BW65 flexplate/starter

[MoreCubes]

Fitting a BW65 to a RV8 - there appears to be a large (25mm ?) thick spacer fitted between the crank & the flexplate on our engine - this results in a 10-12MM gap between the starter & flexplate so that it does not engage. Although I can find several threads covering this subject I can find no definitive dimension for this spacer to bring the 2 into line. Can anyone help please ?
http://www.nsra.org.uk/newforum/showthread.php?t=23929

[jsf55]

Hi Ian, the thick spacer, isn't a spacer ! it goes last on before the bolts to help spread the load on the flex plate, there's normally a thin one under the flex plate, onto the crank face, john
EDIT :- i've just read turbomans version, and i've got it wrong :( can you mock it up and try it before you bolt them together, physically see the pinion thrown forward on the starter?

[MoreCubes]

Hi John - the engine / box came with the flexplate & starter installed but with a warning about the starter engagement. You can see the spacer fitted BETWEEN crank & flexpate looks to be about 25mm & the starter pinion is a good 10mm away from engaging ?

"If you have not installed the spacer between the flexplate and the crank the starter mesh would be wrong. The standard spacer is about 1/2" thick and if not fitted would put the starter ring too close to the engine block and you'd be experiencing nasty starter noises."

I found a thread on another forum saying the spacer needs to be 16.3mm for a BW35 box/converter but would like to know the EXACT size for a BW65 before thinking about maching this one down.

[jsf55]

Had a google, but i'm not finding that sort of information, i wonder if Mike(rover v8) has any pictures of his?

[Petemate]

I have a BW35 with the RV8 in our 'A'. The spacer was on the end of the crank between crank and flex plate. I was a bit concerned looking at the rear of the crank once I took the box off the engine as it looked different to the SD1 I had rebuilt ready, then realised it was a spacer and gently removed it. It was deffo under the flex plate.
HTH
Pete

[kapri]

Ian, is it definitely the correct flex plate or more importantly with only 10mm difference is it on the correct way round ie is it dished where reversing it would solve the problem? I'd check it out for witness marks before doing anything.

[MoreCubes]

Hi Kev, the plate as I understand it came with the box & is fitted with the stregthening shim under the bolt heads - reversing it would make the problem worse if you see what i mean -

[stueeee]

Hi Ian,
just had a look at a 3.9 auto motor that I have in the workshop. It's straight as it came out the car, there is a spacer behind the flexplate, but there isn't one in front. The starter certainly lined up on this one cos I remember cranking it over before I bought it. Let me know if it'd be of any use to you, I don't "do" autos.

Stuart.

[MoreCubes]

Hi Stu - yes that's exactly right - the spacer is BETWEEN the plate & the crankshaft - it's the thickness of that spacer that I need to know if you are able to measure it please.
Ian

[stueeee]

Ian,
My apologies, I made a pretty crap job of describing what this setup looks like in the previous post. The flexplate is spaced out from the crank flange; can't see if it's part of the flex plate or a separate spacer while it's assembled. the depth looks to be around 12mm -it's impossible to measure properly while it's all in place. There's a bolted on spacer to the rear of the flexplate as well. Here's a picture:
http://i113.piczo.com/view/3/h/b/5/2/u/p/w/0/w/z/t/img/i341125303_65005_5.jpg

As I said before, you're welcome to the complete flexplate setup if it's of use to you. I'll PM you with my phone number.

Stuart.

[Rover V8]

Hi Ian,

I have just trawled through all my pics / info, and I can't find anything that gives me the dimensions of the large thick spacer that is located directly to the rear of the crank, then the flex plate then a thin washer, on my 3.5 SD1 auto.

I would think it would be the larger size quoted 25mm, although I wouldn't put money on it.

Mine is away so finding out on mine is out of the question I'm afraid.

Good luck,
Mike C.

[farncombe pop]

got one in the garage, will have a look tonight for you.

