Hi all... I have a 1986 XJ6 Series III that I installed a 70's E-Type 4-Speed transmission and Fidanza 133 tooth lightened flywheel. The car drives like a dream and shifts perfectly. However, when I start the car, the starter grinds horribly. I have tested with two gear reduction starters and my original 67 E-Type starter and all three grind. I added a spigot plate spacer, thinking it may be engaging too far in, but it was worse, and barely engages the flywheel with bad grinding. I have pulled the transmission twice to check everything and am in the process of measuring all the clearances. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues and how did you solve them.

Thanks!

 

Slick.

I have no solution. But, i have thoughts.

1. You have a mismatch as to the number of teeth on the starter drive as to the 133 teeth on the fly wheel.

2. You nave a mismatch as to the diameter of the fly wheel and the lateral location of the starter drive.

3. The too fr in or not fr enough in issue is not the problem. Shim can fix too far in. Not far enough in is not readily fixable...

4. The fly wheel housing does not allow the starter to be mounted in proper relation to the starter pinion.

Mix and match of parts ahs let you downm...

 

Here are some answers to your thoughts....
- All 3 starters are made to function with the standard 133 tooth flywheel which is standard on all manual 4.2 engine applications.
- The flywheel is for a 4.2 engine E-Type so should be correct for installation to the E-Type transmission.
- Shimming the starter out with a spigot plate made it worse.
- I am beginning to think that there is flex in the bell housing which may be why when the starter is activated it pulls away from the flywheel even though it is solidly attached. I am doing some measurements and will mount the starter on the currently removed transmission accounting for the thickness of the rear engine attachment plate to see if I can simulate the activation of the starter in the bell housing.

 

is the starter from the E type or XJ-6 ? to me it sounds like a mismatch between the starter and flywheel.

 

The starters and the Flywheel are for the 4.2 L E-Type, So they should work perfectly together.

 

This is not the same scenario, but similar.

Loooong time ago, my 1965 S Type 3.4 with that horrid DG Transmission, finally got to me.

Out with that boat anchor, and installed a BW66 from a S3.

Starter WAS an Inertia throw style, and the HEAVY flywheel was not staying.
Used a S3 Flex plate, and a S3 Starter.

Sweet, until I pressed the starter button, OOPS.

Messed around and established the mesh was "binding" between the Pinion and the Ring Gear.

NO adjustment for that is provided. I carefully "relieved" the mount holes the SMALLEST amount to provide some movement (bolt slop as we say) of the starter away from the ring gear. About 1mm was all it took. FIXED.

 

Have you contacted Fidanza to ask their advice/opinion?

I would.

Cheers
DD

 

I had the same problem with my 1983 XJ6, which was retrofitted when new by the original owner from a US automatic to a European-specification Jaguar 5-speed (British Leyland with Getrag gear set) transmission. At some point, the starter was replaced with a stock US starter, which had the wrong offset from the ring gear, leading to grinding. I replaced the starter with a gear reduction starter, and it was grinding as well. After consulting with Gustafson Specialty Products, who had supplied the starter and mounting plate, I changed to a different mounting plate (intended for a 3.8 E-Type engine, if I recall correctly), and the starter has worked and engaged perfectly ever since. Discuss your problem with them.