I think I blew it!!! (starter,flexplate issue)

[TOFIC]

I have a dirty stinking ugly feeling I am not going to like the answer I am going to get but here goes.

New 351, assembled it carefully (i thought) hit the starter button and the starter sounds like it is grinding tin. Talked to the starter supplier and we tested the new starter found good. (what did i expect from RRRAAAYYY222?)
My question is
Is it possible to put the flexplate on the crankshaft backwards and get this problem? I was under the impression that it mattered little. I was very carefull with this and made sure that I got the what I thought was the right side out. I was not as cautious with bolting up the TC but it came together very smoothly and bolted up without any difficulty

Anyone got any ideas what to look at??
TOFIC

 

[BRONKEN]

Is it possibile that the tooth count is different?

 

[Howdy]

Not sure if its the same as my 5.0, but you can't put the flexplate on backwards. On one side of the flexplate the center where it bolts to the crank sticks out a little further that the other. The side that would bolt to the crank would be the side that sticks out further. If you tried to do it the other way the ring with the teeth would be hitting the block before the center would contact the crank. As you also probably noticed the bolt holes are spaced a cretain way where the flexplate only bolts on one way.

Like Bronken said you might have a flexplate with the wrong tooth count.

 

[TOFIC]

Is it possibile that the tooth count is different?

Good thought will check and let you know.
TOFIC