Starters Keep Breaking

Here's the story leading up to now:

1. Intake gasket went bad, replaced gasket, heater water bypass inlet pipe.
2. Car started after a lot of cranking, and cleaning the plugs. The CAT was glowing red.
3. Gutted Cat, installed cat.
4. Started car. Car ran rough. I gave it a little gas after letting it run for five minutes. Car stalled. Tried to start car again, wouldn't start. Heard a strange noise upon attempt to start, and then a high pitched whine.
5. Removed starter. Discovered starter was broken and removed large bell housing piece from inside the flywheel area.
6. Installed a new starter. Installed new plugs. Tried to start the car. Turned over once, then a grinding noise. Second starter broken. Bell housing broken clean off. Starter teeth good. Flywheel appears good.

Here's the first starter. The second one is broken the same way.

http://www.pbase.com/image/32766728

HELP!

sounds like the timing jumped. IF it is a 3800, they have factory plastic timing gears and this is a common problem on high mileage examples. The timing being off would account for the glowing red converter as well, as this would cause the ecm to over-retard/advance the timing to compensate for the crank and cam sensors being out of sinc.

So how can I fix it?

have a competent mechanic check for timing chain slack, and if that's the problem, you need your timing chain and gears replaced before they let go and destroy the upper end of your engine.

What if you were in Italy and had no one to service it but yourself. What would you do then?

IF you are mechanically inclined, it's not a difficult job, just a lot of stuff to take off to get to. the parts are relatively cheap, and easily found in the aftermarket. Get yourself a Haynes manual and follow their instructions.