Drilling flywheel for 10" clutch

[malpais]

I see this mentioned on the forum pretty often. It can't be that hard, but the 6 shops I visited in Fort Collins yesterday look at the flywheel and say "no way".

How is it done? Milling machine? Lathe mounted?

Any one know of some one on the Northern Front Range of Colorado or Wyoming that knows how to do this?
-
PanelMark may know of a couple to the south - just looking at possibilities.

Thanks, Gordon

[RandyZ]

You need to find a better machine shop. you use a rotary table mounted on a vertical milling machine (Bridgeport). simple job to index the holes.

[19Fordy]

Take it to your local vocational center. I am pretty sure the 49-51 Mercury flywheel accepts a 10 inch clutch. That is what I have in my 40. Early Ford pick up also. Others will know for sure.

[Ronnie]

Sounds like the shops you visited are not too well tuned in!!!

R

[Ross F-1]

Don't forget to countersink the holes. The stock bolts function as indexing dowels.

[Ronnie]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Ross F-1

Don't forget to countersink the holes. The stock bolts function as indexing dowels.

Counter bore not countersink.

R

[Glenn Thoreson]

I have done it myself with good results but it's NOT something I would recommend for the averge guy. I have a new flywheel that is drilled for both 10" and 12" pressure plates. It's excess to my needs and I would sell it. Brand new from Speedway. PM me if interested.

[Karl Wolf]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Take it to your local vocational center. I am pretty sure the 49-51 Mercury flywheel accepts a 10 inch clutch. That is what I have in my 40. Early Ford pick up also. Others will know for sure.

My experience is that the Ford flywheel to clutch bolt pattern and the Merc are different, the Merc uses six bolts spaced evenly around where the Ford uses three pairs closer together...

Karl

[bobH]

Originally Posted by Karl Wolf

My experience is that the Ford flywheel to clutch bolt pattern and the Merc are different, the Merc uses six bolts spaced evenly around where the Ford uses three pairs closer together...

Karl

Correct... 49-53 Merc uses the 6 evenly spaced bolts - same as chevy. My experience - I really like the Merc clutch - velvet smooth and soft feel. JMO
(PS.. BOLT pattern same as chevy, not the clutch. No way I'd try and use the chevy clutch. Too stiff for me, and wrong finger pattern to match Ford T/O bearing.) JMO

[42merc]

8BA Ford uses a "Long" style clutch.
8CM Mercury uses a "Borg & Beck" style clutch.
Two different animals.

[Ol' Ron]

I made an adapter that bolts two flywheels together. Then I transfer the holes on s drill press. Done a bunch of em. Yes clutch bolts are special and act as drive dogs.

[tubman]

Oh-Oh. I did this in 1961 using my dad's Delta drill press and used the 10" pressure plate as a guide. Luckily, I was savvy enough to counter bore the holes. Worked great. Glad I'm smart enough to know not to try this these days!

[malpais]

Thanks all - as usual, lots of good info. So the PP bolts are shoulder bolts for the counter bored flywheel holes? Will have to take another look. Seems I read that on this forum before, so likely they are correct.

I have two late style 5/8" ring gear and one 7/8" ring gear (not so late and not so early I guess) already resurfaced, so would like to use one of the late models. I bought a Long style PP and clutch from Fort Wayne clutch - outta be set there. Ron's method sounds real doable; maybe I will take it out to power plant where I used to work. Huge shop.

Just seems someone who knows what they're doing, in Colorado, ought to show up - still hoping.

Thanks,
Gordon

[Ol' Ron]

The flywhees regester on the crankshaft, Make a bushing tha fits this diameter and bolt the flywheels together. Now you can accurately drill the clutch nounting hols.

[Mart]

That's a great idea, Ron, I like that a lot. I now wish I hadn't sold off cheap a bunch of 11" 'wheels I had.

Mart.

[JWL]

I would do it on the CNC mill or the vertical mill with the digital read-out using X and Y coordinates. Almost any shop could do that by establishing "zero" off the crankshaft register counterbore. The drilling and tapping and counter-drilling should be done perpendicular to the clutch face. My biggest problem would be finding the coordinate measurements that I worked out several years ago and have not used for at least 5 years.

[malpais]

I've been looking at these fly wheels. I'm SURE Ron knows what he's doing, but I'm gonna ask another question as others may like to know too.

Since I don't have the tools to make a spacer/bushing, I'm wondering if I can just bolt the fly wheels together and do it that way. Or get long enough bolts to bolt two fly wheels on an old crank. Would make them difficult to get in a drill press though......

Since the old holes don't go through, looks like one has to drill those through the "guide" fly wheel?

Thanks again, Gordon

[Ol' Ron]

The dushing adapter is a critical part of the drilling process. If the pressure plat is not centered properly iy would creat an un balance problen that could destroy the engine. I made mine in a lathe and it's almost a press fit. Then to large washers are used to hold then together with a bolt. Placing two parralles under the wheels insures a nice vertical drill. And yes the 'Pattern wheel must be drilled through. Johns method is with out a doubt the best, unfortunately getting a machine shop with the right equpiment to do it is another story.

[xix32]

My post # 5 from 2011.
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...lling+flywheel

[41panelmark]

sent you a pm.