how hard is it to change? what needs to come off?

Just disconnect wires and remove 2 or 3 bolts.To some one who has done it before they would probably say it's easy.To someone doing it the first time they may think it's difficult.If you do it make sure you disconnect the battery first!

I hve done mine more then once, went and bought a gear wrench fron sears to get starter bolts out. Turned a 1.5hour job into a 20min job, and saves the hands.

did you have to take anything off motor?

I dont have factory exhaust, I dint know if this makes a difference, but know. Exhaust manifold was the thing most in the way on mine, but that is easy to remove if necessary.

Are you sure it is the starter?

Check your slave solenoid first. (If you have one).Real easy.

Ken

i turn key and get a click....i believe that is the solenoid clicking

I had the same issue, the click was coming from the port side of my engine on the top of the block (1999 454 MPI). Not from the starter location.

I removed the Mercathode blue box and below it was a slave solenoid.

Try jumping the two larger terminals with a screwdriver, if the starter engages it is the slave solenoid.

Just to make sure nothing is loose on the slave solenoid, disconnect the battery or else work real carefully.

Disconnect the two larger wires on the slave and check the tightness of the terminal studs for the wires you just removed.

They screw in, reattached the wires and tighten those nuts.
Hook up the battery and try again.

The whole procedure is a 10 min job working on the top of the engine, much easier than pilling a starter.

It is worth a shot, if the clicking sound is on the top of your engine.

Ken

thats what it was.....thanks man

Glad I could help.

Ken