[Coloradocobra]

You may also want to check to see how "deep" the starter is engaging. Most parts places sell starter shims to space the starter a little more towards the front of the motor. When I installed my starter I could actually hear the teeth hit the flywheel when I turned the engine over with a wrench. The shim straightened it all out. It was a stock starter on a Lakewood housing with the correct block plate. If you are not having any clutch release or chatter problems it may have nothing to do with the bellhousing dowels unless the housing was newly installed when you installed the starter.

Gary