I have an ej22 from o1 impreza mated to an xt6 5mt, ea82 flywheel and pp. I am using the car's original starter from fwd 5spd.

 

I think i remember there is a slight clearance issue. I need to know how much spacing is needed, the best manner to do so, or if i should use a different starter.

 

It shounds like the bendix gear is dragging along when the engine is running. I have only run the engine long enough to start, and to test alternator oputput.

I've never had an issue. And a quick look at parts listings doesn't show any difference from FWD to AWD/4WD. So as long as it's for a 5MT, it should be just fine.

What thickness is the adapter plate? If the plate is too thin, then the flywheel will be too close to the starter. It should be 12-13mm thick.

 

Otherwise, if the starter fits the trans, it should work fine.

Isnt there a difference with the throw on an auto v.s manual starter? Say if you have an auto trans and a starter for a manual you could get the symptom you describe or if you have a auto starter on a manual car it could not fully engage the flywheel and eat teeth some times.

The snout on an auto starter is a different diameter, so it wont fit in a manual transmission.

I swapped the starter out wit the one that was original to the engine and adapter plate behind a 4spd ea81 trans.

 

Still had the starter dragging with the flywheel.

 

I put some washers between the trarter and the trans and that cured it. I used ea82 head bolt washers. I would have used thinner ones if i could find 2 that matched out of my 5 gallon buckets of subaru hardware.

 

I cannot explain why it was rubbing, but the variable was 4spd vs 5spd trans with this particualr adaptrer and flywheel(ea82)