Flywheel help
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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Flywheel help
Heres the deal. I bought a new starter to replace the original bacuse it was turning slow. Now I dont know if maybe I got a faulty starter or if I had it cocked when I was tightening it down but long story short the teeth on my flywheel went bye bye. There are teeth but they look like they may be about half or maybe a little more gone. I have a different new starter and have even tried the old one and none will engage. Whats the easiest way to replace the flywheel for a guy who has no garage? Can I drop front & rear driveshafts,unbolt the crossmember and slide tranny and transfer case back far enough to replace? How far do I have to get them back? Its been a while since Ive yanked a tranny.
Truck is a 351M with a 4 speed ( NP435 I think)
Truck is a 351M with a 4 speed ( NP435 I think)
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Collierville
It isn't a hard job but it takes time. I did it so much on my 66 Mustang that I could do the whole thing in about 3 hours. 4wd will add some time. The only special tool that I found was necessary beyond a very good floor jack was a quality clutch alignment shaft. While you have it apart change the pilot bearing - $5 at NAPA - and perssure plate, clutch plate and throwout bearing. Take a look at the rear main seal too.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
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From: Northshore, MN
unfortunately, you need to drop the tcase and tranny out completely. floor pan interference and other obstructions make it this way. And they can be heavy. And you still have to remove the shifters. You can cut the ring gear off the flywheel and just buy a new gear as opposed to a whole new flywheel. It's no fun no matter what.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 843
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From: USA
As stated, it's not an easy job no matter what. Please remember that the transfer case is almost 100 lbs. by itself. Basically after dropping the drive shafts you need to seperate the transfer case from the transmission, then remove the floor hump cover inside the cab, remove the shifter and then seperate the transmission from the bellhousing. Once you have that done you can remove the bellhousing to get at the pressure plate and remove it. Unbolt the flywheel from the crank and your ready to replace the ring gear. You can purchase a new ring gear for about $20.00 from a number of places. I removed my old ring gear with a hammer and a large punch, just worked my way around the ring until it fell off. I installed the new one by putting the flywheel in the freezer over night and then heating the ring gear to 400 degrees in the oven. Ring gear slipped right on. Might as well get the flywheel faced while you have it off. Check with the shop, they might replace the ring gear for you for about what it will cost you to begin with. Hope this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: SE Missouri
Just a suggestion, but when I replaced clutch, ring gear, etc. in my truck I pulled everything from the back out like you're thinking. I wonder though if it would be faster to pull the engine and avoid moving tranny, t-case, and dealing with those f-ing cross members. My ring gear slipped right on when I put it in the oven, I don't know if it was even 400, but it worked well. Good luck
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Im thinkin the motor-out option would have been alot easier but its tooo late for that now as everything is out of the truck. Ive heard that the oven thing doesnt get the ring gear hot enough?? I will try tonight and see if it works otherwise the torch will have to come out.
Tommy
Tommy
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
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From: Northshore, MN
ring gear in the oven. flywheel in the freezer. Or a torch, but still put the flywheel in the freezer.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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Yup. Ring gear in the oven Flywheel in the freezer worked like a dream. Took about 15 minutes at 500 degrees and it dropped right on no problem.
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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a faster and better way to do the ring gear is to use an acytelene torch and just turn on the acytelene and put a coating of soot on the new ring gear then turn on your oxygen and heat the gear till the soot is gone and it will be the right temp to drop onto flywheel but not hot enough to remove temper from the gear
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Joined: Mar 2008
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so was it really that easy to do the ring gear on the flywheel and did you shim the starter at all when you put it back in and did you have to take the tranny out to get the flywheel off. and what did you mean by the transfer case not balaning real well do you mean on a jack or when you put it back in the truck??
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Joined: Jan 2005
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I know you have yours out, but this might help somebody else. Not sure about F-150's but in an F-250 (77.5-79) the trans. and transfer case can be slide on the t-case crossmember. The mount on the t-case is very wide and will give just enough room to remove the bellhousing. Sure saves you the heavy lifting.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Palatka, Florida
Be careful using a torch to heat the ring gear. If it aint heated evenly it will warp and this project will be being redone in a couple weeks. The oven at 500 degrees is how we did mine and is always the best option. I know yours came out successfuly, just putting my 2 cents in for the next person that has to do this.