Maybe it's just me, but I never bought a GM starter with shims
included. If the starter is machined wrongly it's cheap enough for them
not to  bother with shims. The shims are used to correct for block
machining. When the old starter is removed you need to be aware if
there are shims there and replace them. If you lost them you will need
to buy some. Maybe somebody previous to the OP lost them and that's why
he also had the sound with the previous starter.
Most likely though the OP has problems with those flywheel teeth in one
area of the circumferance. Until he engages at that bad part he doesn't
hear the noise. Eventually he will be buying a flywheel and starter. If
the teeth are inspected now one by one and all burrs removed, he might
go happily on his way. And the new starter drive may already be
damaged, but probably not. I wouldn't be starting it until I inspected
it.

"" wrote:

the starter that died had no shims and the rebuilt one i purchased
didn’t come with any shims either...it’s a Palladium from Advanced
Auto Parts, ran about $57 before core deduction.  so it’s a
possibility it’s a bad rebuilt?   I keep thinking maybe the bolts
werent tightened enough because my dad was the one physically removing
the dead starter and installing the rebuilt....and he pretty much has
no knowledge of cars lol....he drives an ’05 Focus so that should tell
u something.