​​​​​​​I recently bought the car, rebuilt the carb, intake and exhaust gaskets, and freeze plugged the intake coolant ports, I knew my starter was already on it way out, but it worked every 3rd time or so, but once I put the battery and everything back in the car, the starter only free spins, and will not engage the flywheel, bench tested the starter, it spun strong, and the gear jumps out like it should, but it didnt work. Ordered a replacement with my local oReillys, after a week to ship it to me,(sent cross country in shipping error) I finally got the new starter, bolted in the car, the "new" starter was worse than the old one, just tried to grind, its teeth were worse than my old starter. Returned that one to oReilly, and got a premium reman Remy 16268 coming from Rock Auto. The starter I took off has a matching 16268 part number.

 

Check to see if the bellhousing wasn't replaced for another different one. Its possible that if they did, the starter is not aligned with the difference bellhousing. Same thing with the flywheel if they replaced it.

 

I figured it out. It turned out there are 2 different starters for 1982. One for cars made before 11/82, and one for cars after 11/82. My car was made 5/82, before the other starters were used yet. My Local oReilly's didn't know about this. Their computer system says there is only one starter for all SA/FB's. Rock Auto had in stock the right starter, a REMY 16268. The new starter fixed the problem, that and the carb rebuild kit. Runs much better now, doesn't die or bog. If you have an 82 and are changing the starter double check the month/year of your car, helps to save a lot of troubleshooting time. I replaced the battery cables(Battery-Disconnect, Car - Disconnect and all grounds) I went up to 0GA wire for the + side and 4GA for the grounds. The starter turns faster, but that ultimately was just me throwing money at the car, It didn't fix it because the starter's teeth are different pitch. The 83+ starter just grinds on the 82 flywheel.
Thanks for the pointer, will make sure When I separate motor and trans, for motor rebuild to re-align the flywheel/bellhousing.

 

 

Yeah, It was Oreillys and iI had the receipt, that starter was for an 83 rotating assembly. (Which I will have in my spare motor) I bought the new one from rock auto and she runs great. 10 pumps and she starts everytime. I replaced the oil cooler lines with the -10 lines and my pressure line off the front cover blew apart, and blew all my oil out on the freeway, Its waiting for new oil right now, Im going to go thicker to 20/50 because I have the dowel pin leak. Soon as i redo the oil line correctly and get some oil itll be running again