How to Install Chevy Starter Shims

Chevy model vehicles come equipped with a starter responsible for cranking the engine. Once you turn the key in the ignition to the crank position, the starter engages the flywheel. The flywheel, attached to the crankshaft, then causes the pistons to move up and down until the compression process begins. Once compression occurs and the spark ignites, the engine is able to run on its own. If the starter is not a correct distance from the flywheel, it can't turn the flywheel and engage the engine.

Instructions

1

Park the Chevy vehicle on a flat surface and engage the parking brake.

2

Open the hood and remove the two battery cables from the battery posts with an adjustable wrench. Position the battery cables away from the battery posts and any metal.

3

Jack the front of the Chevy vehicle up and place the jack stands under the proper front jacking points on the frame rails of both front sides of the vehicle. Lower the vehicle onto the top of the jack stands and leave the jack in the upright position.

4

Slide under the driver's side of the vehicle near the back of the front wheel and locate the starter. Use a droplight if necessary. The top of the starter has a solenoid with the positive battery cable attached and the ignition wires hooked to it. The starter mounts against the flywheel.

5

Remove all of the wires from the starter and the solenoid with open-end wrenches and a 1/2-inch drive ratchet and socket, if necessary. Make a mental note of where each wire connects on the starter solenoid.

6

Loosen and remove the three starter housing mounting bolts that connect the starter to the flywheel housing with a ratchet, extension and a deep-well socket. Note the three mounting bolts hold the starter in a triangular position to each another. Once the last mounting bolt is loose, hold the starter with one hand and finish removing the bolt. Hold the starter to keep it from dropping.

7

Pull the starter out of the flywheel housing and place it on the ground. Install only one to two shims at a time on the back of the starter. Match up the holes on the shims with the mounting holes on the starter housing. Spread a little bit of blue silicone on the facing of the starter housing. Press the starter shims over the silicone and hold in place for about one minute until the silicone is dry. The silicone holds the shims in place.

8

Slide the starter back into the flywheel housing. Match up the mounting bolt-holes on the starter with the holes on the flywheel housing. Screw the three mounting bolts back through the starter and into the flywheel housing. Tighten the mounting bolts in sequence with the ratchet and socket until the bolts are tight.

9

Reconnect all of the starter wires to the front of the starter and to the starter solenoid. Tighten all of the wire nuts and connectors with the open-end wrenches and the ratchet and sockets, if necessary. Inspect the starter to ensure that all of the wires attach to the starter correctly.

10

Reconnect the battery cables to the battery posts and tighten the cables with the adjustable wrench.