Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Alum. Chevy Flywheel Changing Ring Gear

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by BOSTONCAMARO, Jun 22, 2017.

  1. So I have an 11 inch, 168 tooth Weber aluminum flywheel and we want to use it in my friends 49 Coronet that is getting a SBC. So the wheel is clean besides a couple teeth are toasted so figure will get a new ring and swap it on, seen it done on steel wheels I guess just will have to be careful due to the aluminum. Car is being built as if was built in mid to late 60's as a street / strip / driver. A lot of period correct parts so since we have wheel want to use that.

    Any tips, tricks are appreciated? put in freezer? heat in oven or just heat ring with torch?

    thanks, Tim


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  2. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Uniform heat on the ring should be all that's needed.
     
  3. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,133

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Tim...there are a few good videos on YouTube about just that. I followed one...on an aluminum flywheel for a small block ford....it was so easy it should be illegal. You place the center of the flywheel on a couple of bricks so that when you hear the ring gear...youre not also heating a metal work bench for example...propping it up gives you working room too. You pop the old one off...i put my flywheel in the freezer and heated my ring gear in the oven for a few minutes. When I reunited the pieces it seemed like there was a ton of gap to make up...but sure enough...it did. Worked like a charm.
     
  4. Can you flip the old ring over? I did that with my steel flywheel recently. It works most of the time unless you've lost a tooth completely.
     

  5. The old ring is real bad on like four teeth, we will order a new ring and do the swap as you guys outlined, thanks for the info!
     
  6. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    What no one has mentioned is that light flywheels on the street with street ratio in the rear is a dog. You'll be hating it before long if you want to start off quickly and not have to slip the clutch so the engine doesn't try to bog.
     
    hipster and saltflats like this.
  7. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I'am with Dave on this.
    How heavy is this car?
     
  8. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Left turn on original question.
     
  9. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,213

    sunbeam
    Member

    Cut the ring gear to remove.
     
  10. toxic waste
    Joined: Dec 18, 2011
    Posts: 383

    toxic waste
    Member
    from Iowa

    Aluminum flywheel really don't work on the street. It takes a lot of rpm to leave a stop ,on the street it's not very safe. Have you used a aluminium on the street ?
     
  11. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,372

    Fordors
    Member

    I don't know how heavy an aluminum 'wheel is but I have a 15 pound modular iron GM L-88 style 'wheel in a '32 coupe. 350 Chevy, wide ratio T-10 with 3.36 gears and 31" tires. Comes off a full stop just like any other stick I have driven, even going up a grade from a stop.
     
  12. toxic waste
    Joined: Dec 18, 2011
    Posts: 383

    toxic waste
    Member
    from Iowa

    It's just what ever driving style you like.
    If it works that's fine. Just something to think about . The heavier the car the harder to drive with a light weight flywheel. Im not saying it won't work.
     
  13. inthweedz
    Joined: Mar 29, 2011
    Posts: 580

    inthweedz
    Member

    Hold the flywheel in a vice, pad it, so it won't get damaged, cut the old ring gear as far as possible, without hitting the flywheel, then split it with a cold chisel and hammer..
    Heat the new ring gear till it will melt solder, on a couple of bricks with a gas torch..
    At this heat it will drop over the flywheel (lying on a solid, flat surface), finish off with slightly tapping around the gear till it cools and clamps the flywheel, it won't take too long to do this..
     
    sunbeam likes this.
  14. BOBCRMAN
    Joined: Nov 10, 2005
    Posts: 846

    BOBCRMAN
    Member
    from Holly

    Does the aluminum wheel use a stock OEM type ring gear? Or is the ring gear from Weber?

    I change ring gears frequently in my job and have found that many aftermkt flywheels use non-standard ring gears. Especially Ford stuff..

    With only four bad teeth..I would repair the teeth.. On the wheel.. Mig weld (fill) the partial tooth and re-cut it back with a cut off wheel. Done several dozen of them over the years.. Many of the odd ball farm and industrial tractors this is the only way to repair ring gears.
     
    Cosmo49, Max Gearhead and bobss396 like this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.