Ford Transmission - Anyone heard of this before?

[rokker]

Does anyone out there run a small "ring" or "gasket" in between the flexplate and the bolts that hold the flexplate to the crank? I was told that this "ring" is important..???

I guess the purpose of this "ring" is to evenly distribute the torque to the flexplate that is created by the bolts. Has anyone even heard of this before? I saw a pic of this "ring" being applied to a flexplate in a Ford book but everyplace I call to get the part has never even heard of it. Im wondering if maybe this is an old part and not really needed??? ANY help or info would be great.

This is for a 351w c6 setup.

Thanks

[billymanfroy]

I've used a C4 with and without it. Here's my take: I don't think spreading the load is quite as important as protecting the surprisingly soft metal of the flexplate from being gouged out by repeated installation/removal of the flexplate bolts. Flat washers help, but not much. Split washers or none at all REALLY screw it up. Once it's torn up a little, then the problem is, did you make it weaker and can you ever trust the torquing numbers?

Use the little ring if you can.

Billy

[rokker]

Billy - thanks for the info - now here comes another Q? Do you know where I could find one or a few? Ive tried Culhanes, Napa, Ford Dealership(s)... or could I make one? Teflon possibly 1/8"? What is yours made out of?

Thanks

[billymanfroy]

Ours was just a metal ring that had all the bolt holes in it. I don't know for sure where to get them, because I do rmemeber getting a new flexplate from the local parts lace but they couldn't find one of the rings. You might want to try a Ford wrecking yard or a big tranny shop. I bet a classic mustang-type place would have them too.

Sorry I couldn't help more. We did race and turn over 8700 rpms without one, so you may want to just try flat washers as big as will fit.

[hoeker]

i had one on a truck 15 years ago, a dozen engines later and i've never seen another, haven't had a problem running the bolts right tight without one in 4 years racing either.

save yourself some time searching and go buy a set of ARP flexplate bolts. they have a larger contact area that will help prevent damage to the flexplate. the next best option would be grade 8 flat washers as billy suggested. just don't use standard hardware store flat washers.

good luck,
www.rosshoek.com (http://www.rosshoek.com)

[SLORunner]

When we did the C-4 swap on my roommates Ranger, we just machined a new one on the lathe. We couldnt find anything at any of the parts stores. The closest we came was a shim that Napa had. The problem there, is that you need like 6 of the shims to make up the correct spacing. And at $12 a shim, no thanks. If you have access to a lathe, I could probably get the dimensions from my room mate. Let me know.

[ntsqd]

Little known tip, especially when dealing with sheetmetal parts, note which way the washer was stamped. Install it so that any rounded edge is against the sheetmetal not under the bolt head. It isn't that the rounded edge is more desirable so much as not having the sharp edge against the sheetmetal is desirable.