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Hot Rods Clutch size on a 59A

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Departed, Sep 15, 2020.

  1. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

    I'm currently building a 59A with merc guts and I was wondering what size clutch I can put on those? I know I can run a 9" clutch but would that be big enough for the merc extra horsepower?
    If I go with 10", will the pressure plate go through the hole and be able to bolt it on the flywheel. (Keep in mind it's a 59A)
    Anyone have experience with that? Thanks !


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  2. quickchangeV8
    Joined: Dec 7, 2010
    Posts: 533

    quickchangeV8
    Member

    You can put a 9 inch, 10 inch or 11 inch clutch in a 59A. I run an 11 inch clutch in my 1929 coupe, there isn't much room leftover but it does fit in there, and it isn't difficult to shift gears. Personally I would go with a 10 inch clutch. Get all the right parts and everything should fit just fine.
     
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  3. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

    I want to install a 10" clutch and pressure plate. I have all the different flywheels for each application. My only concern is on a 59A the bellhousing will only allow you certain amount of space to bolt in that pressure plate. Just wondering if anyone here have done it. Will I be able to bolt the pressure plate on the flywheel with the oil pan on.


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  4. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

    Do you have a 8BA or 59A ?


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  5. Dak Rat
    Joined: Mar 8, 2006
    Posts: 547

    Dak Rat
    Member
    from NoDak

    Ford did use an 11" clutch with the 59A engines in trucks. They usually have the special oil pan with the removable lower pan under the flywheel.
     
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  6. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

    Ah I didn't know that !?! There's actually a removable bottom flywheel cover??!! Umm gonna have to look for one.....


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  7. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

  8. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    i have a 59a motor with merc crank, and merc cam. used the early 9" flywheel with the big blob weight on it, and cut that off to make a flat flywheel. this is the lightest combo you can make from ford parts. learned it from old rumble seat posts, and bruce lancaster posts. however, mine will slip if i floor it at medium rpm. at high revs the centrifical weights come into play, and it wont slip. apparently i missed the part that they would install heavier springs in the 9" pressure plate to get it to hold. it really does rev up fast, its good, but it slips. gotta take it apart again. hotrod story..put it together, take it apart...put it together, take it apart.
     
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  9. Is that something you can do with an angle grinder ( if your a good operator of angle grinders :eek::oops: ) or does it have to go on a lathe ? Heres a cut one on the left next to an original on the right posted by @jailhousebob.

    20200831_161605.jpg
     
  10. jailhousebob
    Joined: Jun 18, 2009
    Posts: 887

    jailhousebob
    Member
    from Illinois

    So on a 59 a you would have to pull the oil pan in order to mount the flywheel anyway,so that would be the time to mount the pressure plate.The various size pressure plates have a different bolt pattern for mounting to the flywheel so you can't just remove a 9 inch pressure plate and bolt on a 10 inch for example.
    With regard to lightening the flywheel, the above example was done on a lathe.It is a huge amount of metal to remove with a grinder and really is not very expensive to have done, not to mention the balance issue if doing it by eye with a grinder.
     
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  11. rusty valley
    Joined: Oct 25, 2014
    Posts: 3,883

    rusty valley
    Member

    agree with bob, ^^^ its a lot of iron removed. my lathe is 14" and will only fit them with the ring gear removed. then, even though it made a decent finish, i had it done on a grinder, and balanced.
     
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  12. Departed
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 181

    Departed
    Member
    from Canada

    yeah I know about how the 59A flywheel wont come off unless you remove the pan.... what I was wondering about was if a 9" clutch be enough to handle the extra power without slipping. (larger radius handles more torque). I can slip a 9" pressure plate out the back and access the bolts around it. So that allows me to change the clutch without having to take the pan out.
    my question is. will the 10" pressure plate slip out through the back without having to remove the oil pan. and if so, will I be able to access the bolts around it to tighten it?
    I'm in the process of building the engine and I have all the flywheels (9-10-11). I just don't have the pressure plates except for a 9" one. So considering what RustyValley is saying about his 9" clutch slipping... I think I'll go with a 10" clutch to prevent that.
     

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