Question about bent JW flexplate

[BEATAV8]

I have a used shortblock with a steel crank and a JW flexplate. Previous owner / builder installed the flexplate without relieving the ID bore inner edge to clear the crank fillet. This "tweaked" the wheel slightly... looks ever so slightly like a dinner plate now. But apparently this did not cause a problem for the previous owner.... (as far as I know)

Anyways.. what's the preferred procedure for beveling the ID edge of the wheel? Grind it by hand or take it to a shop and put it on a lathe? I'd like to find out if this wheel will straighten itself out if I bolt it back up after clearancing

 

[87LtdT]

I recently installed a JW flexplate (93007L) on my new long block. Did not need to debur the ID and it fit very nicely...maybe only .001-.002" clearance between ID and crank OD.

I'm ashamed to say it because it's only been 3 months since I installed it, but I'm pretty sure it is "bent" intentionally...I'm absolutely sure the POS CAT flexplate was...but I had to examine it a lot more!! Before worrying about it I'd send a pic to JW and ask them if yours is distorted or normal.

HTH, Bob

 

[87LtdT]

Thinking more about it I think the JW flexplate was not intentionally bent... And to be clear the CAT flexplate was bent intentionally....it was a POS for other reasons...not the bend.

Bob K

 

[BEATAV8]

Thinking more about it I think the JW flexplate was not intentionally bent... And to be clear the CAT flexplate was bent intentionally....it was a POS for other reasons...not the bend.

Bob K

Hi Bob
Yeah I read about those CAT flexplates being POS's. On my setup the flexplate needed to be relieved in order to fit my crank. I ended up installing the flexplate backwards and torqueing the bolts to bend the flexplate back to where it was straightened out. Then I beveled the edge and reinstalled the flexplate properly. Looks OK now.