Hello! I have a 1971 Maverick 2 door, automatic on the column, stock 302 (~140k miles). I'm having the C4 rebuilt and (not suprizingly) I need to replace the flexplate. Does anyone have any recommendations on the brand? I'm willing to pay up to $150 for a really good one. I've seen the RM-950 and RM-952 Quicktime flexplates on Summit and I definately like the idea of a light-weight plate (2.8 lbs) that is easy for my old motor to turn. Thanks for your help.
What is wrong with your current flex plate? Why do you feel the need to get such an expensive replacement plate with a stock 302 engine and a rebuilt but unmodified C4 transmission?
What does a stock flexplate weigh?? Like 3.5Lb?? Way past overkill for a stock engine... Considering the crank and converter combo weigh probably 65-70Lb, you'd never notice a pound reduction in rotating mass... Step up to a 2000-2200 or so stall, still be plenty streetable and give a noticeable boost in performance...
Take the money saved on the high dollar flexplate and spend it on a Pertronix conversion for the ignition. You don't need a 1 pound lighter flexplate (if it's even that much less)
My transmission mechanic said I needed to replace my flexplate. I just replaced my starter with a Powermaster 9603 and I noticed the flexplate teeth were wore. They were being ground down on the engine side of the teeth. That wasn't suprising considering the fact that I had two NAPA OEM starters go out. They both stopped retracting and I had to drive home that way each time. Its better to be safe than sorry, so I settled on a TCI 529618 157 tooth. It was about $111 on Summit. The Qucktime ones were only about $130 but I couldn't find a 157 tooth that would work. I didn't think about how heavy the torque converter is. Its weight does make the flexplate weight negligible. I thought a 2k RPM stall torque converter was the way to go. Any recommendations on the brand? My mechanic recommended a custom one from Superior Transmissions in Portland, OR. I don't know how good theirs are. I've already got a Pertronix kit in an OEM distributer. My next project will be replacing the Autolite 2-bl carb with a Holley 570 CFM and adding a Weiand Warrior duel plane intake. I can't wait!
If you're going to continue with the mods, get a Stealth intake instead. It'll work the same on the bottom end, but allow you to make future upgrades later.
I've been running a TCI 2400 stall convertor for more than 20 years. This convertor is great for a stock or mildly modified engine. I need to purchase a higher stall convertor soon. I had a bad experiences with two Summit convertors about four years ago. Both had excessive hub run-out that would have resulted in a vibration. I returned both of them to Summit. You will notice when you purchase a TCI convertor that hub run-out is one of their quality control checks. I don't know if Summit convertor quality has improved since that time.
I bought one for my Comet that did not seat as deeply as original so bound up when eveything was bolted together... Sent it back and bought a Hughes, no problem at all... Oh yeah the builder of my Summit? Boss Hogg... They no doubt use other mfgrs as well...
