Type4 upright conversion into a Ghia
I'm at the point of installing the needle bearing into the flywheel flush with the bolt side of the FW and just entering the end of crank recess.
I have the following queries.
1) Can I, or should I put grease inside the crank end hole?
2) What stops the bearing grease reaching the clutch....no felt washer?
3) I was thinking about an alternative bearing with an intergrated seal from a later VW (I've seen in previous searches). This would require the new FW to be machined to accept the bigger bearing OD, and the crank hole machined, depending how far it has to enter?
4) Does the bearing have a right and wrong direction when fitted into the FW?
Please see attached the new FW and the new bearing. The landing in the FW for the bearing seems small?
Thanks for reading this.
type4 200mm Flywheel
- Gnasha
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type4 200mm Flywheel
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- dstar5000
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Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
Buwahahahahahhaha!
β"Let me say it as simply as I can: transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones
of this presidency,".. Barack Obama January 21, 2009, 30 minutes before he signed the law
sealing all his personal information....
of this presidency,".. Barack Obama January 21, 2009, 30 minutes before he signed the law
sealing all his personal information....
- dstar5000
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Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
WRONG HOLE!

DON
DON
β"Let me say it as simply as I can: transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones
of this presidency,".. Barack Obama January 21, 2009, 30 minutes before he signed the law
sealing all his personal information....
of this presidency,".. Barack Obama January 21, 2009, 30 minutes before he signed the law
sealing all his personal information....
- Gnasha
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- Piledriver
- Moderator
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Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
The tiny bit of grease really isn't a risk in my experience, the bearing only needs a dab.
The thick area with the lettering goes out towards the transmission, the very thin area that gets rolled in to contain the needles is easy to break when stuffing an engine. the bearing goes in flush, and will stick into the crank a little.
Make absolutely sure any old bearing in the crank is 100% removed.
You can also get or have an oilite bronze bushing made for this, same size as the needle bearing.
The thick area with the lettering goes out towards the transmission, the very thin area that gets rolled in to contain the needles is easy to break when stuffing an engine. the bearing goes in flush, and will stick into the crank a little.
Make absolutely sure any old bearing in the crank is 100% removed.
You can also get or have an oilite bronze bushing made for this, same size as the needle bearing.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
- Gnasha
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- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:09 am
Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
Thank you for the reply. Prior to your response I had already taken the steps to fit it in the method you prescribed. Except, I have left a space on the bolt side of the FW for the felt washer. This, Iβm confident will be kept in place by the steel washer under the FW bolts. Would you agree?Piledriver wrote: βWed Jul 28, 2021 7:11 am The tiny bit of grease really isn't a risk in my experience, the bearing only needs a dab.
The thick area with the lettering goes out towards the transmission, the very thin area that gets rolled in to contain the needles is easy to break when stuffing an engine. the bearing goes in flush, and will stick into the crank a little.
Make absolutely sure any old bearing in the crank is 100% removed.
You can also get or have an oilite bronze bushing made for this, same size as the needle bearing.
Thanks again, much appreciated.
- Piledriver
- Moderator
- Posts: 22759
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 12:01 am
Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
The 914 flywheels are significantly thicker than the cast flywheels at the hub...and slightly longer bolts to match.
Theres a bit more room for the bearing and felt grease "seal" there.
As you said, the 6 hole washer the bolts lock into keeps the felt in place.
Compress that felt a bit, if it flops around it will mysteriously vanish over time.
You can do the same in a t4 or conversion flywheel, but note it will stick into the crank a bit more and it is a press fit in the crank, too.
Dont ever skip the lock plate, you can buy just the lock plates for a few bucks... don't have to buy a gasket set.
(for the pushrod tube orings, find an industrial seal place. Bring a good pizza around 11 am... You may leave with a lifetime supply)
...Having said all that, I have probably put close to a million miles on multiple t1s and t4s (a lot of it on one og 1700cc bottom end) gone through many straight up worn out clutches etc, but I have never bought or missed a felt washer.
Theres a bit more room for the bearing and felt grease "seal" there.
As you said, the 6 hole washer the bolts lock into keeps the felt in place.
Compress that felt a bit, if it flops around it will mysteriously vanish over time.
You can do the same in a t4 or conversion flywheel, but note it will stick into the crank a bit more and it is a press fit in the crank, too.
Dont ever skip the lock plate, you can buy just the lock plates for a few bucks... don't have to buy a gasket set.
(for the pushrod tube orings, find an industrial seal place. Bring a good pizza around 11 am... You may leave with a lifetime supply)
...Having said all that, I have probably put close to a million miles on multiple t1s and t4s (a lot of it on one og 1700cc bottom end) gone through many straight up worn out clutches etc, but I have never bought or missed a felt washer.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
- Gnasha
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:09 am
Re: type4 200mm Flywheel
Thank you for your much appreciated feed back. A pizza can cross many boundaries and instil some much need enthusiasm in your cause. LolPiledriver wrote: βThu Jul 29, 2021 7:22 am The 914 flywheels are significantly thicker than the cast flywheels at the hub...and slightly longer bolts to match.
Theres a bit more room for the bearing and felt grease "seal" there.
As you said, the 6 hole washer the bolts lock into keeps the felt in place.
Compress that felt a bit, if it flops around it will mysteriously vanish over time.
You can do the same in a t4 or conversion flywheel, but note it will stick into the crank a bit more and it is a press fit in the crank, too.
Dont ever skip the lock plate, you can buy just the lock plates for a few bucks... don't have to buy a gasket set.
(for the pushrod tube orings, find an industrial seal place. Bring a good pizza around 11 am... You may leave with a lifetime supply)
...Having said all that, I have probably put close to a million miles on multiple t1s and t4s (a lot of it on one og 1700cc bottom end) gone through many straight up worn out clutches etc, but I have never bought or missed a felt washer.