940ti 93 automatic
Driving the car on saturday night, sudden noise when I floored the accelerator.
Sounded like a thin metal plate dragging on the pavement. Stop and opened the hoos to check it out. The lound noise was still going on. It sounded like it was coming from between the trany and the engine and the noise changed with the engine's revving higher. I had to keep on driving and the noise finally disapeared. The next morning, I took the car for a drive. everything was normal. Restarted the car after a pitstop and the starter would click but not turn the engine over(light in the dash went dim when starter engage, so starter was pulling juice for sure). after 3 attemps, the engine started normally.
I came back home and got my hands dirty by taking off and apart the starter motor. Everything looked OK, the starter gear showed a bit of wear at the end but after 230000 km, I think this would be normal. Taking a look at the ring gear through the bellhousing starter hole, the teeth looked normal with no sign of recent wear on them.
This morning, I drove to work and notice that the noise came back only when I kick down the accelerator hard and then would disapear right after.
The only thing I could think of would be the starter selenoid being a bit loose. When accelerating hard, the G-force would pull the starter gear enough for it to touch the ringgear.

Before I spend some time and money rebuilding my starter motor, is there any other thing or part that could interfer with the ring gear in this area?

I took out of cars numerous GM V8 in my youth. From what I remember, ring gear is bolted to the crank and the tork conv. is bolted to the ring gear. Bellhousing covers everything. No other parts other than the starter is in this area. I have never took a Volvo engine out but I would figure it would be put together in a similar fashion.
Thanks for you comments,
JF