I am new here and am building a project truck. I have a 47 Mercury with a 351 W and 79 C4 transmission. I put on a new starter and solenoid along with new cables, battery and wanted to make this trouble free. I used the C4 flywheel. When I start the engine the starter hangs up and self destructs before I can remove the battery cable. I have destroyed 3 starters. I changed the flywheel and still same problem. The flywheel is a 157 tooth. I am positive the solenoid is disengaging as I put a hot wire to the dist and pulled the cable from the solenoid when it starts. same thing starter wipes out. These are napa starters and they have warrantyed them. Any ideas?
Thanks

 

Don't know if this could be the answer. I believe the starter housings for an automatic are different from a stick shift. I think the difference is in the length of the nose (drive end)