427 Ring Gear, OUT!

[ERA Chas]

Hey Ernie,
Here's a shot of the IMI Mini I installed in March. Air gap is spec .045" and when engaged the tooth contact was perfect without adjustment. Guess I was lucky.

[patrickt]

Dang Chas., I didn't think you knew how to work a camera. I'm impressed; very nice.

[ERA Chas]

Thanks for the high praise. Shall save it in my celebrity scrapbook next to Flava-Flav's page.

I don't think you know how to work anything except a keyboard.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Thanks for the high praise. Shall save it in my celebrity scrapbook next to Flava-Flav's page.

I don't think you know how to work anything except a keyboard.

Gosh, that wasn't very nice to say. And after I paid you a compliment....

[ERA Chas]

But it was a compliment-see? you're really good with the tablets!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

But it was a compliment-see? you're really good with the tablets!

Well in that case I feel better now. In fact, I should probably take two of them right now with my next cup of coffee.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, I'd at least throw a fresh driven disc in there. Please take photos while you're doing it all; you know everyone enjoys that.

Yes, we must have pics because we are a "reality-driven" society now.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Dang Chas., I didn't think you knew how to work a camera. I'm impressed; very nice.

For owners of a common car brand, you guys sure are very tough on each other.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

For owners of a common car brand, you guys sure are very tough on each other.

Chas. keeps telling me it's "tough love," but I don't know. Ernie, I'd also throw in a new TOB while you have it out sitting on the garage floor.

[Excaliber]

I got everything out, doing the close inspection of parts. Man those flywheel bolts were kicking my a$$. Impact wrench wouldn't budge 'em. Had to get a cheater pipe on the end of my long breaker bar. Had a heckuva of a time figuring out how to stop the motor from turning while I broke them loose. Pulled the number 1 spark plug and filled the cylinder with water, hydraulic lock, worked great...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Pulled the number 1 spark plug and filled the cylinder with water, hydraulic lock, worked great...

Now that is clever. And here I wasted $20 on a tool that does that.

[Excaliber]

...I was trying to use sand but it kept spilling all over the motor, at least I got some in...

[patrickt]

.....

[Excaliber]

NO, I didn't use sand or water in the #1 piston.

I used a whole bunch of little nuts and screws, locked it up real goody...

Here's some pics of the damage.

[Argess]

That's interesting. I noticed some slight damage to my ring gear, but it chipped the corner off a few teeth vs wearing them down. Must be a different hardening process to the steel.

It was a McLeod flywheel, and I think the ring and the wheel may be all one piece. Still works OK with two slightly chipped teeth.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Here's some pics of the damage.

Ernie, was the damage to the teeth generally consistent around the entire circumference of the flywheel?

[Excaliber]

Well I'd recommend NOT accidentally "bumping" the starter from now on what with a chip here or there all ready.

The lesson for me was: When your going to engage the starter, don't screw around with it. ENGAGE it, or not. If you release the key (or remote switch in my case), let the starter finish spinning down before you re-engage.

Both the starter drive and the ring gear had some teeth at full size, no chips. That leads me to believe it was in fact the "hammer impact" of an incomplete engagement that led to this failure.

Now comes the wait for the parts, I hate that. Well, put the lime in the coconut...

[Bobcat]

Excaliber ... you mentioned there was no good way to run an MSD distributor at 20 to 24 degrees initial with the MSD 18 degree bushing . Almost correct . I`m running 26 degrees initial and a total of 36 degrees by using a 10 degree bushing from FBO in Cottage Grove , Oregon . Call Don there at 541-942-5920 . He makes 10 and 14 degree bushings for the MSD unit . You might also want to check out his website .... 4secondsflat.com .
You may have to open up the slot the bushing slides in some , but I didn`t have too .

Bob

[Excaliber]

Cottage Grove you say? Eh eh, I own ten acres there, went to high school there, got kin folk all over that area. I'm on it, need to get that bushing!

[Bobcat]

Beautiful country out there ....as is Cottage Grove Speedway . One of the divisions I used to work for was out of Eugene over on Airport Road ... which is how I became familiar with that area .
That bushing really cleaned up my bottom end . You might also check out his guide to reading plugs ... it`s in the Technical section and can be downloaded .

[Excaliber]

BIG PROBLEM! I just counted the teeth on the flywheel, 152, which doesn't line up with ANY known flywheel, 427, 428, 429. I called Gessford Machine (those sure are some nice folks by the way) they confirmed it's an odd ball. The size is correct, 15.5" inches. Anyway, I ordered a 184 tooth all ready so I got my fingers crossed it will fit.

It's likely I've had the wrong ring gear all this time and THAT may account for the numerous starter problems I've had over the years?

I'm moving later next month, this is the worst possible time to be dealing with flywheel issues and a car that won't go.