Another 8N question

[Varmint1]

When my dad bought his little '49 8N it didn't have a starter on it, so he found a good used one on eBay and bought it,today I tried putting it in and it wouldn't go the starter drive is to big it hit the flywheel and recess in the bellhousing, it looks like the drive on my 4000. They said it came off a running 8N, did they have different drives through the years

 

[Soundguy]

there are a couple different drive that fit an 8n.. but if you try to stab it right thru the hole. it won't EVER go in.

you generally have to remove the block drain cock, then angle the rear of the starter down and toward the engine block.. so that the drive is entering the hole at roughly the 2 oclock position.. that is where it has the most clearance over the flywheel. in fact.. many holes have been ground out a bit at the 2 oclockposition, as staring into the hole, to make starter removal a bit easier. in the end.. even with out grinding on the housing.. it WILL go in. ford didn't assemble the drive tot he starter AFTER it was inserted.

if i can find a pic of the relieved area, I'll post it.