UPDATE: Starter went out. Just made the whirring, not engaging. Removed pass. mount & jacked up engine, removed starter. Teeth on flywheel from what I can see are there and decent, a little chewed on the very fronts. That's probably what I was hearing.
Scored the cheap CSR ebay deal starter, put it on, and no matter what I do it's an inch too long . I can't see any room under there to rotate it. If I let the engine back down the end of the starter won't clear the crossmember. I'm running manifolds and space is tight, and this space issue with the CSR may be just my particular car's conversion.
Been reading up on "Mustang II specific" parts, 141 tooth flywheels, manual and auto starters, etc etc and I'm more confused now than ever. The starter that came off is for an 84 Mustang and it looks like it was only engaging the edge. But it fit. Is there a later smaller one?
Can someone give me a part number of a Ford 302 Automatic starter to ask for? I trust YOU guys more than parts counter people and / or their computer lists. I can't afford $400 starters, I just want one that fits and doesn't sound like a garbage disposal chewing on a saw blade.
Thanks!
BTW CSR is a great company for tech support, the guy on the phone really knew his starters!