starter won't engage

[porsche735]

I finished rebuilding my engine and installed it into my car. however, when I try to start it, the starter does not engage. I pulled out the starter motor and it seems fine. I measured the depth to the surface of the flywheel ring gear and it measured just shy of 2". When I pull out the bendix on the starter, it only reaches to about the same distance, but that is to the end of the shaft and not the gears. It looks like it needs to go in another 1/2-3/4" to mate properly. I am using the IMI HiTorque starter. Does anyone have a measurement they could do for me from the surface of the starter to the surface of the ring gear?
I don't think I could have done anything that wrong that the ring gear would be off by so much. But maybe I did. What could I have done wrong?

Thanks,
Chris

[porsche735]

Uh, I think I forgot to put on the ring gear. I felt inside and there is a step to the teeth which means only the flywheel teeth are there. Thanks anyway....

Chris

[JJ 911SC]

If you did, don't feel too bad.

According to Wayne's 101 it must be a recurring mistake as he mentioned to put the ring on top of the engine after removal. Of course mine is in a box (at least the clutch bits box.

[Porboynz]

Chris, thanks for your post, it cheered me up no end. I spent about 4 hours last weekend fitting the oil tank, oil cooler lines and engine oil lines only to realise once I finished that I forgot to attach the wires to the oil tank sender unit and the whole lot needed to come out to fit the darn wire. #%it happens and its always faster the second time around.