Plate the same on Auto and Manual?

[Hawkeye58]

Hi all,

Wondering if the plate that goes between the block and the bell housing is different for Auto. and Manual?
I have a '88 2.9 that I'm working with, doing a FM145 5 speed manual install. I don't have a plate and the starter ate up my flywheel teeth. So... now I'm doing it the right way now. I have a auto. one but I thought to ask here before proceeding.
Thanks.

Hawkeye

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

For some reason I think the plate is different, but I'm not sure.

 

[Mudhound]

Yes, the plates ARE different. The one for the Auto tranny has a removable section on the bottom to allow you to get to the torque converter bolts, while the one for a Manual doesn't need this. You can run the plate for an auto on a Manual tranny without issues, but the one for the Manual won't work on an Auto tranny unless you are really creative with putting the nuts on the torque converter somehow.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yes, the plates ARE different. The one for the Auto tranny has a removable section on the bottom to allow you to get to the torque converter bolts, while the one for a Manual doesn't need this. You can run the plate for an auto on a Manual tranny without issues, but the one for the Manual won't work on an Auto tranny unless you are really creative with putting the nuts on the torque converter somehow.

Some auto plates don't have a removeable section, you just have to pull the starter and do it through that hole on those styles, which sucks...

 

[adsm08]

Yo Hawk, I have an 87 2.9L FM145 plate if you want it. Make me an offer, you pay shipping from 17701.

 

[Mudhound]

So, Ford dropped the ball on that, huh? Well, it's nice to know that you can get the plate with or without the removable inspection plate, and simply swap it the next time that you have to pull the tranny ( which seems to be WAY too often on the A4LD trucks).

 

[Hawkeye58]

Cool!

Thanks for the info everybody. Well like I said I have one for a auto. so if it can be used then I'm going to proceed then. Wish I didn't have to tear it apart again but... that's what I get for not using one to begin with.

Hawkeye