As I'm building my 200-4R to go in the 1972 Vista Cruiser, I came across slightly worn teeth on the ring gear and starter. Since I will be keeping this car I only want to replace the gear this one time. Is the standard duty flex plate and gear prone to wear or should I upgrade to a heavy duty hardened gear? Does anybody have recommendations for where to buy and what the differences are in quality? I can get a standard duty flex plate for $40 from my local transmission supplier....

Thanks, Tom

 

The outer ring is hardened on all flex plates. For normal applications the standard one works fine. Unless yours has major wear its probably still good.

 

Just buy a standard one. On my 350 I think I had a pioneer brand, it was around $50-60 at Summit.

 

Thanks guys. I didn't have any trouble engaging the starter, but it seems like a good time to do it with the transmission out. The starter gear actually looks pretty worn, so I'll probably swap that out too, although I don't know how much of a bevel it is supposed to have. I don't know if you can replace just the gear on these old American cars or only the whole starter.

 

Post some close up pictures so we can see it or go down to the parts store and compare. I agree the cost is not much to replace, but I think the original parts are better made.

 

Good idea Eric

Here are pictures of the starter and ring gears. The starter looks fairly worn. I don't think a new one would have quite that much of a bevel? Are these available new separately to put onto my starter ? The ring gear is only mildly worn, but enough where I thought I might as well do preventative maintenance.

Thanks, Tom

 

Although they may have a few more miles left on them, I'd change both the flex plate and starter drive.

 

Thanks Eric

Does one of these look like the part I should be looking for?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Delco-St...hUFFR4&vxp=mtr

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Starter-...dWRKNn&vxp=mtr

 

The first is definitely not it, the second says its not compatible. You can buy one at a NAPA store.

 

I'm with "Eric"on this one "Napa" auto parts is the place to go.

Gene