Flexplate compatability

[Tuco21]

I have a 2003 alh automatic engine that I am putting in a small jet boat. It came with a thin flex plate and a torque converter with the ring gear. The starter is mounted on the transmission side. I need to attach a drive line directly onto the flex plate that will drive the jet.

My questions are: is there a flex plate or flywheel that has the ring gear on it that is thinner and has access to the crank bolts so I can attach a small adapter for the driveline. Also, I want to attach the starter higher or on the engine side and need a plate or adapter.

Space behind the engine is at a premium but the sides have unlimited space.

I am attempting to get some photos to make this clearer but I am guessing that this has been done before and I just can find it.

Thanks, Matt.

 

[Tuco21]

Here are some images of what I am looking for. The engine is a 2.0 from 2005 so maybe it is not balanced the same which is the flywheels from 2003 are so much bigger. I also believe that the larger heavier flywheel and flex plate smooth the running of the engine.

 

[Mikkijayne]

Look at Audi A4 B5 and Passat B5 / B5.5. They have the starter on the engine side and will be set up how you need, including a proper flywheel from manual versions. 1.8T parts will bolt up to the TDI block if you can't find TDI parts.

 

[Tuco21]

That is exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks, Matt

 

[oilhammer]

Volkswagen also has an entire division that purpose builds Marine engines. Google Ring Power as they are sold/serviced through Caterpillar dealers in the US.

http://boatdiesel.com/Engines/Volkswagen/Volkswagen.cfm

In other words, Volkswagen already makes the exact parts you need most likely.

 

[dogdots]

Ooh, that means when I tire of the 140hp Chevy 4 banger in my I/O Playcraft pontoon, maybe I can drop my spare BHW in...not sure I can get diesel on the lake where my boat is slipped though.

 

[Tuco21]

Ooh, that means when I tire of the 140hp Chevy 4 banger in my I/O Playcraft pontoon, maybe I can drop my spare BHW in...not sure I can get diesel on the lake where my boat is slipped though.

Anecdotally your mpg will rise dramatically. One person on here who put a bew? In an 18' jet boat went from about 2.5-3mpg to 10-12mpg. That is a lot further per tank.
Matt

 

[shakescreek]

Don't run the flexplate, way to light. Get a flywheel that's at least 20 lbs. I started with a 12 pound flywheel on my jetboat, than went to an 18 lb smf and am now in the process of fitting a 28 lb duel mass unit and making up a new driveline and adapter to fit it. Too much spline rattle in the driveline with the lighter single mass flywheels wears the spline quite rapidly. I even tried making up a driveshaft with cv joints in place of the u-joints and eliminating the spline on the jetdrive input shaft. Took about half a season to wear out the spline in the cv joint with the plunge action.I put about 200 hours a summer on my boat though. If you are only using yours a few hours a year for recreation you may get acceptable spline life with an 18 lb smf. Definitely wouldn't recommend anything lighter than that.

 

[Tuco21]

Just to follow up here is a picture of what I have decided to do. This flywheel was drilled by a machinist so the driveshaft can be bolted directly to it. Since the TDI flywheels are so beefy it works fine...I guess. I will try
Matt

 

[Theterror]

Just curious what the best solution to this was? I have a mercruser out drive I need to hook up to a 1.9 alh?

 

[[486]]

get a cheap 2.0 gas transmission and flywheel
that'll give you a starter mount and a solid flywheel
cut the trans case away from the starter mounting portion in order to stick on your driveshaft to the flywheel

 

[PickleRick]

The easiest method if you don't have machinist skills is to buy a tdi to SBC adapter. Then use used factory mercruiser parts to mate the 1.9t to your outdrive.