I have a 88 f250 7.3 idi diesel 4x4 5spd, looking to replace the clutch soon. I assume my truck has the Dual mass flywheel. What is better a DMF or Solid Flywheel? Can you swap out a dmf for a solid?

 

no contest, change to the solid, much better performance and any future clutch replacements will be more economical..

 

With the 5-speed you almost certainly have the DMF. Replacing it with an SMF is a pretty pricey upgrade - about a grand or so. On the other hand, a DMF rebuild if you need it (now OR in the future) isn't any cheaper.

The cheapest thing to do if you have a DMF is to convert IT to a SMF instead. Do a search on the "lucky mod" and read up on it.

My 86 has an SMF and a 4-speed. I'm in the middle of converting it to a ZF. That's easier said than done since the ZF input shaft is 1-1/4" versus the 4 speed input shaft which is 1-16". Pretty much all the clutch disks for the 1-1/4" shaft are SOLID HUB - not spring mounted hub, which is what you need for an SMF. Also though the DMF and SMF pressure plates will both bolt to either flywheel, there is about a 1/2" difference in the depth between the two of them - with the SMF being the deeper of the two.

Finding a kit with a clutch disk with the 1-1/4" shaft with a spring mounted hub AND one of the deeper pressure plates has proven to be pretty much impossible.

I think I FINALLY found an economical solution though. I ordered a separate pressure plate and a clutch disk from Autozone today. They both say they are for a "flat pressure plate" which should be a SMF. The disk is part # CP31103A and the pressure plate is part # CA31103. They should be here in a couple of days and I'll let you know if they are what I expect them to be.

 

luk sells conversion kits and then their clutch disks and pressure plates for future uses. couldn't you just get a different flywheel then you can find clutches for it no problem?

 

Sure, you can get a different flywheel - that's the conversion kit. Like I said, with the flywheel, and clutch kit the cost is about a grand....

One correction to my previous post. The pressure plate I ordered from AutoZone is part # CA31055. That is the one for the standard flywheel. the CA31103 is the pressure plate for the DMF - the one that is too shallow...

 

no way the kit is only like 500 i was just looking at it earlier ill find the link.

 

$500 INCLUDING the flywheel? I'd be pretty surprised at that. Heck the kit that Schucks offers is $992 - and it isn't even a LUK kit....

Even if you could find the LUK kit for that, the pressure plate I'm getting is $68, the disk is $60, the TOB is $28 and the pilot bearing is $8. That adds up to only $164 - a long ways from $500.

If you do the Lucky Mod and make your DMF a SMF that conversion costs about $5 (the cost of 6 grade 8 bolts with lock nuts), and then you can buy the DMF clutch kit with the sprung-hub clutch for a whopping $144 at Schucks.....

 

ok i was 75 dollars off but its still better than 1000

http://www.clutchcityonline.com/dualMassFlywheel.htm

 

One of our 1988 / 7.3 idi / 2wd had the dual changed to single and cost was $759 which included shop fitting charge and parts kit from Napa.

 

Give me a call when ready. the entire kit with flywheel is 540. This is an original Luk kit not a chinese knockoff NAPA sells. Any clutch issues even the 4psd to 5 spd conversion i can help with. just give me a call

 

just checked it out dialaclutch.com $575 completew/smf & clutch

 

Well, that is BY FAR the best price I've seen on that kit - but it is still $400 more than what I'm spending

 

I bought mine at dialaclutch too, good pricing and quick delivery. My input shaft was worn-pilot bearing went dry after 250,000 miles. I put in their kevlar pilot bushing instead of the bearing with good results. If you change to a flat flywheel remember that if you need to do clutch work in the future dont buy the stock parts for that vehicle-the stock clutch is smaller and uses a solid disc-no dampener shrings. I have been very happy with the new set up.

 

i try to have the best deal availabe on these kits. we do a tremendous business in the ford diesel market and this is part of the reason we signed on to be a sponsor of FTE. Anyone looking for clutches and or flywheels i will beat any advertised price on a comparable kit. let me know if we can help

 

Go with the solid everytime. Every shop I worked at told customers to upgrade or take the truck out of the shop. The customers weren't happy about the initial price but they changed their mind when it lasted longer.