I had a tough time hearing the video since I'm at work and can't really turn it up, but if it's not the flywheel or converter bolts, maybe the starter gear is hanging up and banging against the flywheel? You mentioned a grinding noise from the starter also, I wonder if there's any correlation.

 

as long as there is nothing wrong with the engine, I'm happy.

 

the 60e has a small "inspection" cover on the very bottom of the bellhousing.its maybe 1 1/2 - 2 inch's at the most.i think you can see the converter bolts from there.
oh ya turn the engine over with a breaker bar at the crank..

 

Is that what that little circular thing is? I'm going to just remove the starter. I think the starter may be the source of my problem anyways. It may be hanging up on the flywheel. My hope is this in order: 1) starter gear is extended when I take it out meaning it's catching up on the flywheel 2) loose torque converter 3) broken flexplate.

 

ya thats what it is lol just pop it out with a flathead.hope its just the starter..

 

pull the starter you can see the bolts. Thats how you tighten the TC to the flywheel. so they are accesible. Use a 24mm wrench to turn the crank bolt as needed to see them. Theyre are 3 bolts.

 

dolt, I dont have a 24mm wrench. Best I can hope for is to be able to turn the flywheel with a screwdriver or something, might have to pull the plugs I've been told this makes it easier to turn. I should be able to feel the tq. converter wiggle a little though if the screws are loose enough so that a grinding noise is being made I would imagine.

 

makes it a tad easier to turn over the engine w/o the serpentine belt installed.

you can also use a big *** screwdriver to turn the flexplate....ease it along using the teeth....wait you have a 60...doh

 

Must be nice having that huge inspection cover on the 80e!

 

That would make life real easy wouldn't it! Not such a big deal though since you have to remove your starter anyway to inspect it...I know that you've had the starter out before so that should be a piece of cake . Since you're mentioning a grinding noise my gut keeps leading me to think that the starter is hanging up, do you still have the other starter from when you were having the slow start problem?

Even if you find the starter gear stuck out, inspect the flywheel anyway, the teeth may be ground down from the starter hanging up. If you find the teeth of the flywheel messed up, you're going to want to replace it or you will end up messing up the gear on the replacement starter.

Sounds like your plan of attack is spot on