Trans to engine spacer plate

ethan_lanning · Post by **ethan_lanning** » September 9, 2011, 10:44 pm

So about 3 hours ago I installed my new c4 tranny into my 65...the motor is a 351w...anyways after I installed the tranny I realized that I forgot to install the big metal plate that goes between the flywheel and the motor..from what I have read it is called the motor to trans spacer plate??my question is does it actually serve a purpose other than acting as a dust cover or do I need to pull the tranny and install the plate?

Thanks

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » September 9, 2011, 10:54 pm

If Ford put it there, you should put it back

slick4x4 · Post by **slick4x4** » September 10, 2011, 12:48 am

i did that & ran it that way..... until it quit working

put it in there

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » September 10, 2011, 8:35 am

That plate has a centering hole that holds the starter in the right place. The bolt holes won't do it, they are a tad loose. Put the plate in!

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » September 10, 2011, 9:26 am

The vehicle can be run without the plate but due to tolerance stack it can often kill an engine or trans. In about 1962 Ford started phasing the plates into the assembly process. When a plate is used the bellhousing is thinner by the thickness of the plate and if the assembly tolerance is tight then the trans will destroy the thrust bearing on the crank and/or the front pump of the trans. It may be fine but when everything is hot and the convertor balloons it may not be fine at all. The starter is not really a major concern but it is used to index the starter exactly right but you can get the same location just being carefull when assembling (remember a 62 Ford 390 did not have the plate and a 63 did and they used the same starter and flywheel!). The thickness of the plate may not seem like much but the overall assembly tolerance is not much either. Hawkrod

ethan_lanning · Post by **ethan_lanning** » September 10, 2011, 10:33 am

Thanks guys..I'm going go ahead and put the plate on