The 'E' Type Forum

Can I fit a 4.2 flywheel to a 3.8 motor?
Having pulled down my engine, the flywheel fitted is so badly worn as to be unusable.
I do however have a 4.2 flywheel and happen to have a new starter to fit it as well, so it would be an economical choice.

You will need the gearbox bellhousing as well - and if you have the moss box It will not fit so you will need the 4.2 gearbox as well-plus you will have some wiring mods to do to change from an inertia starter to a pre -engaged. Is the the flywheel worn beyond a skim ? New flywheels are available now and I am sure someone on here can tell you about their experiences with them. In reality this mod is harder than you think as the parts list is too big.

regards Barrie

abowie wrote:Can I fit a 4.2 flywheel to a 3.8 motor?

Wouldn't you lose some of the 3.8's beautiful throttle response by fitting the much heavier 4.2 flywheel? Also, be aware that the total number of teeth varies amongst these different flywheels and also, the tapped clutch fixing holes are different( for the diaphragm clutch rather than the spring version).

I would just look for another 3.8 E-Type flywheel and keep your 3.8 engine as it was supposed to be.

abowie wrote:Can I fit a 4.2 flywheel to a 3.8 motor?
Having pulled down my engine, the flywheel fitted is so badly worn as to be unusable.
I do however have a 4.2 flywheel and happen to have a new starter to fit it as well, so it would be an economical choice.

Take your flywheel to a machine shop and ask them to tub grind it, don't put it on a surface grinder as they are not suitable for a flywheel. You'll be surprised at how well they clean up. Short of getting a stone stuck in the clutch there will only be scoring from the remnants of clutch pad.
The scoring will look worse than it really is because of the peaks in the score marks, once they are gone it will tidy up nicely.

Dave