Hi,

Just need a quick answer, when I got my 5.9L magnum engine the flex plate was bent, so of course I took it off and bent it up to it's original shape ect.. Will this be okay on my truck or should I buy a new one? Currently the engine is about half in but is better than completely in... Help is appreciated.

(It looks straight to the naked, eye, also I think that when it is in there will be bolt flat to original shape. But I need to know asap...)

 

Just get a new one. There's no telling what may have fatigued when it was bent, or how it bent, etc. You don't want that coming apart on you later. Safest bet is to get a new one.

 

yes, buy a new one. if its off balance at all, you will wreck your motor

 

Thats what im worried about guess I get to start over again... LOL

 

Well, I talked to my dad who is an engineer btw, and he said at the speed it is going, and the flex plate, was bent back into shape, (Looked a 100% flat Even checked it out, weights are still in place, bolted up to the torque converter no problem, I believe the plate is fine. )

If I feel something off, I will probably assume it is this but I don't think so. I bet the plate I have was designed for my engine, unlike the ones you buy from the internet, which are just offset weights, which would probably still be off as each engine will be even the tiniest different. So the amount of the bend, will probably just throw it off, by the amount of a online version.

 

i'd be more worried about the bending weakening the metal itself. you dont want that thing breaking apart.

 

Actually, I don't think it's weak at all since it was bend in the direction of two bolts, it shouldn't break, it is if anything weak the opposite way. Inaways off to work on it, hack away lol.

 

id replace it, you want to do the job right the first time, yea it maybe fine for 10,000 miles but, is it going to be ok for 100,000?... yeah you may not have the truck that long but still, if your questioning if that flexplate is going to be full proof, then my answer is to replace it, do what you want but, IMO its going to be off balance and cause damage that will show over time both to the engine and the transmission without a doubt in my mind

 

A new flexplate is less than 50 bucks:

http://www.performancetransparts.com...&ProdID=25

It's a small part of your engine swap project that can cause you big headaches in the future. There's no good reason not to replace it in my opinion.

 

back when i was in high school i had a charger and swapped a 318 for a 340...i went thru 3 or 4 flex plates before i gave up and finally took it to a shop to be put in. they would bend and crack and vibrate badly...i got so mad because i couldnt ever figure out why they were bending, i did everything right or so i thought. it was about the most frustrating thing i have ever went thru...i know this isnt an answer for you but thought id throw my own experiences in here. they have to be PERFECTLY aligned or you will run thru them like i did. if you dont get it right the first time, take it to a shop. it will save you from many headaches