I've been on the hunt for an original 8ba flywheel, on and off, for a couple years now. Before I had researched the true differences between flywheels, I put my trust in a few guys who claimed that what they had were indeed what I was looking for....BUT, alas, they were wrong. So many guys (including me until recently) can't tell an 8ba from a 59ab. The cue is obviously the width of the ring gear....5/8" vs 7/8" if I'm not mistaken. Anyway, now I've got 3 59ab flywheels (one that was lightened professionally back in the day) and not a damn thing to do with them. I keep an eye out on tha Evil-B** and see some that are purported to be what I need, but no longer do I trust until I can measure. Is it just me or are these things getting rare?
i believe another difference is that the 59a flywheel is "dished" and the 8ba is flat. i think the diameter differs between the two.
Dude, chill. I'm waaaay behind on shipping your dash, sorry...but you don't need that wheel before you travel east, surely! Your dash is late...but on the good side, it doesn't have any empty holes in it any more! I've got your bell, 3 speed, flywheel clutch, etc. waiting for you here in N.J. All matched stuff from a '53 Merc. Bring that lightened 59 along, though!
You could just buy a new steel flywheel. Centerforce has one that's drilled for both Long and B&B (or diaphragm) p-plates, includes ring gear, is SFI certified, is balanced and weighs only 26 lbs, about 10 less than a stocker.
HA! No worries. I just do a few things here and there on that flathead when I don't have time to do more involved things on the car itself!
OK! You have open drive rear...so you need zero further thinking behind the block until you pick up this boatload of anvils. Complete setup from crank flange through front U-joint. Ford and Chevy lengths are oft the same in total, so its conceivable you might splice everything together with a U joint cross. You do need a floor shifter conversion, though I would seriously consider column shift. I'm getting close to shipping dash...I'm just a lot better at accumulating scrap than wrapping it.
I have half a dozen of 'em laying around if you need one..... Most are drilled for 11" clutch, but they can be redrilled pretty easy.
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