Wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I ordered a new RAM Billet Steel Flywheel from American Muscle http://www.americanmuscle.com/ram-st...wheel-t45.html before hand. I knew I'd be doing this job after hours and couldn't have the car down overnight while having the factory ford flywheel turned so I just bought an extra one.

Got the transmission out and everything going good when i noticed the dowel pins from my ford flywheel wouldn't fit the aftermarket flywheel. They would fall completely through the holes. At this point we just put it together to get it going. No vibrations or anything funny but I realize now that I need to disassemble it again to install the dowels.

Here are my questions if you guys can help me.....

Can I get dowels for the RAM flywheel? It shows you can when you check out but when I ordered it for my car it said they were unavailable for this application or something along those lines. I'd like to use my new flywheel if possible and it would get rid of a couple steps when I install the dowels.

I did have the factory Ford flywheel resurfaced and bought new pressure plate bolts, dowel pins and flywheel bolts. If I use that do I need a shim between the crank and flywheel?

Been a frustrating experience. Tried calling american muscle today but it's Sunday. Just looking for friendly advice if anyone has it.

 

i intentially left the dowel pins out the last time I installed my
clutch kit. in my opinion, the dowels are more of an installation/
alignment aid and maybe also a safety item because they keep
the pressure plate from falling on toes, when an unsuspecting
mechanic removes all the bolts. is it worth all the hassle for you
to install the dowels? only you can say.

 

Thanks for the reply hammeron. Just going from what others have said, they supposedly do more than align the pressure plate. One guy even said it could damage the bottom end of the engine.....who knows.

I called RAM Clutches and found out I need the dowel pins out of an older 5.0...a fox body basically. Ordered a set from Ford this morning and will probably try and get them installed this weekend.

I honestly don't know if it's as big a deal as people make it out to be or not, but I'm not taking any chances. I drove the car on a trip of about 400 miles with the clutch as is and there are no vibrations or anything but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

i agree, always better to be safe than sorry. the dowels are added
insurance, incase the pressure plate bolts should happen to loosen up
over time. hope all goes well with the install.