Hey all, I've got a 2000 f150 with the 5.4l v8, I blew a head gasket and pulled the motor to fix it, I replaced the flywheel with a new one, I droppe the engine back in and it starts, but the flywheel grinds as the engine spins. When I turn it over by hand the flywheel has one spot where it "sticks" which I assume is where the grinding is coming from, but it's not the starter or anywhere along the bottom of the bellhousing where it rubs, I backed the truck up an it drove fine but with the grinding noise still, however when puttin it in drive it doesn't seam like its going forward right. The side of the flywheel towards the transmission has scrapes on it from grinding and the side of the flywheel towards the engine is fine, anyone have a clue what it could be!?u

 

Flex plate? Auto trans? Auto trans does not have a flywheel, but a flex plate. Why did you change the old one out? Did it bolt to the TQ converter without problems? Are you sure it is even bolted to the Torque Converter.....? That is the trickiest part installing the engine back to the trans

 

Ya its auto, its bolted to the flex plate the old one had a few teeth ground down, I use an air gun to put the bolts on the flex plate to the engine, I didn't torque it, could that effect it?

 

so you got the flex plate bolted to the engine, did you bolt it to the torque converter and make sure its tightened?

 

is it an aftermarket or ford replacement flexplate?

 

did you install it the correct direction? the tapered part of the starter ring gear teeth should be towards the engine

 

There was only one direction it could go, everything tight and it's aftermarket from O'Reilly

 

Can you see through the inspection plate what it is rubbing on?

 

I can't, there's nothing rubbing on the bottom

 

if everything is tight and its not grinding against the starter, you may have to pull the trans back out and figure out what it is hitting, rubbing on

 

Ya that's what I'm thinking but I really don't wanna do that, haha I'm gonna take it to a mechanic and let them take care of it

 

Turn it over by hand or bumping it with the starter, look at all the bolts from the flex plate to the T/C. IIRC those bolts should have a shorter head on them........but I could be wrong.

 

Hopefully the store did give you the correct flex plate, mistakes happen.