Hey guys. I'm not very good with motors but I've got myself a 1973 highboy and I figured that it would help me learn how to work in a motor. Well its doing just that. It was having issues starting and a buddy said to check the starter. I did and the little gear was shot. I also noticed the teeth inside are all chewed up too. Time to pull the tranny and fix it. My question is, is it a flywheel or a flexplate I'm replacing? I look at parts stores and they say something different every time. Its a 390 that I'm working with. Any help from this vague description would be helpful. Also teeth count. I noticed there are options. Thanks

 

Manual transmissions use a flywheel, and a clutch pressure plate bolts to it. Automatic trannys use a flexplate, onto which the torque converter bolts.

 

Well thanks for the quick reply. Its got an automatic transmission so then its a flex plate I'm looking for. Thanks again.

 

One last question. I'm looking at 2 of them online and one says non-sfi the other says sfi. What does that mean?

 

Don't really know what they're talking about. The FE engines in '73 only had one flex plate.
Rock Auto RockAuto Parts Catalog lists two flexplates but thats because they carry two different brands ATP and Dorman. Both their numbers cross over to the same original Ford part number.

The only sfi I can think of is sequential fuel injection and thats something that would be totally foreign to the FE.

Also, just so you know, "FE" refers to the Ford engine family that includes the 360-390 engines.

 

Thanks mike. Which of the two is better. I've heard of dorman before but not ATP. Does it really matter?

 

Yes, you may have a 390 but it could be a 360 , they turn in to 390s on sale day sometimes. Seller trying to get more money , but hey they are both good engines and you can make a 390 out of a 360 . Good luck with your project, JIM. ___

 

Six of one, half dozen of the other. Both companies have been around for decades. ATP originally stood for "Automatic Transmission Parts". I would feel comfortable using either brand.

 

Could we see some pictures? Here is how.


But I got ta say becoming a supporter is the fastest and easiest way to post pics right from
your whatever pad/cell thing or home computer.
Few of us look in the users Gallery or album as you can see by your recent visitors.


Quote:
Originally Posted by 76f350spercamprspeal

Welcome to FTE, Best Damn Forum EVER!
------------------------
Here's How to Post Pictures:
1. Login to FTE.
2.Click User CP (In the Top Left Hand Corner)
3.(On the Left, There will be a list, The 5th Option Down, will say "Pictures & Albums) Click That.
4.Then, Click Add Album, Enter a title, and description, if ya want to.
5. Click Upload Pictures, Then click Browse, Locate the Files of your truck. (You can add 3 files at a time)
5. Click Upload.
6. Add a description to the individual pictures, then click save.
7. Add more files if ya want.
8. Click The Picture you want to post, it will give you two codes at the bottom, Right Click The Second one (It say's BB Code, Then Say's [IMG]http:blahblahblah...[/IMG])
Then, Once that is highlighted, Right Click, Then Copy, Then Paste it into your post.
You can add up to 30 Images in one FTE Post.
If, Ya need any help, Don't hesitate to ask.


Quote:
Originally Posted by old_dan

You can also go to the "Garage" tab and start an album right here on FTE. After you post pictures to an album, we can look in your album, but you'll also be able to "insert a picture" by pasting in a link to the picture in your album.

It seems awkward, but whenever you "insert a picture" to one of these threads, the forum is looking for the picture somewhere on the web (which is always available) rather than from somewhere on your hard drive (which isn't always available).

Quote:
Originally Posted By Jolly Roger Joe

Welcome to FTE!

Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.

While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
The best photos and videos | Photobucket

Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).

When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain) and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).

Your pic will be placed in the post.

Hope that helps.

Here's a tutorial Bob put together: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/67...-pictures.html Bob's link is not working. Can someone in the know tell me why?

How to upload pictures to the FTE Forums. - YouTube Thanks Sam Rusty_Old_F250

 

sfi and not sfi is a certification used for racing, pretty much means it certified to a certain rpm. I would save money and go with the non sfi since its in a truck

 

Ah, okay, got it now. I was thinking in terms of something to do with the engine.

 

There is one way to identify whether it is a 360 or 390 and I used this years ago. On the flange that the flex plate/fly wheel bolts to is a notch cut into it. If memory serves, the 390 has a half circle shaped notch.
I got this from the book "How To Rebuild Your Big Block Ford" that shows a picture of the different FE crank ends and how to id them.
I need to get that book again.

 

Keep in mind only the '61-'65 390's have the half circle notch cutout on the crank flange, (as do all 360's).

The '66 and later 390 cranks do not have this half circle notch cutout on the crank flange.

 

That I didn't know, Thank you.