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| | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | So I am putting together the clutch and engine that is soon to return to its rightful place in my '53 3100. Even an amateur hopes to avoid the most basic misteaks. Regarding the fitting of the pressure plate to the flywheel, the good book says "Hand crank the engine until "X" mark on the flywheel is at the bottom." Darned if I can find any "X" mark on the flywheel. Just what does this "X" look like? Is it in the rear face of the flywheel, or on the edge, or behind the bolts? My eyes aren't that bad...
Karl
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,480 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,480 | Hi Karl,
I have not seen the X mark on any of the flywheels I've owned and I always thought it must have been removed when the flywheels were re-surfaced.
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | So what is the purpose in having the flywheel in a particular position for assembly?
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 | Is it for putting the pressure plate back in the same position relative to the flywheel? That's important if reusing the pressure plate, but doesn't really matter when installing a new clutch. It's similar to reference marking u-joints on a driveshaft when reinstalling. The book goes on to say line up the "X" mark on the clutch cover with the "X" on the flywheel.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | And isn't one purpose of the "X" to ensure that the pressure plate is attached at a particular location?
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | Missed your post Kevin. Exactly my question.
Last edited by Organbuilder; 04/05/2021 6:22 PM.
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,480 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,480 | So what is the purpose in having the flywheel in a particular position for assembly? Maybe it is a zen thing?
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 | Missed your post Kevin. Exactly my question. As I said, it only matters if you're replacing the same clutch. The shop manual doesn't say anything about marking the flywheel and clutch pressure plate on disassembly, but if you're putting in a new clutch, then there's nothing to index.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | Yes, Tim, I found the "X" in The Book, just not on The Flywheel. Kevin, I have a new clutch but am reusing the pressure plate. And thereby exerting my god-given right to ignore good advice.
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,028 | Yes, Tim, I found the "X" in The Book, just not on The Flywheel. Kevin, I have a new clutch but am reusing the pressure plate. And thereby exerting my god-given right to ignore good advice. 
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 1,652 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2017 Posts: 1,652 | It was a balance issue. If you want to duplicate it, take your pressure plate, pressure plate bolts and flywheel to a good machine shop. Have the flywheel resurfaced and then balanced. It may already be balanced just fine, but then the machine shop will balance the pressure plate to the now balanced flywheel and mark both for the installation. Yes its a couple of extra dollars to do but you get to confirm that the flywheel is balanced at least to factory tolerances, that the rotating flywheel pressure plate assembly is balanced so nice smooth motor.
Mike
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | When inserting the input shaft of the trans. Into the clutch disc, if you leave the trans. in high gear, it will be easy to rotate the shaft to line up the splines by rotating the trans. output shaft with one hand while pushing forward with the other hand to get the splines to engage.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 423 | Sounds good, Mike. I wonder if this might have to do with the current vibrational issues of my 235. I 've got a guy I can call about the balancing.
It may not be the easy way, but it is the Cowboy Way - Ranger Doug Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world. - Ben Okri 1953 Chevy 3100 1960 Volvo PV 544 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe | | | | | Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,450 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,450 | Organbuilder I remember seeing the X's but that was when we worked on em the first time ! Now they are seldom seen ,most mechanics just slap the pressure plate right on in there.So wouldn't worry about it, rebuilt is probably balanced anyway. Your new disc is probably balanced too!! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,450 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,450 | | | |
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