[jsf55]

Ian,
My apologies, I made a pretty crap job of describing what this setup looks like in the previous post. The flexplate is spaced out from the crank flange; can't see if it's part of the flex plate or a separate spacer while it's assembled. the depth looks to be around 12mm -it's impossible to measure properly while it's all in place. There's a bolted on spacer to the rear of the flexplate as well. Here's a picture:
http://i113.piczo.com/view/3/h/b/5/2/u/p/w/0/w/z/t/img/i341125303_65005_5.jpg

As I said before, you're welcome to the complete flexplate setup if it's of use to you. I'll PM you with my phone number.

Stuart.
Stuart, thats the one of the ZF4HP22 box, just checked out mine
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/33411/2112328070099641316S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2112328070099641316tWnoDg)
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45163/2752592590099641316S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2752592590099641316SuCuIX)

[stueeee]

Stuart, thats the one of the ZF4HP22 box, just checked out mine
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/33411/2112328070099641316S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2112328070099641316tWnoDg)
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45163/2752592590099641316S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2752592590099641316SuCuIX)
Thanks for that info, I wasn't sure what auto box the donor had, Having a bit of a three pedal fetish for my cars, I was only interested in the 3.9 motor when I yanked the lump out of a Rangie.

I spoke to Ian about his flexplate setup earlier today, he said he was going with a machined spacer to get his flexplate in the correct fore and aft position, so I think he would be interested in the thickness of that small spacer in your photo.

Stuart.

[MoreCubes]

got one in the garage, will have a look tonight for you.
Paul - that would be really usefull as it turns out our spacer is hardened for some wierd reason so machining it down is not really an option

[Petemate]

I realise that my tranny is a 35, but FWIW here a couple of pics. The first shows the spacer now on the rebuilt motor just as it came off the old motor. Then a view as looking from the tranny towards the engine, ie with the bolts through a thin steel 'washer'.
HTH
Pete

http://images112.fotki.com/v173/photos/4/474156/3473175/Crankspaceron-vi.jpg

http://images17.fotki.com/v274/photos/4/474156/3473175/Flexplateandwasherplate-vi.jpg

[farncombe pop]

Had a look but sorry can only find spare flexi plates and the slim outter rings, will try again in the day light.
What makes you think yours is wrong? i remember when we put a 35 in the A the other week mine looked like the starter would miss but take into account by the time the starter has thrown out to engage and all is well,

[Petemate]

Paul - my set-up was working fine. The 25mm spacer was on the crank then the starter/drive plate on that. It is how I'll fit it back on the rebuilt engine. I don't know if the 65 is any different; Shaun gave me two spare trannys in the deal, a 35 and a 65. I can't see them easily at the moment as they are in the shed but the bodies both look different to my 35. So I'm going to stick with the present one as I know it changes great and smooth, and the kick-down is fine. I think I read somewhere in the past that the 65 needs a different converter - Shaun also gave me a spare one but it's also in the shed. I'll have a good look later. That large plate in the pics - is it for the 65 tranny?
Pete

[MoreCubes]

Thanks for all the replies - all I can say is that with the 25mm spacer the ring gear is in a position where the bendix cannot throw out far enough to reach it. I now have in my posession a 16.3mm spacer (thanks Stuee - how tight were those bolts ????)
Will fit it tomorrow & let you know

[Petemate]

Ian - just been back up to the workshop. My eye is obviously not as accurate as my tape measure. The spacer on my crank is - wait for it - 16.3mm. Doh.
HTH
Pete

PS the bendix on the starter shows nice full engagement with the ring gear.

[MoreCubes]

Well it worked - Stuee's 16.3mm spacer is now in place & flywheel sitting perfectly. Thanks to everyone for their input - this forum is a great place.

[Rover V8]

Hi Ian,

Glad to hear that you got sorted, guess what I'll be measuring next year when I strip mine down :D

Cheers,
Mike C.