Question on clutches

Macdozer

Senior Member
In the process of rebuilding engine and was wondering what most people do with their clutches. Working on 59AB engine with a 9" clutch can you rebuild them yourself or is it easier to
send them off to get rebuild or is it best to buy a new one?


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I would not consider rebuilding a clutch yourself. There is more to it than simply replacing springs, resurfacing the face and reassembling it. Do you have the proper test equipment to know if the springs are generating the correct pressure under a specified height? Do you have a method to clamp the clutch down and measure the specified height to the three "fingers? Do you (simply) have the specifications?
I have had consistently good service / quality from Fort Wayne Clutch in Indiana. It may not make ($$) sense to ship your cores for rebuilding. Ask them the cost outright vs. exchange.
Bottom line? This is one of 'those" parts that does not make much sense to "DIY" The cost to replace is minimal and you can be fairly confident you'll receive a good part.
Oh, one additional bit of advice: stay far away from the Chinese repop clutches offered by many of the usual suppliers.
 
I have gotten wonderful results from Fort Wayne Clutch .If you plan on using a 9" clutch have FWC increase the pressure plate pressure and reline the disc. With more aggressive material to handle the 59 ab.They redid the 9" clutch on my 41 sw which slipped before,it works great.Phil
 
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I use 9in. clutch in about all my engines, get them all from Fort Wayne, if I'm building race engine like in a vintage stock car I have them install stiffer springs, they are balanced real close. Walt
 
Don't even think about rebuilding the clutch yourself.
Let the pro's do it.
Imagine how aggravated you would be if you install it and then have to take it out again, have it rebuilt and then reinstall it.
 
Question on the flywheel will I have to take it to a machine shop and get resurfaced?
This is the first time doing a engine rebuild so I want to do things right. Here is a pic of the flywheel.

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Fort Wayne clutch, out and back in a little over a week. Top notch people and work. That looks like a heavy flywheel. What is it going in ?
 
Fort Wayne clutch, out and back in a little over a week. Top notch people and work. That looks like a heavy flywheel. What is it going in ?

That wheel is a 35-42 9in. I have that outer lip chopped off flush with the disc and have the wheel balanced, it takes about 10# off the wheel, but if have a stock engine you might as well leave it, I'd have it resurfaced. Walt
 
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