[Randy V]

Ian - Your issue may be as simple as a bad connection at the battery.

Bill - as we discussed on the phone - You just need to use a die grinder to open up the hole in the block plate a little at a time until the boss of the starter mates and the bolt holes line up. You don't want the starter bolts alone to locate the starter - that's the job of the boss fitting into the block plate - the bolt's jobs are to hold the starter to the engine/trans assembly and to keep the starter from rotating when engaged.

We'll talk more tonight I hope..