Fidanza flywheel - ring gear

[PaulProe]

I am running a Fidanza aluminum flywheel on my FE. Part number 186541  I might be looking at repairing the ring gear due to some starter issues. Does anyone know if it uses a stock Ford ring gear or any tips on replacing it?

I have tried contacting Fidanza multiple times, via emails, phone calls, and messages left, but I can't get through to anyone. It might be a great product but their customer service sucks - enough for my rant

Does anyone have any experience with replacing one on a Fidanza wheel?

Thanks

[Chrisss31]

Is flipping over the ring gear an option?

[allrightmike]

    Two thoughts on this, first, the way I see it if standard replacement ring gears are available it would make no sense to tool up to produce your own. These flywheels are defiantly a low volume item. The second, I know this will sound a bit Mickey Mouse but if you ever looked at a ring gear that was damaged by a bad starter, generally the damage is limited to about four spots on the ring gear. This leaves quite a lot of useful areas still existing. You could heat the ring gear until it falls off or can be tapped of, relocate the bad ares and reinstall. Iffy I know.

[2ndgear]

yes moving the ring gear does work.
Back in my early days that what I did.
The engine usually stops with in 10
degrees of one or two spots.

[66FAIRLANE]

Don't shoot me but when I have had no money I have welded some individual teeth with a high nickel electrode and ground/filed them back to shape. Lasted fine foe many many years.

[Gregwill16]

+1 just rotate about 45 degrees

[My427stang]

If it's a factory one, they are cheap, seems odd to just rotate.  If doing all that work, put the new one on two jack stands, warm it up and drop it on.

I think I have an new one on the shelf if someone needs it.

[PaulProe]

It appears to be a factory one, but modified by Fidanza - there are some retainer bolts in the flywheel that overlap the edge of the ring gear in some milled reliefs

But I can't get any info from Fidanza - hell of a way to run a company. Don't think they will remain on my approved vendor list

[Sidebite]

I had the same problem trying to get in contact with them about which part number friction insert fits the flywheel I have. I tried calling and emailing... then I noticed they have more than one email address listed on the website. They only ever responded to sales@fidanza.com which is how I finally got in contact with them.

Sadly, most automotive aftermarket companies seem to hate customers but we keep buying parts because the alternatives are slim to none. Jay Brown is the exception to this trend, really good guy to deal with and I wish more companies had his level of attention to detail. Brent L. is also very responsive and knoweldgeable via email and I have heard good things about Bullock's Power Service as well. I don't mean to say everybody is a pain, it's just about 90% of them out there! Ok, rant over try the sales@fidanza.com.

[Rory428]

I don`t know anything about Fidanza products, but both my McLeod Soft Lok, and current RAM Billet/ Black Magic Defiant clutch use aluminum flywheels, and the starter ring gear looks to be an OE style piece, with 3 tabs welded to the edge of the ring gear, and bolted or rivited to the aluminum flywheel. I imagine that is due to the different expansion rates between the aluminum flywheel, and the cast iron ring gear. The steel McLeod flywheel on the 428 in my 59 just a friction fit, like a factory cast iron flywheel.

[gregb]

n/m