Starter Ring for Econoline Pickup Build

[Epickup]

Hello everyone,

We are putting together a 1963 Econoline Pickup truck and are having trouble finding a starter ring. Below is the combination of components that we are working with along with their part numbers:

Bell housing C3UA-6394-A
Transmission HEFK089238 (3 bolt starter)
1968 200i6

We called Summit Racing's customer service and they went to the manufacture (Pioneer) to find the ring gear we need. Pioneer offers a 132 teeth ring gear, but the Inside Diameter is larger than what we need for our flywheel. The customer service rep with Summit told us that Pioneer no longer manufactures the ring gear that we need.

We are hoping that someone can help us with some advise. Ideally, we would replace the ring gear like for like, but it that's not an option we would be good with going with a new flywheel, ring gear, and starter combination as long as it will work with the components that are listed above.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thank you,

 

[chad]

all I can think of is that '68 might have been B4 they hada seperate ring and the rest of the FW. That somebody retrofited a later into the earlier (yours) and that's what U have. That the one piece may B a choice for you (as I suspect it oem).

A lill thick (in the head) here & can't follow the meaning: "...not an option we would be good with going with ..."
I imagine the 170 and 200 i6 will B the same FW if U wanna cross ref w/a lill more range. 144 & 250 may not tho (of course the 300/4.9 & 240 won't either, watch the experst show me wrong - good). It is 'internally balances - also if U know how many 'teeth'
that can help ina search (different Y/M). My 250 hasa 302/351 w/the balance weights knocked off.

BTW: U been here?:
http://www.fordeconolinepickup.com
/OR/
vintage-vans.com

 

[bubba22349]

Hello everyone,

We are putting together a 1963 Econoline Pickup truck and are having trouble finding a starter ring. Below is the combination of components that we are working with along with their part numbers:

Bell housing C3UA-6394-A
Transmission HEFK089238 (3 bolt starter)
1968 200i6

We called Summit Racing's customer service and they went to the manufacture (Pioneer) to find the ring gear we need. Pioneer offers a 132 teeth ring gear, but the Inside Diameter is larger than what we need for our flywheel. The customer service rep with Summit told us that Pioneer no longer manufactures the ring gear that we need.

We are hoping that someone can help us with some advise. Ideally, we would replace the ring gear like for like, but it that's not an option we would be good with going with a new flywheel, ring gear, and starter combination as long as it will work with the components that are listed above.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thank you,

The 1963 Econolines are a unique combo of parts. Like all the other small Ford inline six'es this flywheel (sometimes called a dog dish) is a zero imbalance that uses the early style 8 1/2 inch clutch (1960 to 1966) and yes that's right it has the 132 tooth ring gear. The Econoline bell housing uses the tree bolt starter, but instead of using a 2.77 trans it was made to use the newer and stronger 3.03 transmission. The other Ford six'es that used this 8 1/2 inch clutch flywheel are all the 144's, early 170's and 200's used in the 1965 and 1966 Ford Mustangs.

I used to have custom made flywheels and clutches for my race cars and odd ball engine combos at McCleods don't know if they would still do this but might be worth a call there are probably a few others too. You might call some of the Antique Ford Parts Houses to see if they gave an NOS ring gear, like Sacramento Antique Ford, or C & G Ford parts, In a pinch if you can't find a flywheel or ring gear right away you could take the gear off and flip it over and clock it in a different position were there are still some good teeth could get you by until you find a better solution. See below links for some more info on these bell housings and flywheel parts. Best of luck

Ford Small Six Block Difference's and Flywheel, Trans Combos
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80022

1963 Econline Bell Housing
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80022#p620304

 

[Econoline]

I don't know your Pioneer # but I come up with

PIONEER FRG132F, but Pioneer does list that as auto trans ring gear...

or maybe try

ATP ZA539

 

[Econoline]

In a pinch if you can't find a flywheel or ring gear right away you could take the gear off and flip it over and clock it in a different position were there are still some good teeth could get you by until you find a better solution.

+1

 

[Epickup]

Hello everyone,

We are putting together a 1963 Econoline Pickup truck and are having trouble finding a starter ring. Below is the combination of components that we are working with along with their part numbers:

Bell housing C3UA-6394-A
Transmission HEFK089238 (3 bolt starter)
1968 200i6

We called Summit Racing's customer service and they went to the manufacture (Pioneer) to find the ring gear we need. Pioneer offers a 132 teeth ring gear, but the Inside Diameter is larger than what we need for our flywheel. The customer service rep with Summit told us that Pioneer no longer manufactures the ring gear that we need.

