91 Starter Mystery install

[Sniperdyer]

Replaced my 91 Starter and when the motor craft remanned replacement came it looked a bit different. I installed it and it didn’t sit all the way flush but it did tighten snug. (When turning on I can hear the scraping noise for a few which most likely is the teeth not making full contact cause it’s not flush) but it’s a 91 so then why wouldn’t it fit flush.

I looked up online and they all looked the same like the 91 motor craft. So I guess what I had on the explorer wasn’t a 91 starter. Is this possible, for another starter from later explorer to be used ? I know 91/94 was the same. But this starter looks like a 97 on google searches.

I’m not sure when and it may have been replaced. I just started getting major interest in replacing my own parts and keep track on what is now installed and this may have been replaced with a different year starter by some mechanic we took it to years ago. I just confused on how would it fit if it’s a differnt year . You can see 91 has a lip while other one has no lip and sits flush

Pics attached

 

[Rick]

I'm not positive, but there may be seperate starters depending if you have an auto or manual transmission.

 

[Sniperdyer]

I'm not positive, but there may be seperate starters depending if you have an auto or manual transmission.

Both automatic and manual transmission have same shape for 91.

I'm not positive, but there may be seperate starters depending if you have an auto or manual transmission.

 

[FordFlintrock]

When you get to the "97 model year starters they have the flat face mount. So something has been changed in the vehicle previously, trans.?

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[Sniperdyer]

When you get to the "97 model year starters they have the flat face mount. So something has been changed in the vehicle previously,

 

[Sniperdyer]

We had the transmission rebuilt twice but at the time I didn’t know much about the car but after shady mechanics I decided to put interest into repairing it myself. Now I’m finding out things Like this when it’s time to fix it. My main question is can a 91 starter be used on a 97 tranny and reverse or is it year specific? In this case the 91 starter didn’t fit so I’m thinking no [

 

[FordFlintrock]

Your starter does not bolt up correctly so I would go with the later model '97 which is identical to what was removed.

 

[RangerX]

Both automatic and manual transmission have same shape for 91.

Maybe the same shape, but different starters for manuals and auto transmissions.

 

[Sniperdyer]

Maybe the same shape, but different starters for manuals and auto transmissions.

Yeah, I saw it when ordering replacement.

 

[eddiehudson]

What part # did you order? Auto and manual starters are definitely different.

 

[Sniperdyer]

I first ordered the 91 and heard the screeching sound then I ordered a replacement 91 and then noticed that it wasn’t sitting flush. So I looked up and noticed my 91 had a starter from a 97. So I then reordered a 1997 starter which should should arrive soon.

 

[FordFlintrock]

It is better to err on the side of caution. When you get new starter count the number of teeth on the bendix gear and compare to number on the one taken out which should be the same.