Randy, The snout of the sbf starters has to seat into the back of the bell if it doesnt or its a lil out it will bent the cage on the starterand they there junk, they bind and grind lil a stripper in my face.
When you had the trans on before with the crank adaptor issue and the bell not being lined up right it prob fubared the starter as well.. not trying to argure just saying its a possiblilty..