Flatead flywheel question

[Jay in Mass]

I know that this has been covered before. I need to put a flywheel on a 59 AB flathead. What is the difference between the 59 AB and the 8BA type? It seems that one has a ridge of about 1/2'' and the other is about 3/4" between the ring gear and the face that the clutch rides on. I just want to be sure before I install the wrong one because I know that it has to do with the starter pinion meshing the ring gear on the flywheel.
Thanks in advance for your response.

[xix32]

the 8ba flywheel starter ring gear is 1/4" further back than the 59a, and the starter bendix won't disengage, if you put it on the 59a engine.
the best way to tell them apart is: the removable starter ring gear on a 59a is 7/8" wide. an 8ba is only 5/8"

[Jay in Mass]

XlX32 Thanks for your reply to my question. I will go out tomorrow and check the width of the ring gears on a 59AB and an 8BA for 7/8" and 5/8" respectively. I thought that we should measure the space between the ring gear and the face that the clutch rides on.

[Mac VP]

Remember....it's the width he gave.....not the thickness. Both ring gears are the same thickness.

[Jay in Mass]

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Thanks Mac
Now I get the picture..... Old age is sneaking up in me.