Am I understanding this correctly? (Starters and Flexplates)
- Thread starter spirockp
- Start date
302 coupe
Founding Member
flexplate has to match the bellhousing. 164 tooth flexplates require a matching bellhousing to place the starter further out, due to the larger diameter of the flexplate. The same holds true for the smaller 157 tooth flex, needing a smaller bell. Example, if you were to use a 157 tooth flex in a 164 tooth bell, the starter would not properly engage the flex, because the starter is placed too far out. The starter itself will work with a 157 or 164 tooth flex (on the appropriate bell of course), because the tooth pitch is the same. C4, C6, T5, and AOD transmissions use one type of starter, with a shallower nose. 3 and 4 speed manual transmission use a starter with a longer nose.
302 coupe
Founding Member
the starter doesn't care how many teeth are on the flex. All that matters is that the flex matches the bell. Your car should have a 157 tooth flex. As far as I.D.'ing bells, hard to explain, I can only tell one from the other if they're sitting side by side. If it has fomoco or a pre 75 part number cast into it anywhere, its probably a 157 tooth. If it has a ford oval cast into it and a D6xxxx or later part number, it could go either way. Then again, its possible it could have been swapped somewhere along the way for an early 351 bell, which would likely be for a 164 tooth.
Ok, OK I'm slowly starting to understand. So now your saying that a C4 Auto trans arn't all the same. See I thought they were. If I have a 157 tooth flexplate and my starter really isn't engauging correctly then maybe I need a 164 tooth instead. When I bought my car everything was apart. Trans and motor.
So I'm assuming that the starter should be OK and I should change the flexplate and or check the part number on the trans if I can see it.
Again, no need to change the starter? This is my second one.
So I'm assuming that the starter should be OK and I should change the flexplate and or check the part number on the trans if I can see it.
Again, no need to change the starter? This is my second one.
302 coupe
Founding Member
yeah, try a 164 flex. I think the late 70's granadas with 302 or 351's w/ C4 were 164 tooth, still 28 oz balance, so it should be a direct swap, assuming you actually have a 164 tooth bellhousing.
After checking again on SummitRacing and searching for Flexplates, Ford, and C4 they show 157 and 164. Under notes for 157 is states, "Fits models with small bellhousing." and with 164 it states, "Fits models with large bellhousing."
Again I didn't realize there was a difference.
Hopefully I can find some id numbers that I can trace to verify I need a 164 flexplate.
302 Coupe - Thanks!
Again I didn't realize there was a difference.
Hopefully I can find some id numbers that I can trace to verify I need a 164 flexplate.
302 Coupe - Thanks!
302 coupe
Founding Member
I think so, should have the standard automatic transmission style starter. FMX is a fine tranny, just heavy, and not as common.
WORTH
20+ Year Stangneter 
302 coupe said:
I have the 351w with an fmx and 164 tooth flywheel. The starter is the same. on the older fords from atleast 60 to 75 and probubly longer., all the starters are identical 6 and 8 cylinder, but they have 4 different nose plates, long 2 bolt,long 3 bolt, short 2bolt and short 3 bolt. You can swap the nose pieces on all of them I have ever had.
302 coupe
Founding Member
yeah, FE's use the 3 bolt, correct? Manual trans use the long nose, automatics and late model transmissions(T5, AOD) use the short nose.
Good Information!!!
Found some very good info I thought I would pass along because of all the help I received.
An easy way to figure out flexplate and what type of C4 bellhousing you have.
http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/c4_bellhousings.htm
and transmission dimensions.
http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/trans_dims.htm
Enjoy.
Found some very good info I thought I would pass along because of all the help I received.
An easy way to figure out flexplate and what type of C4 bellhousing you have.
http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/c4_bellhousings.htm
and transmission dimensions.
http://www.tciauto.com/tech_info/trans_dims.htm
Enjoy.
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