Do starters need spacers??
 

Early '85 944 sound like starter is running into the flywheel. Would the starter need spacers?

my handy dandy manual says nothing about a spacer needed between the starter and the bell housing, is this a new starter that you just put in or is somthing wrong with the old one?

It is a brand new bosch starter

mmmm......
Well if what you are hearing is the solenoid clicking, and the starter itself is not turning over it could be the battery-the contacts to the solenoid or it could be a bad starter (new is a relative term in parts, plus it never means perfect)
I would check the conectors and charge the battery if you think its the solenoiid first
But this is all if the car wont start, if it starts you then run it till normal engine temp then disconect the coil wire and ground it on the motor....hopefully you have a volt meter and can check the positive lead of the voltmeter to the stater mtor solenoid and the neg to ground...activating the ignition switch (no more then 30sec at a time)over 9Volts at normal cranking speed is normal below 9volts means it the its the selnoid contacts are bad if 9volts and slow cranking then you should get a new starter and try again.........This last part is all from the trusty haynes manual...try it at your own risk:)

No spacers needed or allowed.

gb

I think one of the two bolts that hold mine on had an extra washer though; this would introduce a slight angle to the way the starter sat in there. I'll look tomorrow (it's out of the car, along with a good portion of the engine). It's possible they (Porsche) did this to adjust the play from side-to-side anyway.