Maybe what ruined the flywheel was that new starter you just bought!.
Make sure the teeth matched each other.
Also, if the shaft on the starter jams sticking into the gears while in the meshing position, even if the teeth match, when the engine overpowers the engaged starter, the
gear teeth also grind away and would make the sound you heard.
So, test the 'new', chewed up starter at any auto
parts store to make sure the solenoid spring can retract the teethed shaft and check the shaft itself in the engaging position for any pitting or scratches or marks that make it bind in the engaging position and not retracting away from the spinning flywheel.
May have to 'speak' with whoever sent you or manufactured the new starter. This should not have happened if the
gear teeth matched properly. Find the cause before doing the
repairs planned.
Guess you may be able to tilt the whole engine forward as you mentioned after removing the
oil filter and lines and
transmission and damper plate and cover and engine mounts and.......if you have the room back there.
this might be a good time to replace the damper plate and the rear seal and clean and degrease things around and scrape and spray
paint a little blue. Rustoleum
paint is close enough colorwise. Refer to the manual. Good engine, have good luck with it.