I have the new 87 engine sitting on the 88 cradle, but I don't want to put the trans on until I know the starter will align with the teeth of the new flexplate.

I just put an 87 block on my 88's cradle, so I had to switch out the 5-speed weighted flywheel for my 88's automatic unbalanced flexplate.

How do I know if it still lines up? On other cars, I could pull out the bendix and see where it hit, but I can't get to it now.

Should I just hook up a battery and see where it hits once it is engaged?

I'll go out now and see if the two plates are the same size. I guess that will tell me something.

Thanks in advance!

It should be just fine, but the book spec is if a .020-.025 wire/rod/drill etc will fit between the teeth of the FW and the pinon gear.

Or you can check the gap between the flywheel and the armature shaft with a 1/8 allen wrench, it should just fit snugley, if it does not fit you need to add shims. then you need to check with a 5/32 allen wrench, if it fits you have too much shim and need to reduce their thickness. starters usually don't require any shims.

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 03-08-2008).]

Before I saw what you wrote, I put the old 5-speed against the Automatic flexplate and they are exactly the same - as I expected.

I imagine that everything will be alright when it is back in the car.

Thanks for the advice!