Starter issues

yes. agree...... if the starter pinion teeth are wedged right into the root of the the ring gear teeth it can get a bit stuck

ideally that skirt on the pinion hits the flat side of the ring gear and stops the pinion ofver shooting, well before there is any real deflection of the pinion due to wedging the teeth of both together, in a mesh they were not supposed to achieve
**** the starter out on its mount, if you have a big mount hole/ small bellhousing stud combination and see if it gets better.

basically that bush sounds like a good idea

if you use the bell housing seal, steal shim, does it fit your starter snout?
fits, or hole too big (original style)...Fine
too small and it will hold the starter out from the mount and the end won't properly engage in the bellhousing register

Dave