Final answer:
Adding a 0.015 inch shim between the starter motor and engine block will increase the clearance by 0.015 inches between the starter pinion gear and the flywheel ring gear.
Step-by-step explanation:
When installing a starter motor, the use of shims is often necessary to adjust the gap between the starter pinion gear and the flywheel ring gear for proper engagement. When you add a 0.015 inch shim between the starter motor and the engine block, it changes the spatial relationship between the gears. This additional space increases the clearance by the same amount as the thickness of the shim.
Therefore, adding a 0.015 inch shim will increase the clearance by 0.015 inches.Adding a 0.015 inch shim between the starter motor and engine block will increase the clearance by 0.015 inches between the starter pinion gear and the flywheel ring gear.