1934 Pressure plate swap

Graham Freeman

Senior Member
I have replaced my original (model A style) pressure plate and flywheel in my 1934 for a 1935 style and flywheel to give a lighter clutch.
My question does the original 40-7511 clutch arm have to be replaced with the shorter 48-7511 arm or can I still use the original arm?
Want to know before the motor goes back in after 34 years (can't rush these things).
Thanks
Graham
 
No plus the 35 arm is shorter which might cause alignment issues since the '35 has a different pedal assy etc.
 
Have you changed to a '35 transmission case as well? If not, the weights that protrude from the side of a '35 pressure plate likely will not clear the inside of the front of a '32- '34 V8 transmission case when they move outward centrifugally.
 
Sheldon, and David.... I'm puzzled here. When I put my late 33 or early 34 together, I still had the original trans, coupled to a 36 LB engine. (trans number matched frame number.) The 36 engine had it's flywheel for a typical 9-inch clutch. I got the pressure plate from deuce-lover here, and I believe it was/is a typical 9-in PP. It all went together, and seems to work good. Have I created something that is going to give problems? (It's been a few years.) And, did I change the arm (and forgotten about it)? I have never heard any noise that might be from those weights contacting the inside of the trans case. ???
 
The interference condition or lack thereof must be a function of the specific pressure plate design Ford was referring to in it's period Service Bulletin that warned of possible interference and evidently your clutch differs in its design or perhaps not both of the two '35 flywheel designs carry the risk. Your '36 engine likely has the second flywheel design iteration.
 
Bob, I was only referring to the arm .I never knew of a problem that could arise using the 35 flywheel,clutch and pressure plate on the early engine with the 33-34 trans. I have always used the '39 trans in that application.
 
David, I was not aware of any difference between the 34 and 35 cases.
Whereabouts do they differ?
I do not want to change the case as it is a matching numbers one.
Thanks
Graham
 
Graham,

The initial inside diameter at the mouth of the case extends rearward further in the 48-7005 case than in the 18-7005 case which was original to your '34. That change increased the clearance for the clutch pressure plate.
 
Indeed there can be an interference issue but it USUALLY shows up when you use a 10" or larger PP.
 
Don't you love it when people chime in with their non-relevant experience as somehow being relevant. Graham asked about a '35 clutch and flywheel, not '36. Ford did not change the transmission case and the flywheel (twice), and issue a service bulletin alerting its dealers to a potential problem in 1935 for laughs. And, of course, the configuration of the clutch pressure plate is paramount to whether or interference may be encountered along with which '35 flywheel (early or late) is being used (obviously the '36s came with the late flywheel).


Happy new year!
 
Reading this has got me worried. I am about to bolt a cupped flywheel to a 36 LB and didn't know there are multiple early flywheels. I thought that the later flywheels are flat and early are cupped. I don't know what year the flywheel I have is. I understand the 18- vs 48- transmission case talk but am lost on the flywheel references. Can someone post pictures of the flywheel differences? Every day is a learning day... Thanks
 
I'm with uncle buck... With respect to David, I did not know about 35 vs 36 flywheels. I made a bad assumption that they were likely the same. As said, learning every day...
Sure, I can post a picture of a 'cupped' flywheel. But, it would be meaningless, in light of the info here. I have no idea where my flywheel came from.
 
I'm with uncle buck... With respect to David, I did not know about 35 vs 36 flywheels. I made a bad assumption that they were likely the same. As said, learning every day...
Sure, I can post a picture of a 'cupped' flywheel. But, it would be meaningless, in light of the info here. I have no idea where my flywheel came from.



Exactly, I am glad Graham brought this subject up! I also thought there was only 1 version of the cupped flywheel. It sounds like a few of us are going to benefit from this education. I am very thankful for the knowledge shared here
 
After doing a little more research the differences in 35 flywheels are clearly shown on page 80 of the 1935/36 Ford book.
From that I find I am using the later style flywheel along with what I should have mentioned initially a 9" clutch.
Also on page 79 the differences in bell housing changes are shown for those following this thread that were a little confused like myself.
I definitely shall have a dummy mockup with a 34 gearbox case before installing in my cabriolet.
Graham
 
Just an update on the clutch swap.
Using the original 34 gearbox housing, the later 35 flanged flywheel and a 35 style 9" clutch plate everything works fine with no clearance issues.
 
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