[VetteVet]

I would measure the starter gear clearance in the flywheel teeth and shim it or remove shims if necessary. Sometimes flywheels are slightly out of round and can be too tight on one side and too loose on the other. The starter gear teeth should engage the flywheel teeth such that a 1/8 th drill bit will go into the gap between the starter gear teeth and the flywheel V. If it's too tight the bendix gear will hit the edge of the flywheel and the gear will spin against the flywheel and not engage. This will give the screeching noise you heard.

Rotate the damaged part of the flywheel so that the center of the shiny area is near the starter teeth, then pry the starter gear outward to engage the flywheel teeth and measure the gap. You can get shims at any auto parts shop.