my truck eats flywheels
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
my truck eats flywheels
Hello, all. I've got a 76 High Boy with the original 4 speed trans and a 390 from a 1969 LTD. I bought it from a friend about 7 years ago and he said it eats flywheels. So I put a new flywheel and starter in it and drove it about 8,000 miles. The problem recently happened again where the starter made an awful noise as it contacted the ring gear, as if the teeth were breaking off of eachother. I saw some minor marring on the ring gear teeth and the starter teeth so I replaced the starter. Now 12 days later the same problem is occuring. I know there are 2 different ring gear sizes for the application I've got and the same starter part number. How can I find out the true size of the flywheel I've got so I can make sure to fix this problem? Any help is truly appreciated. Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Huntington WV
Did you try going to like advance & NAPA an have them check on there computers to see what fits that engine? An you can buy the ring gear for the flywheel an have a machine shop put it on for a little bit of nothing. I got a 74 F250 4 speed manual an bought the ring gear for it for $30 an $10 to have it put on.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
I came across this problem once, the cause was really odd and drove me nuts untill I found it, basically there was nothing else left to check. This was on a 2WD but the same thing could happen on a 4X4.
The bellhousing wasn't tightened properly and the bolts had backed out, this let the bellhousing "frett" against the block and wear. Because of the way the engine and transmission sit in the mounts, the bellhousing wore more on the top than the bottom.
Eventually the owner spotted the loose bolts and tightened them. In doing so, because the bellhousing was worn more on the top than the bottom, the starter and the flywheel weren't in alignment, the starter drive and the flywheel teeth were now not exactly parallel.
When you started it, it didn't really sound bad but it would eat starter drives. It took me almost a month to find that problem.
I didn't know about the loose tranny untill after the fact.
The bellhousing wasn't tightened properly and the bolts had backed out, this let the bellhousing "frett" against the block and wear. Because of the way the engine and transmission sit in the mounts, the bellhousing wore more on the top than the bottom.
Eventually the owner spotted the loose bolts and tightened them. In doing so, because the bellhousing was worn more on the top than the bottom, the starter and the flywheel weren't in alignment, the starter drive and the flywheel teeth were now not exactly parallel.
When you started it, it didn't really sound bad but it would eat starter drives. It took me almost a month to find that problem.
I didn't know about the loose tranny untill after the fact.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
There is an early starter and a late starter for FE engines. The problem occurrs with remanned starters containing who knows what these days.
Second, the drive nose cones on some "new" starters are too thick, so one or more of the ribs needs to be ground down a bit so the starter can fit flush.
Third, with all the engine swapping, make sure the engine to bellhousing PLATE is there. It is very important for alignment of the transmission AND starter. Automatic and manual plates are the same.
Josh
Second, the drive nose cones on some "new" starters are too thick, so one or more of the ribs needs to be ground down a bit so the starter can fit flush.
Third, with all the engine swapping, make sure the engine to bellhousing PLATE is there. It is very important for alignment of the transmission AND starter. Automatic and manual plates are the same.
Josh
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Whitestown, IN
im having this problem right now....my starter wasnt bad but when i got the truck he had replaced it due to not knowing what to looking for and thought it was the starter. i crawled under the truck and noticed that the ring gear had came loose from the flywheel. I pulled the tranny last night and got the new ring gear today. matched them up and was WAY off ! the trucks engine calls for a 184t but the ring gear i took off has 153t...the starter and the 153t ring gear mesh perfectly so my question is should i just get another 153t ring gear and throw it back on or is this a completely wrong ring gear ? sorry this is so long winded but im confused and not sure what to do...? the ring gear i took off is in good shape other than a little bit of wear on the outer edge
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Pre-65 is the older 153 tooth Flywheel and what is considered the "early" style starter.
Post-65 is the 184 tooth flywheel and modern starter.
Basically you match like for like. You can use a 153 on any year FE, but needs to use the early starter and have the early style bellhousing to clear the starter drive.
The 184 can be used on any year FE as long as a Late style starter is used.
Josh
Post-65 is the 184 tooth flywheel and modern starter.
Basically you match like for like. You can use a 153 on any year FE, but needs to use the early starter and have the early style bellhousing to clear the starter drive.
The 184 can be used on any year FE as long as a Late style starter is used.
Josh
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
B8A6384A .. 153T Flywheel Ring Gear / Obsolete
Original applications: 1958/64 Passenger Cars w/FE engines.
The 1958/64 flywheel is a different part number than (either of the two) that were used 1965/76.
1965/67 352 & 1968/76 360 used an 11" clutch on a 12 3/8" bolt circle / 1965/76 390's used an 11 1/2" clutch on a 12 7/8" bolt circle.
Since I've never tried it, I dunno whether a 1965/76 184T ring gear will fit a 1958/64 flywheel.
If you cannot find one of these 153T ring gears at an autoparts store: B8A6384A =
B.F. WHITE MOTOR CO. in Stanton TX has ONE = 800-953-3321.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has TWO = 800-543-4959.
JST AUTOMOTIVE in Lebanon TN has THREE = 615-443-3086.
Original applications: 1958/64 Passenger Cars w/FE engines.
The 1958/64 flywheel is a different part number than (either of the two) that were used 1965/76.
1965/67 352 & 1968/76 360 used an 11" clutch on a 12 3/8" bolt circle / 1965/76 390's used an 11 1/2" clutch on a 12 7/8" bolt circle.
Since I've never tried it, I dunno whether a 1965/76 184T ring gear will fit a 1958/64 flywheel.
If you cannot find one of these 153T ring gears at an autoparts store: B8A6384A =
B.F. WHITE MOTOR CO. in Stanton TX has ONE = 800-953-3321.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has TWO = 800-543-4959.
JST AUTOMOTIVE in Lebanon TN has THREE = 615-443-3086.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Whitestown, IN
B8A6384A .. 153T Flywheel Ring Gear / Obsolete
Numberdummy, my old ring gear is still in good shape. It didnt take but maybe an hour and a half to pull the tranny so should I try to put that ring gear back on but just reverse it in the process ?
Also how do i know which bellhousing i have ? early stlye or later style ?
since i have the 153T ring gear im guessing i have the early style starter as well
Numberdummy, my old ring gear is still in good shape. It didnt take but maybe an hour and a half to pull the tranny so should I try to put that ring gear back on but just reverse it in the process ?
Also how do i know which bellhousing i have ? early stlye or later style ?
since i have the 153T ring gear im guessing i have the early style starter as well
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Late Starter
Early Starter
The bellhousing has a "knorb" or deep recess in the starter pocket.
You just have to match like for like. If it were me I would swap over to the Late style.
Also, you cannot use a newer flywheel with the old ring gear. Since the Bendix of the older starter PULLS the gear IN, it has the possibility of smacking the gear off the flywheel.
Josh
Early Starter
The bellhousing has a "knorb" or deep recess in the starter pocket.
You just have to match like for like. If it were me I would swap over to the Late style.
Also, you cannot use a newer flywheel with the old ring gear. Since the Bendix of the older starter PULLS the gear IN, it has the possibility of smacking the gear off the flywheel.
Josh
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Now there are conversions to run a Late starter with the 153 flywheel, but it ends up costing about twice as much as just getting a new 184T flywheel.
This guy does conversions:
Marc's One
15153 Garfield
Paramount Ca
1-877-627-2111
Autozone part #747 is dual drilled for 11 inch and 11 1/2 inch pressure plates...
It is about $70 if you turn in your old flywheel for core.
Also, make sure the block plate is installed between the block and bellhousing for the Late style starter.
Josh