Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Curiosity killled the cat but what the hell killed

The stock starter is enough for the higher compression.
I've never heard of a starting issue from the starter on a high comp. motor.
Also, never heard of anyone needing to shim the starter. Did you grind enough away on the block skirt where the starter tip goes? If everything else including the fit of the starter is good, then I'd suspect a starter going bad. I dissassembled mine, cleaned up all the gears and relubed them with regular grease and was able to make it start like new. The grease gets old and gummed up long before the starter bendix, shaft, or planetary gears go bad. Also, it is an expensive starter so I'd look there first.