304 Starter Ring Gear

Any preferred brands? I ordered the ATP from Rock Auto and the ID is too small, around .030 smaller than the flywheel, I have been unable to install it.

My understanding is this measurement needs to be about .006 to .008 smaller than the flywheel. I went ahead and ordered the Pioneer version to see if it is closer to the .006-.008 difference but if someone has a lead on one that will work for sure let me know.

I guess push come to shove I'm going to take the gear to a machine shop and have them open up the ring gear by .023 inch.

 

What method are you using to install?

 

heating ring gear in oven at first at about 250-300. That didn't work so I froze the flywheel in the freezer overnight and heated the ring gear again. No joy there either. My understanding is you shouldn't even have to freeze the flywheel but should only have to heat the ring gear with a torch or oven till it drops on.

 

That’s the way to do it. I did one on a sbc, heated with two mep gas torches for about 10 minutes, dropped right on. I don’t know what the interference fit was though.

 

I think the one you have will work. Put it in your wife's oven at 500 degrees for about 30 minutes. you will need to have your flywheel very close by on a hard flat surface. Remove from oven with heavy pliers and quickly drop it on the flywheel. You will be amazed how much the ring gear will expand, it may even be loose around the fly wheel until to cools. if the alignment is a little off when it cools and tightens up around the flywheel you can adjust it with a ball peen and flat ended punch. OH AND DON'T FORGET HEAVY WELDING GLOVES AND YOUR SAFETY GLASSES.

 

Just read your post. I am thinking 250 or 300 probably is not hot enough. Heating with a tourch would probably work, but after I think about it it might do better in the oven because the heat/ temp would be consistently even all the way around. Good Luck.

 

Hey it's my oven too

I was worried about messing with the heat treatment going too hot.

 

I don't think 500 degrees would bother it much. Just don't heat it until red hot. Heat treating is much hotter than 500 degres. Just don't put water on it to cool it faster, let it cool slowly. Someone else with heat treating experience might have further comments.

 

That worked. 500 degrees for about 40 minutes and it practically dropped on. Had to drive one side of it the rest of the way down with a brass punch and a mini sledge.

 

I just did one myself. I used a weed burner propane torch and heated mine up in a minute or two. Dropped right on and could spin it for a little bit.

 

Just had that experience a few weeks ago. Torch did the trick easily. I was able to spin the gear that made sure that is was all the way down