Ok I made a huge mistake... and can only hope I didn't break the engine.
Ok so I have the 350TPI swapped into the Fiero and because of the kit I have a really wired starter (part number 16584). The weird thing (I think) is that one of mounting screws sticks out over the Flywheel. Well after putting on my new starter I made a stupid mistake and didn't put on both washers... so even though I couldn't see it... the end of the bolt was touching the flywheel.
The flywheel is designed so that there is a lip and the surface of the flywheel smoothly lowers, and stops at the lip (I hope I described that ok).

So you can guess what happened. The bolt caused the flywheel to stop... and the starter burnt up smoked... got really hot.

So what chances do you guys give me that I didn't break my engine?

Imp really hoping the starter died so the engine wouldn't, that makes sense to my thinking.

What are the chances I can convince Car Quest that I got it not working? I don't really want to pay another 90 bucks for yet another starter.

Your thoughts? … As long as its not "Dezie, you're a freaking moron" (I already know that).

Engine's fine.

JazzMan

If I am reading it right, it sounds to me like when you went to start it, the flywheel probably didn't have a chance to rotate, and you burned up the starter trying to get it goin.

I don't see any reason the engine wouldn't be perfectly fine.

I'd bite the bullet and get a new starter. Pay the $90 bucks and chalk it up to a semi expensive mistake.

I usually never start my car, or test out anything I have done to it if I have parts and pieces left over unless I specifically know they are not supposed to go back on. It has saved me before, although a few times it cost me much time when the darn bolt is somewhere that is unaccesible and I have to take everything back apart to put them back where they go.

Good Luck

Also, shorten the bolt so that you don't have to rely on washers as spacers to keep this from happening again.

JazzMan