Starter Motor Question
 

I pulled my starter, and its dead, so i went up to the parts store to get a new one. The new one i got varies slightly from the one I have in that the shaft the drive gear is on extends about an 1 1/4 inch past the gear, and there is a bushing to go on it. The one I pulled off of my car didnt have that shaft, all that stuck out the end was the drive gear. Will this starter fit, or is it the wrong one?

Probably the wrong one. I'd make sure they are really the same dimensions exactly. There are two type four starters, one for a bus and one for a 914 and I think the bus one has the gear out slightly more and will probably jam once the engine fire up. Good luck

the problem isnt that the gear itself is farther out. its just that the shaft the gear is on extends past the end of the gear on the new starter, whereas on the original starter it did not.

It sounds like you got the VW automatic transmission starter. That is listed (incorrectly) in the parts books some major parts chains use. The correct one would be a SR-17X, I believe. We carry it--you can check the part number in our on-line catalog.

--DD