Is the starter ring gear replaceable on a manual transmission flywheel ?
Gene

Sometimes.
Which FW do you have ?
http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page91.html

Its the origanil GM flywheel , 168 tooth. It all looks good except some of the teeth in a few places are a little chewed up.

Gene,
Yes .... beat the old one off with a hammer and punch. Put the new one in the oven at about 500 degrees for 20 minutes or so and it should drop right on the flywheel. You might have to use a brass punch to seat it totally. Make sure you have the flywheel right in front of the oven. If you take the ring gear out of the oven and take more than about 15 seconds to put it on, it will shrink and wont go on :(

I have heard that many times but never seen it done.

Did mine without the oven. Can be done but tougher.

I always use my oxy/acc torch to heat the ring gear, it's not fussy.

Thanks Guys
Gene

I definately believe what you guys are saying,its basically a friction/interference fit but it seems hard to believe it would be tight enough to not move when starting.I have an old flywheel I guess I will try for myself sometime.

I always use my oxy/acc torch to heat the ring gear, it's not fussy.

Seen it done that way, slides right on.

You can also put the flywheel in the freezer. That will make it easier.

All the advice above is good.
BUT, if you're working on the car on the weekend and you need a new ring gear and no one is open, or, the stores that are open don't have one, you can still fix it 9 times out of 10.
As mentioned, drive off the old ring gear, heat it as mentioned, and FLIP IT OVER. VERY PROBABLY the other side of the teeth are in perfect shape and you can retain the original ring gear for another 30-50 yrs! :thumbsup:

One thing not mentioned above. After removing the old ring gear, clean the area of the flywheel where the ring gear seats. If you're going to flip over and re-use the old ring gear (which I have done numerous times), clean the ring gear also.

Excellent idea Tom,
Thanks, Gene