[ZeroRain]

alright i just got off the phone with my local machine shop and they are saying its going to be dif to get that fly to work. is this tru? what has to happen?

 

[FordofSin]

By your signature, I gather that you are also doing a 5-speed swap. Quite simply, what you are comparing is apples to oranges. Your 3.8 L came with with an AOD transmission of some vintage (I have known of no years that the standard, non SC 3.8 L that come with a 5-speed). Assuming this, the reason why you machine shop said it wouldn't work is because it is a flexplate and your 5-speed conversion requires a flywheel. If you are doing the M5R2 tranny swap, a flywheel out of an SC would work fine but I deal with automatics so I don't know if you need the correct imbalance as you need with flexplates. The typical 5.0 L flexplate imbalance is 50 oz.

 

[ZeroRain]

its going all to a m5r2. i have everything. but i was told by members on the board that the flywheel needed to be rebalanced. what is the inbalance of the sc flywheel?

 

[Roadhawg]

A SC Flywheel is neutral balanced ................ it has no imbalance

 

[Vernon C]

You will need to use a 50 oz. imbalance flywheel. For a stock F150 5.0 with a M5OD (early 90's) or an aftermarket flywheel with the large ford size (164 tooth ring gear) and 50 oz imbalance. I recommend an aftermarket light wieght version as the F150 unit wieghs a ton.

Vernon

 

[ZeroRain]

well i have already bought my clutch and everything for the sc. so im just going to make the sc fly work. the machine shop said that they could make the fly work if i bring in the flex plate from the 5.0 so the can match the inbalance

 

[Mark M. TCCoA VP]

You can have the SC flywheel rebalanced for the 5.0 which is a 50oz imbalanced setup. Spec clutch can do this as they did mine. Using the SC flywheel means you can use your old stock 5.0 starter. I would send your SC flywheel out to Spec to make sure it is done right.

Mark

 

[ZeroRain]

mark how much did they charge you?

 

[Mark M. TCCoA VP]

It was under a hundred bucks as I recall but the the shipping both ways did cost a few bucks.

 

[dirtyd0g]

I believe only 94/95 motors are neutral balance. You better check to make sure. Engine balance problems are never good.
Alan

 

[ZeroRain]

thanks alan but i think what i will do is see if the clutch will fit my friends 164 tooth fly. from what i gather the only big dif in the clutch is one is an 11' disk the other is a 10.5'. if it wont fit then im taking the sc fly and the 50oz flex to my machine shop and we are going to make a fly!

 

[ZeroRain]

That flywheel does not have the same center bore and crank pattern as the
5.0L, so it would take more than balancing. Have you heard of people
redrilling the crank flange? I would not recommend that, as I don't think
there is enough meat in that flange . I like my legs and feet.

David Norton
S.P.E.C., inc
800-828-4379
205-491-8593-fax
[email protected]

this is the message that i recieved from spec about getting the flywheel rebalanced. what do you think.

 

[ZeroRain]

alright i have lost all respect for SPEC

I will double check...I know the 3.8 is the same as the 4.6L...I think the
5. and 4.6 are different. I'll verify and get right back to you...

David Norton
S.P.E.C., inc
800-828-4379
205-491-8593-fax
[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: matthew [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 4:08 PM
To: David Norton
Subject: Re: 89 thunderbird flywheel

? are you 100% sure? i was under the impression that it fit. i thought
the 3.8l v6 was a 302 without the last two cylinders?

 

[dirtyd0g]

alright i have lost all respect for SPEC

He is talking about balance and he is correct. The 4.6 and 5.4 in many cases are different. Most 4.6's have a 6 bolt crank that is the same bolt pattern as 302 and 3.8 engines. All 5.4's have an 8 bolt crank and will not bolt on.
Alan

 

[ZeroRain]

but he just said that the 3.8 has a dif pattern then the 5.0. says it wont work

 

[Mark M. TCCoA VP]

Then I guess when I am driving my 5.0 M5r2 I am in fantasy land?

 

[dirtyd0g]

Then I guess when I am driving my 5.0 M5r2 I am in fantasy land?

You just realizing this?

What pattern is he talking about clutch pattern or crank pattern?

 

[Mark M. TCCoA VP]

I talked to David over at Spec clutch and the SC flywheel just needs to be balanced for the 5.0. Everything else is all set. The cost is $89.00 for this machine shop service plus shipping.

 

[ZeroRain]

lol