Which flywheel should I be using Flathead V8

[frenchy dehoux]

I have a 1948 / 1953 Ford Flathead V8 engine and would like to know which flywheel I need to use. I have two style with two different pressure plate the disc are the same size. Or does it matter if I use either ones. I know that you cannot use a later flywheel in an early engine but can you use an early flywheel in a later engine. I have a few pictures posted let me know which is the one to use. Also you can see the difference in height with both flywheels side by side.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

[Andy]

The one at the top right is the one to use with the later flathead.
It is from a Merc and uses adifferent pp than a Ford.

 

[rotorwrench]

Frenchy
What type of transmission are you planning to use for this project? I assume this is an 8BA type engine. There are four possible OEM clutch/flywheel applications you can use depending on the transmission that is going to go behind it. If it is going to use a T5 or something, that will complicate it further. An 8BA engine will have to use an 8BA type flywheel for certain.

 

[frenchy dehoux]

Frenchy
What type of transmission are you planning to use for this project? I assume this is an 8BA type engine. There are four possible OEM clutch/flywheel applications you can use depending on the transmission that is going to go behind it. If it is going to use a T5 or something, that will complicate it further. An 8BA engine will have to use an 8BA type flywheel for certain.

I am using a 1952 / 1953 Ford 3 speed transmission here is a picture of it

Thanks
Frenchy

 

[frenchy dehoux]

The one at the top right is the one to use with the later flathead.
It is from a Merc and uses adifferent pp than a Ford.

Thanks for the help so this is the one to use.

Thanks
Frenchy

 

[bluardun]

Frenchy: note the Merc flywheel takes a special bolt for the pressure plate. It is a "sholdered" 3/8 coarse thread.

 

[frenchy dehoux]

Frenchy: note the Merc flywheel takes a special bolt for the pressure plate. It is a "sholdered" 3/8 coarse thread.

Yes I have the bolts as you mentioned with the shoulder. What would happened if I was to use the other flywheel.

Thanks

Frenchy

 

[bluardun]

Nothing. The Ford flywheel uses a 5/16 bolt. I think either flywheel will work for what you are doing. The Ford is more common, probably easier to buy a replacment pressure plate, if you ever need one.
bh

 

[rotorwrench]

That clutch is a Borg & Beck unit. Care has to be taken to know which cover you have with the B&B units since some of them use the large throw out bearing. 1949 thru 51 Merc used the large T/O bearing just like the earlier pre 49 Fords used back to 37 or so. The B&B units for 1952/53 Merc used the 49 & later smaller T/O bearing like the Ford cars but with a little different bell housing. I think the 52/53 Merc type will work with the Ford car type bell housing as long as you use the Ford T/O bearing & clutch arm that goes with the Ford bell housing if that's what you have.

You can use a 1949 thru 1953 Ford car Long type 9.5" clutch/flywheel if you want. They are much easier to find replacements for and should be plentiful. My Mercs have the B&B 10" and they work well but I have to send them to Ft Wayne Clutch to get them rebuilt. They are getting harder to source as time goes by.

 

[frenchy dehoux]

Nothing. The Ford flywheel uses a 5/16 bolt. I think either flywheel will work for what you are doing. The Ford is more common, probably easier to buy a replacment pressure plate, if you ever need one.
bh

Thank You

The second picture on my post at the top right is what I was hoping to use since I already had the flywheel and pressure plate balanced I did not want to take any chances and having trouble using something else.

Frenchy

 

[4t8v8]

Just wondering if that B&B flywheel with the holes spaced evenly would take a diaphragm type clutch. If it would, what type of throwout bearing would it take?

 

[rotorwrench]

4t8v8
The answer is basically that some of them will fit. Chevrolet used diaphragm type clutches that will fit a Mercury flywheel and there are diaphragm fingers that will work with several different T/O bearings. Center Force Makes one for flatheads but they are expensive. Ft Wayne or other clutch rebuilders could set one up to work with several different applications.

Frenchy
If that 2nd pic is an 11 incher it might be a bit on the stiff side. You will also have to make sure it will clear the inside of the bell housing you plan to use. The 11" Long type was mostly used on trucks. If it was a 10 inch then the fingers are likely spaced for the old large type T/O bearing used by Ford back into the 30s same as the Mercury cars prior to 1952. You can get a machine shop to re-drill any one of those flywheels for whatever clutch you want to use if need be. I assume you are planning on using the clutch fulcrum lever type arm with the Ford car type bell housing. You can use a late 51 Mercury type bellhousing if you want to use a rotating lever (rotating shaft & fork) type clutch actuation like the old 30s cars used. With that housing the Ford trans you have will fit and you can use the large type T/O bearing of the late 51 Mercury since thay are now available again.

 

[frenchy dehoux]

4t8v8
The answer is basically that some of them will fit. Chevrolet used diaphragm type clutches that will fit a Mercury flywheel and there are diaphragm fingers that will work with several different T/O bearings. Center Force Makes one for flatheads but they are expensive. Ft Wayne or other clutch rebuilders could set one up to work with several different applications.

Frenchy
If that 2nd pic is an 11 incher it might be a bit on the stiff side. You will also have to make sure it will clear the inside of the bell housing you plan to use. The 11" Long type was mostly used on trucks. If it was a 10 inch then the fingers are likely spaced for the old large type T/O bearing used by Ford back into the 30s same as the Mercury cars prior to 1952. You can get a machine shop to re-drill any one of those flywheels for whatever clutch you want to use if need be. I assume you are planning on using the clutch fulcrum lever type arm with the Ford car type bell housing. You can use a late 51 Mercury type bellhousing if you want to use a rotating lever (rotating shaft & fork) type clutch actuation like the old 30s cars used. With that housing the Ford trans you have will fit and you can use the large type T/O bearing of the late 51 Mercury since thay are now available again.

Thanks for the heads up on this. I will install both type of flywheel I have with their clutches and I will also install the bell housing and see what type of clearance I have and go with the best one.

Thanks
Frenchy