Take out the transmission and there it is. The flywheel holds the ring gear for the starter. If your ring gear has been obliterated by your starter you have an issue with how the starter engages the fly wheel to begin with. Proper clearances, alignment and securing of your starter will make your trooper whole agian.
It is the ring gear and plate that conects your engine and automatic transmission's torque converter.
There are two sizes of ring gears on small block chevies. You probably have the starter for the large ring gear but need the starter for the small ring gear.
count your teeth on your ring gear <big gear> and on you pinion <little gear> and the divide the ring gear teeth by the pinion
41 teeth on the ring gear, 10 on the pinion gear.
Usually (on a manual transmission) it is the reverse ring gear that sits in the rear of the transmission in the 5th gear sychro. The springs that holds it in place usually wears out due to heat and use that the gear gets damaged and no longer makes contact enough to lock into place. Or the case itself has become damaged and is misaligned. Also check your cables before pulling the ring gear out. Sometimes they go out of adjustment and can cause the same issue. Hope that helps.
43 ring gear 14 pinion
Transaxle gear oil is serviced through a large 'female' hex plug on the left or driver's side of the transaxle by the ring gear cover plate.
These cars came with a 10 bolt, 8.5" ring gear and an optional 12 bolt 8.875" ring gear.
ring gear 41 pinion 11 41/11 = 3.7272727272
It is a pinion gear.
ring gear