Starter/Flywheel Damage - Help Need Advice

[Large Arbor]

Thanks Patrick, very helpful!

Phil

[Large Arbor]

Getting closer.

[lippy]

When I was checking my pinion tooth/flywheel engagement, it was clear I wouldn't get 1/2 the depth of the flywheel. I looked at several starters and they all had the same extension. I then called QuickTime and spoke with an application engineer, who told me it's ok to have less overlap, and gave me a minimum spec (I don't remember what it is). I'm pointing this out so you know the 1/2 depth thing is a guideline, and sometimes it's fine to have less.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Getting closer.

You know that TKO weighs just a bit over a hundred pounds. You and your son, neighbor, etc. can lift it out with your hands and straps.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You know that TKO weighs just a bit over a hundred pounds. You and your son, neighbor, etc. can lift it out with your hands and straps.

I did it myself 3-4 times, no straps, just by hand. I used a jack with a wide slab of wood underneath and studs in the bell to guide the trans out. Step one was to pull the trans back on the studs, step two was to disengage the trans fully and place it on a block of wood/towel on the floorboard, step three was to lift it out of the car. It was a bit of a pain but not that big of a deal. And I'm 5'-6" and 160 lbs.

[patrickt]

Phil, if you plan to dead lift 100 lbs out of the car, cinch your belt tight, keep your chin up, bend at the knees, and hopefully you won't herniate a disc.

[DanEC]

Does it even need to come all the way out of the car? If you have a piece of plywood down, won't it be sufficiently out of the way to work on the clutch if it's pulled over to one side besides the door sill?

[Large Arbor]

I have to pull the bellhousing, remove the clutch to replace the ring gear on the flywheel.

One question though, it looks like the hydraulic clutch has to be disconnected. Can I do that without draining the hydraulic fluid by just unbolting?

Phil

[DanEC]

Your slave cylinder should bolt to the block if it's the external type. You just need to pull the rod. If you have a hydraulic throw out bearing I'm not sure - it may come out through the clutch fork hole once the transmission is pulled without breaking the line.

[patrickt]

Right, if it's the traditional "fork and rod" you just take the nut off the end of the little pushrod that comes out of the slave so the fork can come off it. You know, while you're in there, you might as well throw in a new clutch, PP and TOB, unless the existing stuff is really new.

[DonC]

X2 for replacing the clutch and pressure plate as long as you're in there. TOB is a definite, they're not that expensive. Might also want to look at having the flywheel turned as long as it's going to be off to have the new ring gear pressed on. If the unit is very low mileage it may not be necessary but it's a judgement call. Think seriously about what you've gone through to get the xmsn, clutch and flywheel out and ask yourself it you want to do it again for a new clutch later. Is it worth a couple of hundred dollars to you not to have to do it again?
Had about 5K on mine when I overtightened the xmsn drain plug and had to have the rear case replaced. Did the clutch and PP but the flywheel was still very clean so didn't have it turned but that was a call by my local machinist after he took a look at it.
DonC

[ERA Chas]

I think I said this a couple pages ago-cut the f'wheel and press on a ring gear. Bolt on starter you wind up with to the blockplate and test the throw.................you're done.
The throw-out and pilot bush if you see wear.

[Large Arbor]

Gents,

Many thanks for all the suggestions. I heed very many of them. Transmission, bell housing, clutch and pressure plate and flywheel all out. It will get a new ring gear this week. I will replace the clutch, pressure plate, and throw out bearing. I tried all the starters Summit had and none of them would work including Summit's own brand. One supposedly was an OEM replacement and it was better but not quite good enough. I will get the right one though one way or another.

Does the flywheel have to go back in the same exact position it came off in?

Phil

[DanEC]

It's probably neutral balanced and in theory wouldn't matter - but the safe bet is to put it back in the same position. Some motors have a bolt pattern with one bolt shifted a few degrees to prevent chaning the flywheel position with the crank - I believe that's the case with my 427 Corvette. I don't know if Ford ever did this or not.

Why do you ask?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

It's probably neutral balanced and in theory wouldn't matter - but the safe bet is to put it back in the same position. Some motors have a bolt pattern with one bolt shifted a few degrees to prevent chaning the flywheel position with the crank - I believe that's the case with my 427 Corvette. I don't know if Ford ever did this or not.

Why do you ask?

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Does the flywheel have to go back in the same exact position it came off in?

Phil

Phil, you don't have an original 428 (with the original, unmolested crank), do you? If you don't, then it doesn't matter. I had my 428 internally balanced when I had it stroked out to 4.125". Usually, 428 engines are externally balanced -- so flywheels are a big deal. But, it wouldn't hurt to just mark it with a Sharpie and put it all back in the same position. Post some pics so we can see how you're doing.

[DanEC]

He has a Shelby block so I assumed he has an aftermarket crank which are usually neutrally balanced. Probably not good to assume however.

[Rick Parker]

Isn't one of the flywheel bolts in the the pattern off a a little so the flywheel will only go on one way?

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Rick Parker

Isn't one of the flywheel bolts in the the pattern off a a little so the flywheel will only go on one way?

That's what I said up above but I can't remember if that applies to my Corvette motor or my Cobra FE motor - or both.

[patrickt]

I think Phil has run in to trouble. He should have posted some progress pics by now.

[Large Arbor]

Apologies for being so late. I had grass to mow this morning and then lunch with the wife and driving to DC. In hotel finally and pics are below.