Pressure Plate bolt questions

rbray · #1 (**permalink**) 01-21-2002, 12:52 PM

I finally got my bellhousing aligned and now I'm ready to bolt up the pressure plate and disk. I have a 351 crate motor and the flywheel has three sets of four bolt holes. My Centerforce plate has a variety of holes drilled and I am at a loss as to which ones to use.
Also is it necessary ( I'm guessing that it is ) to use special pressure plate bolts or can I use grade 8 bolts instead?

Thanks,
Roger

One more question. How can I tell if the pressure plate is properly aligned?

ERA535 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-21-2002, 04:17 PM

Rbray,

What do you mean by "if the pressure plate is properly aligned"?

As to what bolts to use - go with ARP bolts made for that application. They aren't that much.

JEwalt · #3 (**permalink**) 01-21-2002, 06:17 PM

Roger -

Does your flywheel have the dowel pins installed? There are three (3) of them located on the outer peremeter of the flywheel near the ring gear. When the dowels are installed, the pressure plate will fit over the dowels and line up your mounting holes.

Jeff.

rbray · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2002, 12:27 PM

I finally figured out that I need to use 3/8" 16 pressure plate bolts, which are the Chevy style bolts. Oh well live and learn.
Thanks for the help,
Roger

Jack21 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-26-2002, 02:33 PM

Ford clutch, regardless of whose it is, mounts with 3 dowel pins, and 6 bolts. To the best of my recollection, they are 5/16" bolts. The dowel pins align and center the pressure plate with the flywheel. The bolts hold it in place. These should nave come in a hardware kit with the clutch. If not, get these pieces before installing clutch. Then use the flywheel holes that all 9 holes in the pressure plate line up with.

Double Venom · #6 (**permalink**) 01-26-2002, 07:40 PM

Jack.
The new Ford/SVO flywheel uses metric bolts. Haven't got the size with me but if you'd like I can get it for you tomorrow at the shop.

Rbray, turn the clutch around and around and around, it will only align with all the right holes.
DV

Cobra Dude · #7 (**permalink**) 01-26-2002, 08:07 PM

Use special bolts made for flywheels -- the heads should be a bit thinner. The heads on regular bolts would be too large and may cause clearance probs. I'm with ERA535 on this -- you can't go wrong with ARPs. DV is correct -- they will only fit one way. Keep rotating the flywheel until all the holes line up.

BTW, make sure you use thread sealant or loctite on the bolts. This will help seal them from oil getting past them and onto the clutch.

Cheers.

Dave Wharran · #8 (**permalink**) 01-26-2002, 08:23 PM

Metric bolts and dowels are listed in the Ford Motorsport catalog.

Jack21 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-27-2002, 10:20 AM

Hmmm,thanks DV.

I used the SVO Billet steel flywheel, 157 tooth, and a centerforce clutch. The bag of pins and bolts came with the clutch (if I remember correctly). May have come with the flywheel too, been a coupla years. Size wise, they looked like 5/16", not 3/8". I just torqued 'em in.

Metric, eh? Tried to avoid metrics wherever possible, but trans is metric, trans to bellhousing is metric (12mm), bellhousing accessories are metric (6mm), bellhousing to block is english. And new engine mount to block bolts are metric too (14mm). Starter bolts are english.

Diff also has mixture of english and metric. Diff to control arms are metric (12mm), and Ford sells no hardware separately. Here, I opened up the 12mm to 12.7mm (1/2")and used 1/2" grade 8 bolts. Cover bolts are english.

Local Hardware Store is a True Value, and they're everywhere. They have a healthy stock of fastners, and I'm in there all the time. McMaster-Carr industrial supply has everything too, take Visa, ship anywhere.

It's always some nut, bolt, washer, bracket, or tool that gets these things on the street.

Anyway, thanks for the correction.