Yes, if it's a grinding sound, it's almost always the ring gear teeth. The engine will usually stop in 2 places (4 for a V8) unless you force it to stop with the clutch. That's where the wear will be.

If it is whirring, zinging sound, suspect the starter itself not disengaging quickly from the started engine.

Both can be can cause by bad starter-flywheel alignment, for example if the starter bolt flange wasn't machined right. Never seen this happen with a Datsun though.

I would be saying ring gear first.

If it was just the starter it would be the mesh gear, AND you would have to be very lucky

Hmmm Melbourne is probably a little closer....

Nah I think I should be right for a bit. I will have to actually do something to the engine! This will require me saying I am going to do it for 2 weeks first and then a really lazy try at which point I will then give up and watch TV and then eventually end up doing it a week after that...

ive got a spare too

i also go a spare starter some place if u need one or i could have a geezer at yours but im still in qld

pull out the starter and test it with a battery the sprag could be sticking on the shaft or the fork might be warn now aloweing it to slide fully on the shaft it allso lets u have a look at the ring gear and the starter gear

one guy talked about machining the surface - but he is talking about moving the starter closer to the motor not further backward on the car, if you know what i mean, and i guess this is possible to move it a little bit closer to the motor because there is some clearance there from memory but i reckon all you need to do is get a starter in better nic

No, i meant machining the surface that mounts to the trans. That way the starter would move deeper into the trans. I was just commenting on how you might be able to adjust the starter since there are no shims.
I would rather replace the starter, too. It's much easier , cheaper , and probably the problem.

i agree pull out your starter and check the teeth on that, its more likely theese are stuffed than the teeth on the flywheel, you can probably check the flywheel when the starters out aswell, but im guessing you just need to swap over your starter motor with one in better condition, as far as moving it closer i guess that would work but its only going to wear out again quikly becuase the teeth will already be rounded at this stage

one guy talked about machining the surface - but he is talking about moving the starter closer to the motor not further backward on the car, if you know what i mean, and i guess this is possible to move it a little bit closer to the motor because there is some clearance there from memory but i reckon all you need to do is get a starter in better nic

Pull it out - takes about 2 mins - and check the teeth - they sound a bit crusty.

i think you would have to machine some material off of the mounting surface of the starter to get the starter to move closer to the flywheel. the starter mounts to the front of the transmission.