We are hoping that someone can help us with some advise. Ideally, we would replace the ring gear like for like, but it that's not an option we would be good with going with a new flywheel, ring gear, and starter combination as long as it will work with the components that are listed above.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thank you,

The 1963 Econolines are a unique combo of parts. Like all the other small Ford inline six'es this flywheel (sometimes called a dog dish) is a zero imbalance that uses the early style 8 1/2 inch clutch (1960 to 1966) and yes that's right it has the 132 tooth ring gear. The Econoline bell housing uses the tree bolt starter, but instead of using a 2.77 trans it was made to use the newer and stronger 3.03 transmission. The other Ford six'es that used this 8 1/2 inch clutch flywheel are all the 144's, early 170's and 200's used in the 1965 and 1966 Ford Mustangs.

I used to have custom made flywheels and clutches for my race cars and odd ball engine combos at McCleods don't know if they would still do this but might be worth a call there are probably a few others too. You might call some of the Antique Ford Parts Houses to see if they gave an NOS ring gear, like Sacramento Antique Ford, or C & G Ford parts, In a pinch if you can't find a flywheel or ring gear right away you could take the gear off and flip it over and clock it in a different position were there are still some good teeth could get you by until you find a better solution. See below links for some more info on these bell housings and flywheel parts. Best of luck

Ford Small Six Block Difference's and Flywheel, Trans Combos
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80022

1963 Econline Bell Housing
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80022#p620304

Hey bubba22349,

Thank you for your feedback! This was very helpful!

We have been doing some looking around and are still having trouble finding what we need so we're thinking about what other options are available.

We are not doing a numbers matching restoration and the 200i6 that we are putting in the truck will have some more performance so we are wondering if there are options for upgrading the clutch and flywheel too parts that are more readily available (Mustang or Falcon application).

Do you know of anymore clutch and flywheel combinations that would still be compatible with the engine, bell housing and transmission that we have? I've included the parts below again for your reference:

Bell housing C3UA-6394-A (3 bolt starter)
Transmission HEFK089238
1968 200i6

Again we really appreciate your help!

 

[Econoline]

The problem you have is that bellhousing and the fact that you have a 2.77 trans. Assuming you can get the larger 200 flywheel. If you swap to the larger bell you may have to clearance the floor at the back of the doghouse, or not, but will likely run into problems mounting the 2.77, you'll need a 64 E-van 3.03. They changed the frame mount in 65. I don't know if there is any depth difference between them, but if there is that will throw off the location of the donut mount for the trans. Where are you located? I have a 3.03 bell(and trans) from a 64 that has the same tail mount, but the same problem with the small bell.

What is the OD of the flywheel?

 

[Epickup]

The problem you have is that bellhousing and the fact that you have a 2.77 trans. Assuming you can get the larger 200 flywheel. If you swap to the larger bell you may have clearance the floor at the back of the doghouse, or not, but will likely run into problems mounting the 2.77, you'll need a 64 E-van 3.03. They changed the frame mount in 65. I don't know if there is any depth difference between them, but if there is that will throw off the location of the donut mount for the trans. Where are you located? I have a 3.03 bell(and trans) from a 64 that has the same tail mount, but the same problem with the small bell.

What is the OD of the flywheel?

Econoline,

We do have the 3.03 Transmission and the bell housing that mounts it to the 170i6 (believed to be the original set up). What we are hoping to find out is if there is another flywheel and clutch combination that will work with this set up that is more readily available (Mustang or Falcon application).

Do you know of any other combinations that we could utilize?

 

[bubba22349]

HI Epickup, yes there is better setup! Since you have a 1968 200 engine you have the right block to use the later large bell housing (1967 up to about 1979 that were used in the various later model Falcons, Comets, Fairlanes, Mustangs, & Mavervics), togeather with the matching larger flat type flywheel with its stronger 9 inch clutch unit these are better and more readily available. Besides the 1967 or newer bell housing, you will need the larger block tin plate, the clutch release arm & newer throwout / release bearing, the matching flywheel and clutch assembly, you also need to change to a two bolt starter or swap the three bolt tail piece for the later two bolt tail piece. I think your existing transmission should bolt right up to the a 1967 bell hosing with a narrow bolt pattern 3.03, but if you can't find the right narrow patern bell housing you can also redrill and tap the mounting bolts of some of the wide pattern bell housings to fit your narrow patern trans. You could also swap all your gears into a trans main case with the wide type pattern. Depending on the bell housing that you find this should be almost an all bolt togeather swap with maybe just a little tweaking of the bell bolt pattern and the clutch linage. For more info on the different bell housing and flywheels see this link. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=80022

Hang on to the 1963 Econoline bell housing and all the other parts they are good for trading or selling and are hard to find parts. Good luck

 

[chad]

looks like bubs got you all set up now. Some folks like to hit up Modern Driveline just to look around on this topic:

https://www.moderndriveline.com

Glad to see the Avatar up since my last post...

We use Matt at vintage inlines dot com for i6 parts as he caters to these motors,
2 refferences (out side a Haynes, etc) are the "Handbook"
(Matt hasa copy for ya) & while waiting for delivery the above 'tech archive"
(big blue box w/the crosses screwdrver/wrench) is worth a look.