Starter / flywheel

[BTyner]

Hey guys 

I have a 2007 malibu lsv 247. Got to the lake yesterday and we to start it. All I got was a loud grinding noise from the starter. 
To start off I will say I’m no mechanic but know enough to check the basics.
We dropped the starter and tested it and it is kicking out and spinning as it should. I did notice there are maybe 5-6 teeth on the flywheel that are 1/2 shaved off. 
We tried rotating the motor to clear starter from the bad spot and it grabbed for a brief moment and hit this spot again on the flywheel. 
starter teeth seem a little worn but not that bad. 
I guess my question is will just 5-6 teeth that are bad keep it from grabbing and should i try a new starter 1st to see if that will help. I know this 8.1 motor has tons of compression so it probably takes everything lining up just perfect to crank up 

Any input or suggestion is appreciated. If it is the flywheel would this be something we (a few mechanic buddies and myself) could change ourselves and do we have to pull the motor or can the trans and drive be pulled to do this. 

[Woodski]

Unfortunately it’s a flywheel change.  Maybe on trans removal, verify you can slide it back ~a foot from the engine to clear the input shaft.  Not a difficult job, just a lot of wrenching.  

[BTyner]

Thank you sir. I’m going to do some looking into doing it ourselves