I recently picked up a really nice Albro aluminum flywheel with a bronze clutch face and a nice ring gear pressed on it.....it is also drilled/tapped for both 10" & 11" clutches.......I want to use this on a late Merc 8CM but I've been told it's for the early motor...... How can I tell for sure which it is?? Thanks guys..... Brucie
Thanks for the suggestion...I will do that, but I know there are guys on here who will know...... Bruce Lancaaster? **** Spadaro? Where are you? Help... Brucie
That looks like an early flywheel to me... It won't work on the late block. But it is one of the coolest flywheels I've seen, I'd look for an early block just so I could use it.
I am too lazy to go look it up but maybe the number of teeth in the ring gear. I ordered a ring gear for a 50 Mercury a few years back and the ring gear was off a tooth or two. Returned it for the correct one. Neal
What I've learned over the years that there is no "absolutes" when dealing with vintage cars. I can tell you that when I was younger that my father had a new Weber aluminum flywheel made for a 59AB that would not clear the back side of the block when bolted on. It had to be relieved on the back side of the flywheel to clear and worked for over ten yrs until the eng was pulled. I don't know if that is correct way, but it worked. Your flywheel "may" have been modified or "may" be designed for both versions. A few people come to mind when dealing with speed equip iden***y issues are Bill at Belmonts Rod and Custom, (speed equip) MA, 781-326-9599, Don , Orosco engineering(vintage speed equip) CA, 831-649-0220, Red , Reds Headers (speed equip) CA, 707-964-7733, Jack ,Flathead Jacks (speed equip) CA, 888-993-2233.
Bruce I only know my combo can't help you .But I got to tell that is a piece of art.Landcaster will know ,hang loose,Bruce.
The info you need is detailed in Ol'Ron's (Ron Holleran) book; There's like 1/4" difference id depth from crnk flange to fore-aft spacing of ring gear. Wrong combo is often but not always a cause of bad starter engagement. Gear and starter are same, gear moved slightly and mounting point of starter compensated. I'll have to get actual numbers from book tonight if no one has it handy. Flywheels come spaced both ways, and I note some available now are listed just as "flathead", with no mention of any issues! Bottom line is to mockitallup and work starter Bendix manually and see if it engages. I'll stick my neck out and guess you have the wrong one, so I'll take it off your hands before it breaks any of your parts... Also, one direction of incompatibility would be hard to fix, other could be brought in line with a starter shimm--so lemme go get a number and see what's what. Bruce
Bruce..... Thanks so much for your explanation......I was suspecting that it was something like that since I know they both have 112 teeth on the ring gear.........I have a gear drive starter and I think the *throw* into the flywheel might be affected if the ring gear is too deep into the starter housing.......the shim idea might make the difference if you wanted to make the throw shallower.......but I think the later flywheel is spaced farther away from the crank flange as you've suggested...... Got a late one you want to trade for this one? I'd do that..... Brucie
"Got a late one you want to trade for this one? I'd do that....." ProbablY! I'm very disorganized and in two houses, so figgerin that out will take a bit. First, we gotta get the numbers and figure out what we have,
fwiw....ive noticed that 8ba ring gears are noticably narrower from the tip of the teeth to the id than the early ones. judging from the pics, id say you have an early flywheel...
Found the illustrated info in Ron's book (which should be in every flatheader's library, by the way): Early distance from flywheel flange to front face of ring gear is 5/16", late is 1/32". Visible dif, but I can never remember which way... Measuring requires a spacer block, obviously. There's more than one flavor of cover for the oil pump gears, cast and pressed steel, so check that out if clearance issues. Pressed cover with maybe ****on head screws would be MUCH thinner than cast and hex. Late gear is different, but I think many aftermarket wheels use the early gear for all, as basic tooth mesh is the same. Toothage, starter, and starter drive are the same for all 221-239-255 flatheads except for Fordomatic. Crank flange is same for all, location of ring gear is sole difference.
Bruce....thank you for digging out the definitive info....much appreciated.......I think it's pretty conclusive that I bought an early flywheel......but it's a really nice one......anyone out there want to trade me for a comparable late flathead aluminum with bronze face flywheel? If not, I guess it's time for eGay...... I e-mailed Ol' Ron and want to buy his book, but I have not heard anything back from him yet..... Brucie
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