Installed a rebuilt starter in a Camaro.
Shims, are to space the starter drive gear away from the flywheel. The shim is inserted between the engine block, and the starter. The thicker the shim, the more the starter drive gear is further away from the flywheel.
Starter housings are machined from the factory, where they were made. No two housings come out the same, for the machined pad, where the starter bolts to the engine block.
The difference is minimal, granted, but thousandths of an inch count in this area.
It's generally a trial an error situation. This is why there are shim packs. Packs of shims with varying thicknesses.
Rule of Thumb, is generally that the starter drive gear, is 3/32nd's of an inch away from the flywheel.
If you hear a metallic grinding kind of sound, the starter is too close. A thicker shim is needed.
I suspect your problem is the starter drive itself. Definitely sounds like it from your description.
Granted, when bench testing the starter drive kicks out, but the roller clutch inside the Bendix drive is no good. (Starter drive)
Suggest you take the starter back, and get an exchange.
This rebuilt starter has a bad Bendix drive.
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