New to this site, hoping y'all can help me out. I just bought a 1972 F100 with the 240 I6 and a 3 speed (floor shift converted, which seems to annoy a lot of enthusiasts). The truck is in really good shape cosmetically but needed some mechanical TLC. I'm currently replacing the brake MC, radiator, clutch, misc. seals/gaskets/mounts, and the flywheel.
The only thing keeping my truck down right now is the fact that I can't find a flywheel for it. I've done hours of internet searching, made multiple calls to different companies, and cannot find a flywheel. I'm hoping one of you guys can tell me where to find one. Or... should I just have the one I've got resurfaced? I'd rather put a new flywheel in with the new clutch, but I really just want my truck back on the road.
So one of y'all make me look stupid and quickly post a link to where I can get a new flywheel!

 

The usual process is have a machine shop resurface the flywheel and replace the starter ring. Why do you think the flywheel needs replacement?

 

My mechanic buddy said it's fried. He said it could be resurfaced but then I'd have to find the right shims and whatnot. I'd rather put new with new, but I'm open to dependable options. I've only owned the truck 2 weeks and its been down for 5 days now, I'd like to be able to drive it.

 

This is what my flywheel currently looks like...

 

National Parts Depot, LMCtruck.com, Summitracing.com, maybe o"Rieleys, or NAPA

 

Re placing is best as you can only shave off so much then the flywheel bolts start rubbing the clutch hub. Get the tooth count measure across it. I'm not up on I-6's so can't tell you what other I-6 flywheels with interchange with it. But Jeff or ND should be chiming in so with p/n's to make it easier to find one.
Orich

 

Hard to tell from the picture but I don't see any stress cracks and it doesn't look to be scored from a bad clutch so it shouldn't take much to clean it up at a machine shop. It will be as good as new if they don't have to take too much off. Back in the old days when a flywheel looked shiny, didn't look overheated, was smooth, etc. the mechanic would give it a hand sanding with a sanding block using a medium grit sandpaper then put it back together with a new disk--sometimes do the same with the old pressure plate. They would still run another 100K miles towing trailers. Today, we tend to spend a few more $$$ and go new since it gives us some insurance that we won't have to do the job again.

Don't take offence to this but I am big on re-using original parts (like flywheels) when possible so that we don't consume the limited supply of these old parts unnecessarily when someone else who has a severely pooched part may need it more than I do. I restore a few old diesel engines from the 1940's and parts are getting super hard to find so trying not to take the "replace everything with new while I have it apart" approach can help other people who need parts too.

Regardless--good luck and I hope you get your truck back on the road soon!

 

I've tried all the chain parts places (it's where I got everything else), lmc doesn't carry my flywheel, summit didn't have one...
Haven't tried npd, my dad used to buy from them when he had his 66 mustang and he wasn't really impressed with the quality of parts, but it's worth checking out.
Red merc, I could be wrong, but aren't places like lmc/summit/etc making newly produced parts? I don't think by me buying a new one, it's going to stop someone else from getting one.

 

I totally agree, as long as those places have them then they are being manufactured but it sounds like you have tried those places so they might be scarce. Chain store prices are usually good and easy to get to so it's the first choice by lots of people. Sometimes, their aftermarket applications are not always what they state they are, so that can be a reason why sometimes re-using the original ends up being less trouble (Starters are a great example of incorrect applications with chain stores).

If your original flywheel can be machined and re-used then why would a new one be any better? I admit it is easier to just go to the chain store and pick one up. I am not trying to rattle you cage here--just curious about what everyone else thinks. Just friendly discussion!

 

I've got two people helping me out with the truck, one says resurface, one says get new. It seems like this forum is also split, haha.
I don't intend to keep this truck for very long, so if resurfacing saves me a little bit of money and still functions at 100%, I'm ok with going that route. As long as I can reliably drive the truck on a daily basis while I do own it, I'm happy.

 

Flywheel should be available from NAPA, but there are two different types depending on the size of the clutch. 240: Either 10" or 11."

10" (on a 11 3/8" bolt circle) 240 only, 11" (on a 12 3/8" bolt circle) same as 240/300. 300 not available with 10" clutch.

 

As you stated, O'Reilly's and NAPA don't list a replacement flywheel for a 240/300. If you're going to replace the flywheel with a new unit, you may have to look to the 300 (also listed as 4.9L) inline sixes for a replacement. Both the 10" and 11" clutches were available and like the 240, the 300 engine has a Zero imbalance on the engine reciprocating assembly.

Just from a quick internet search, this is an example of what I found. You'll just need to know your flywheel diameter and you'll have to do your own research to determine if this will in fact work as a direct replacement on your 240.

81 1981 Ford F100 Flywheel - Clutch - ATP, Ford Racing, LUK, Pioneer Cables, Rhino Pac, Sachs - PartsGeek

...as a side note and on the other end of the engine, my '69 240 had a 2 groove harmonic balancer. I added power steering and swapped the 2 groove 240 harmonic balancer for a 3 groove 300 balancer. My engine doesn't have any violent vibrations in swapping from the 240 balancer to the 300 balancer.