Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Resurfacing factory flywheel

[Got Smoke?]

Ok I'm all set with Peter @ SBC to have him send me a resurfaced flywheel soon for my clutch swap in a couple of weeks.



Well I was talking with a buddy tonight who has been around cars his whole life (he's 40), and he says he can resurface my flywheel for me with a air compressor (and a grinder I'm guessing) instead of me having to spend the $$ on the exchange.



He's built several street cars for himself as he grew up so he know's what he's doing, but I have to admit I'm a little skeptical since I adding a #10 plate and eventually injectors.



What is your opinion?

 

[csevers]

Would this be done under a shady tree?

If it were an old piece of _ _ _ _ sure why not. Is having a flywheel turned that pricy? I highly doubt that you can get the flywheel smooth and flat with a grinder its self. I would say pass and if he offers to deck the head on your engine the same way pass again.



I have " TURNED" brake drums for a '72 oshkosh plow truck with a grinder before. They didn't have to bee to pretty!



Craig

 

[markdixon]

Think about how much money you are spending and what a pain in the a-- it will be to do the job again. Any local machine shop or big parts store can do the job for about $50. 00. Call Peter at south bend he can tell you what kind of grinding stone to look for. And trust me when I say I'm cheap but not that cheap. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

well, depending on how bad the flywheel is, I've seen people use a red 3m disk and actually give the flywheel a good surface... but if it's all wavy and heat spotted, I wouldn't recomend it.



I learned that trick from a buddy of mine who was the head transmission tech at a big dealership... I would have never even attempted it, but he swore up and down it'd work.



with that said... take your flywheel down to a good machine shop and have them resurface it for you!



Forrest

 

[Reb.B]

i have done it several ways. i have used sand paper when installing a used clutch to get a guy buy and i have used a grinder one time in a pinch, but u have to make sure to make cross hash across the flywheel. The gridre can be real scary, u really have to go so and be carefull. I have access to a flywheel grinder now so i just go over and surface it over there,..... there is no doubt the surfacer is better and when installing a new clutch in a truck thats gonna be driven hard i would spend the money to do it right. There's a time time cut corners and a time to do it right.

 

[LSMITH]

Originally posted by Reb. B

there is no doubt the surfacer is better and when installing a new clutch in a truck thats gonna be driven hard i would spend the money to do it right. There's a time time cut corners and a time to do it right.

AMEN!

 

[rjones]

I worked in a machine shop resurfacing flywheels and even if they look good they still have a warpness to them you are better off taking it to a machine shop that has a flywheel machine and have it done... .

 

[Got Smoke?]

Ok I was dumb for even suggesting the idea, I am planning on doing a flywheel swap with SBC.



Thanks for give'n me a kick in the @$$ that I needed :-laf

 

[C Schomer]

I did it years ago when I didn't have a pot to pi$$ in but I used a 7" angle grinder with a coarse sanding disk to put hatch marks in it - even leveled out some blue spots. I also was given a slightly used clutch that was known to be a little rough operating for that same job and did the same sanding to the plate. It was perfectly smooth and never gave me any trouble. I'd hesitate to do that again especially when I needed the best holding power possible. Getting the hatching in the surface is VERY important. Make sure the machine shop grinds it with the hatching arcs going crosswise. You don't want concentric hatching (like a phonograph record)- I've seen them done that way and they don't hold nearly as well. Craig

 

[bighammer]

I don't get it. Are you laying under your truck and grinding the flywheel while the engine's running?





You're kidding, right? You couldn't get it "flat" sitting still and just spot grinding.





There must be better ways to save money.

 

[C Schomer]

No, I'm not kidding and yes, I did get it flat working on a bench! I had way more time than money then. You don't always have to spend money to make something work, and work good! That's nothing, I've also straightened badly eggshaped rod journals with emery paper and a micrometer! Ever heard of feathered shim stock to take up bearing inserts? The results was no different than a turned crank with undersized inserts. I DID do that job laying under my car in the 60s. I ran that car like a normal crazy teenager for three years without a bit of trouble. Ever heard of Marcelling piston ring grooves! There's lots of good ways to shine ***** - just have to know an old timer to show you how! I grew up with 20s and 30s farm tractors and learned how to pour babbit bearings when I was 12. Not that I want to do that stuff again! Craig

In my first year of woodshop, we had to do everything with hand tools and a straight edge. That works with metal too! Watch "The Gunsmith From Williamsburg" sometime and see an entire rifle built by hand.