Mcleod flywheel problems

[Woodz428]

Just a heads up to FE guys building a 410/428 that are using a Mcleod Flywheel. Compare the balnce weight on the Mcleod with the placement on the original before installing. I just got my rotating assembly back from the balancer and he had to relocate the weight from the INCORRECT position that Mcleod had placed it at,by app'90 degrees. When he initially called I was concerned that he may have been unfamiliar with the set up although he had just done a SCJ engine for me with no such problems. When I contacted Mcleod tech, they were very arrogant and pretty much said it was impossible that the weight had been put in the wrong spot. When I got the assembly back and compared where he had moved the weight to a stock 428 flywheel it was in exactly the same spot (within the wider cast in Ford weight) and the Mcleod holes were 90 degrees out. If I had been installing it as a replacement it would have probably shook the car terribly. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up, even good products apparently have poor quality control and snot ass tech help.

[Clois Harlan]

I have had the same experience with McLeod and they have seen the last of my business.

At least they gave you the time of day! Sort of.

Clois

[Jack Zupan]

I've had good luck with McLeod. Last year when I was putting my car together, I found the trans adapter had a diameter slightly too small to go onto the Tremec collar. I called and talked to a fellow named Red. He was very helpful and actually started pulling parts off the shelf to measure to see if it was a foundry problem. I got a good adapter quickly and felt taken care of.

Jack Z.

[Woodz428]

You obviously had better luck with Red than I did. Even though I suggested he check the location and reference it to the odd bolt spcing he discounted it and said it was not the case and that if I sent it back they would re-drill it if it was off, but would charge me if it wasn't for shipping. Now, if he was unwilling to even check the position for me, I fely he probably would have sent me another one and charged me for the shipping, plus the delay in the build. I sent hem a few j-pegs of the ERROR and he has yet to reply. I still consider them very un satisfactory and arrogant in their service to a customer.

[Michael C Henry]

A 428 and probably the 410 take a special flywheel.standard or automatic.All the rest of the FE series can interchange Not 428 410. I had a friend back in the 60's that had more 427 than anyone I've ever heard of .He'd buy a Ford 427 short block stick his heads and so on , stuff it in a old Gallaxy drive it for a few months . sell that one and buy a fresh 427.short block.One time he bought a 428 mounted all his old 390-427 stuff on it . He backed it out of the garage .Drove it down the aaley.Backed it back and into the Garage removed the engine.Tried to return it to Ankeny Ford.They would not take it .Mounted it in frame converted into a engine trailer - test stand ,Radiator and all.Tried to scatter the 428 and collect on the warranty. It just threw the belts.Loaned it to a stock car, he blew up the clutch and bell housing.He then sold it to an friend. Later he met that friend while at a bar and was offered that same 428 back Fresh from the machine shop.now.040" over bore.I bought that engine still in plastic bags. I put it in a 63 1/2 Gallaxey I had just bought .That 63 allready had a alltered auto flywheel .It had a 428 with a bad miss. Turned to be a bent valve I traded my engine and cash for the fresh 428 engine. My friend removed the head swapped valve anddrove it for a year. Burnt out that Cruis-o-matic at the strip late summer.Converted the car to C6 .Temporarily mounted trans on a piece of tire tread .I tore part of the mount off the tailshaft housing.While waiting for the tailshaft housing to be welded ,Car out side car jacked up and trans supported (just before Thanks Giving 69 Des Moines Iowa) 28° no antifreeze.That was the end of that block.A week later I was drafted.After I returned from ait I installed a 65 352 from a wrecked convertable.put my oil pan and front cover on it. Bought a new C6 352 flywheel from Ford .and built my own crossmember for a 63 C6 combo.oilpan is lower and further to rear. Parrallel Twin 1" square tubing I was quite proud of that cross member.
I ended up buying my original 428 block back before going to Viet Nam.Finished it after returning .got married , Moved to washington ,had kids. I figured Life was over and sold it o a guy in Everett For a jacked up red short bed F 150. Whished I had not done that.

[GEORGE ANDERSON]

WDZ.....interesting post and it's important you let Club Cobra people know about these experiences. Red is sometimes difficult to get in touch with and lately "George" has been answering some of the calls. I'm sure the machine shop doing the balance work knew they had a problem right away...that flywheel only goes on one way. I am surprised McLeod didn't handle the Tech question better....they most likely get calls about flywheel applications quite often, ones involving the external and internal balance of the FE. They probably found it impossible to believe they had a problem because 99% of calls are usually about the internal or external weight they install....and not how it's installed but if it needs to be installed at all. They didn't take the time to listen to what the problem was...but assumed the customer didn't know what he was talking about...that's a problem sometimes.
McLeod does offer some very good products and this points out the need for any builder or customer to never assume anything about new parts. I'm glad you pointed it out and your shop helped you get it resolved...that's another reason to find a good shop to help in your project! And another great reson for Club Cobra to be here!
Good Luck...
George

[Woodz428]

I was re-contacted by Mcleod and they will refund the difference it cost for the flywheel mod. I will check any future flywheels with the stock ones before I send them off to the balancer though.

[Rick Bagley]

WDZ,
Glad they did that for you. I on the other hand have had good experiences with Red and McLeod products. I am using their HTO Bearing, Billet Steel Flywheel (427), and clutch & pressure plate. When I did my math for the HTO Bearing they were very helpful and it works like a charm. I had my flywheel checked and balanced after I received it, it was off by the same amount as the holes that were drilled for external balance weight. So they probably balance before they Drill & Tap.

[outlaw]

just my two cents.....
i have a mccloud bell housing for the XB3 302. the hole in the engine plate for the starter had a 1/4 moon spacer welded in for tremec trans use. the plate was not flat/flush to the plate which would not allow the starter to flush to the plate, but worse than that, the hole was not large enough for the starter to even fit. after some grinding with a drum grinder i finially got the starter to fit the hole...and alas...neither starter bolt hole was aligned. had straighten / flush to reweld the 1/4 moon plate, redrill the plate for the upper starter bolt, reweld the lower starter bolt tab so it would align. spent almost a day screwing with this mess. TECH LINE? what tech line? they never answered the phone, only a recording. there are other problems that are too lengthy to discuss....bottom line,,
i won't ever buy from mccloud again.

outlaw

[427 S/O]

Yep! Red's been helpful, I run all their stuff.

[Mr.Fixit]

Originally posted by outlaw


just my two cents.....
i have a mccloud bell housing for the XB3 302. the hole in the engine plate for the starter had a 1/4 moon spacer welded in for tremec trans use. the plate was not flat/flush to the plate which would not allow the starter to flush to the plate, but worse than that, the hole was not large enough for the starter to even fit. after some grinding with a drum grinder i finially got the starter to fit the hole...and alas...neither starter bolt hole was aligned. had straighten / flush to reweld the 1/4 moon plate, redrill the plate for the upper starter bolt, reweld the lower starter bolt tab so it would align. spent almost a day screwing with this mess. TECH LINE? what tech line? they never answered the phone, only a recording. there are other problems that are too lengthy to discuss....bottom line,,
i won't ever buy from mccloud again.

outlaw

The two different starter positions are for different sized flywheels, what tranny sits behind it is irrelevant.

What experience do you have with other manufacturer's aftermarket scattershields? any?
I'll tell you what, I have done plenty of Lakewood's and McLeod's and I would take a McLeod any day of the week. If you had to cut or weld it, you might as well just ship it back, as it's SFI certification is now invalid.