How can i see every tooth on it at flywheel ?
The groves felt an seemed ok where the starter mates up to it ,but that doesnt mean other teeth are ok.
will i need to repull starter to get that cover off to see entire teeth?.

I have that oil guage on the dash ,but no independent oil pressure guage..

I did raise motor a lot, an at bell housing a tad,with overdrive support unbolted, ,to get to the bottom of oil pan, an get gasket piece out from bottom of oil pan ..

It didnt sound like a functional motor running -after - replacement starter/ [turned over normally now ] ...an engine began that quick "start up catch " after timing an ignition an all kicks in ...

 

Took off the starter an flywheel cover to see the teeth.. .I turned the crank in order to see it all.I didnt find any teeth off
Does that look pretty normal on the wear on it an starter that i replaced.

 

yea that's about normal for a high mileage stock ring gear. Knocked a few corners off the ring gear but not bad. Starter gear is intentionally tapered. We've broken our fair share of ring gears over the years, so it's worth checking.

Forgot yours is a 3.9, the double-notched tone ring points that out.

The factory splash shield was one of the first things I took off and never reinstalled.

So now you can focus on the issue with the other noises you have going on.

 

Bingo!!
That cover plate -- I left it off after inspection, an turning crank back to TDC ..an after putting starter bk on tight an without that plate in--It started right up! No weird noises.
Ill know more tommorow when i let it idle an do a few checks for leaks.

Is that aluminum guard acting like a shim .?
Tempted to cut that starter part off of it or replace it.

..i put the darn cover bk on with side cut an it made that crazzy sound again.. ..gonna have to either get one off another dodge or fabricate one !

Last post
"The factory splash shield was one of the first things I took off and never reinstalled"

Now i see why you NEVER reinstalled it on yours..
How did you protect that area from getting rock an debris off the road ?

 

out of sight, out of mind. Odds of something getting in there and winning the battle of ring-gear-vs-bellhousing is quite low.

 

Thanks. Thats good to know...i fabricated a piece using trim coil aluminum [ easy an tough ].

Tried same part off another dakota an same thing .. scrape noise.

I drove it an heard a growl noise at idle an accerating moreso is this a overdrive issue ?[ i hope not]
Quieter at 40mph .
overdrive was lifted some an bell housing also as getting to oil pan ..

Maybe reposition them all again ..? It seems engine is a bit higher up than before even though I let it back down onto motor supports ...It does not sound the same at all....Also whats the torque for engine support bolts..?
No codes

 

All quiet now an smooth idle/ an shifts smooth !
I left that darn bell housing cover off. LIKE U SAID.... I even
realigned the tranny with the engine an overdrive bracket an it mounted more inline --- an ran good w no noise now.. Those flywheel bolts were hitting it..At least all the engine issues are resolved with the new timing chain,water pump ,balancer,crank seal ,dreaded oil pan gasket, an starter!


Can any debris that gets kicked up from gravel an road junk do any damage on flywheel teeth or inside bellhousing or starter?
i still may fabricate some type of bell housing cover later .
Thanks again!

 

The likelihood of anything finding its way in there to do any damage is vanishingly small.