[coleman68]

whats the differance betwwen a flexplate and flywheel. are they same?sorry for stupid question!

[JimM]

A flexplate is a flat round steel plate that bolts to the back of the crankshaft. It has a ring gear around the outer edge for starter gear engagment, facilities to bolt on an automatic trans torque convertor, and on external balance engines, wieghts to help balance the rotating assembly. Flexplates are very thin and light, the "flywheel function" of providing rotating mass is handled by the torque convertor and all the heavy trans fluid in it.

A flywheel is used on a manual trans car. It is a thick iron, steel alluminum or billet "wheel" wieghing from 10 to 40 pounds. It also has a ring gear for starter gear engagement. It has threaded holes for bolting on a clutch pressure plate, and a machined rear surface for the clutch disk to bear on. Flywheels may also be designed and cast with "balance wieghts" for externally balanced cranks.

[zdld17]

Coleman, in those terms, flex plate refers to mainly AT cars and is just that as it takes the flex from engine crank to convertor . Could be one on a Mopar as they are basically plates , no ring gear. You will find that some even provide the engine balancing effect as weights are tacked on , ie 400 sbc and some bbc.

Flywheels are close to being the same but most of us think of them as the heavy metal thingy that connects engine crank to clutch mechinusm for M/T cars or trucks. Also has starter ring gear .

Thanks Jim,, looks like we are in step.