83 Nissan 720 starter issues

[dogred]

83.5 D720 Naps-Z 2.4l 5 speed transmission

My starter seems to not want to align with the flywheel properly. It will crank (along with some grinding) a few times then it seems like it get bound up. When that happens I will turn the key and nothing happens, not even a click. Also the transmission dust cover was bent in a bit towards the center of the starter, as if the starter was being pulled in. Think of a hole for a countersunk screw. Also the passenger side of the plate (in the area of the starter) is bent out away from the transmission. All of the starters that have been tried during trouble shooting have been remanufactured.

Is this problem from the starters or maybe the bell housing being warped ever so slightly?