So I have a 98 k1500 5.7 with 315K on it. I've had the truck for a couple of years and it has always run good and reliable. Yesterday I tried to move it to begin oil change and coolant flush. When I tried to start it a horrible clanking noise came from the starter so pulled it off and inspected to find damage on the teeth of the starter. I figured the selinoid was shot so I put another starter on it and it made a similar noise (not nearly as bad) and the truck started and ran poorly. I let it run in the driveway and it began to throw codes (random/multiple cylinder misfire and cylinder 4 misfire). At this point I discovered that the distributor cap was broken around the bolt tab and loose. I decided to go back under the truck and put the heat shield onto the starter and while I was down there I looked through the peep on the bell housing (didn't know it was there) and discovered chipped and broken teeth on the flex plate. WTF?? I'm wondering if anyone would have any insight as to why any of this happened and are these issues related? Thanks