, with what year, not sure...tranny i don't know if it has been swapped. If you can tell me how to identify them, that would be great.....the manual doesn't exactly help there. anyways, the starter does not fully grab the flywheel, brand new starter, the flywheel might need to be cleaned, eventully replaced. I had the intake off and what not and got down there, and the teeth looked healthy, no broken, or excessivly worn down ones. I normally installed the starter, and it sounded like it was just missing it, rubbing against it. It wasn't a hard grind(i would get that too, though) but as if they were just barely touching. so there is a small *gasket?* there that looked like it might be obstructing it, which i cut off. Now the starter grabbed a little better, actully got one really good solid turnover and fire. than it started grinding again. now my previous experience is with V8's. The DSm is still new, so don't get mad at me for this, i came up with the idea that maybe if i cocked the starter a little bit i might grab. so i took some washers and made little shims for it and installed, grabbed decently, but still grinding. my starter bolt-hole are now stripped so a new starter is in order. But before i buy i need to know what to buy.

AWD starters have longer or further spaced ring gears?

92 1/2 - 94 starters have longer or further spaced ring gears?

Difference between flywheels or starters for AT and 5-spds?

The little *gasket?* deal i cut off, does that need replaced?

and the clutch was replaced, as i am told, so maybe the flywheel didn't get installed correctly?

as of now i think that covers all the questions in my head, sorry for the length of the thread, but i wanted to be clear, and if you guys might need some more information, i can provide any as needed or if i can, thanks for the time, and I hope we can all get my car going....thanks guys

 

[luv2rallye]

AWD flywheels are different than FWD ones which affects the starter. Also a/t and m/t starters have diff depths on the nose cones.

 

[Boomer420s]

okay, the different transmissions have different starters, good, what about the different years? i am about 85% sure the tranny was not swapped, but i am trying to avoid pulling it myself for the flywheel. Hopefully the starter is my problem there.......