Flexplate Installed Backwards??
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown WV
Flexplate Installed Backwards??
I just installed a high torque mini-starter on my ’70 small block with automatic transmission. During the installation I noticed that the starter gear will only engage half way into the flexplate ring gear with the starter gear fully extended. Upon closer inspection of the flexplate, I think it has been installed backwards at some point in the past. There is evidence of slight wearing of the back edge of the teeth on the flexplate ring gear as it is currently mounted indicating that most of its life, the flexplate was installed in the opposite direction compared to how it is installed now. Currently, the mounting pads on the torque converter are engaged into the indentations in the flexplate. Is this backwards? If the flexplate is indeed installed backwards, what negative effect, if any, will this have on the car over the long term?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,012
Likes: 2,253
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
Sounds like it's backwards mainly due to the converter indentations. Other than starter issues, you are pulling converter too far forward out of the front pump and it will die eventually.
Time to pull the trans...and look very closely at the center of the plate. There is a small ridge usually at the crank hole that has to be deformed now.
JIM
Time to pull the trans...and look very closely at the center of the plate. There is a small ridge usually at the crank hole that has to be deformed now.
JIM
