clutch bolts

What Jim said.
With the weight of the pressure plate and using bolts without shoulders for alignment, just think about how many grams the weight would be off if the pressure plate was not exactly centered.
 
I'm not Tom, but that is a very serious, well-founded statement. This is one place where there's more than one reason to use the proper type bolts. DD
 
You guys raised my curiosity. Measured the pressure plate OD (11.360"). Measured the countersink on the flywheel (11.370"). Measured the shoulder on original bolts (.310"). Measured the diameter of a new grade 8 bolts which would be on the threads (.307"). Measured the hole diameter on the pressure plate (.320").

IMO there is enough slop to offset the use of precision bolts. The pressure plate is being held by the countersink in one direction and 12 bolts in the other. The V8 was held by 6 bolts. The bolts we get are just fine either original or new grade 8's. Now if you get the flywheel and pressure plate balanced, make sure you put it back in the balance position.

Original bolts are the same as pan and valve cover bolts. Nothing special according to Ford.

At work one of the guys talked about us "Pole vaulting mouse t**ds".
 
Ft Wayne Clutch has the bolts with the shoulder. You have to (or at least should) countersink the flywheel bolt holes a touch. The last time I got Bratton's bolts, some years ago, they were not shouldered. Take your choice.
I have read the original Ford bolts were shouldered, but have not seen drawings, or any that could be verified as original.
 
Ft Wayne Clutch has the bolts with the shoulder. You have to (or at least should) countersink the flywheel bolt holes a touch. The last time I got Bratton's bolts, some years ago, they were not shouldered. Take your choice.
I have read the original Ford bolts were shouldered, but have not seen drawings, or any that could be verified as original.

Ford clutch bolts were the same as the pan and the valve cover. That makes at least 42 were used on an engine assembly not counting the ones on the ******.,
 
Tom , Are you being serious or not

Unless I put up a :D, you can figure I'm serious. While the recess will pretty well center the clutch pressure plate, several guys have lightened the flywheel and removed the recess and use a V8 pressure plate.

I thought Model A's used shoulder bolts here, but will look it up later in my Parts Price List.

How about you just install a multiplate clutch and don't worry about the bolts.:D
 
would lock washer cover shoulder

If you are referring to the original bolt, the "shoulder" is actually where the thread is not cut. It is around 1/8" thick and the original washer is 3/32" so about 1/32" would help locate the pressure plate if the tolerance build up didn't overcome the tight fit you are trying to achieve.
 
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