3.2 Conversion Flywheel/Presure Plate, Kennedy Pressure plate to mate 901 to 3.2 Options

[earossi]

I've spent some time attempting to research my question and cannot find any information in the forum's archives; so,thought that I would ask my question on this forum.

I am doing a conversion project to install a 1987 3.2 motor into my 914. I plan on using the 901 transmission. In the process of researching parts to make this installation, I came upon a Kennedy pressure plate with a 225mm clutch disc that was essentially new. The owner stated that the part is what I needed to make the conversion mentioned above. So, I purchased the pressure plate and disc from him.

When the hardware arrived, I found that the pressure plate included a ring gear for the starter. My confusion is in noting that the flywheel currently mounted to my 3.2 motor has an integral ring gear. So, do I have an incorrect flywheel or an incorrect pressure plate? The Kennedy design included a removable ring gear for the pressure plate. So, do I simply mount the pressure plate to the 3.2 flywheel WITHOUT the ring gear? Or, is the Kennedy ring gear positioned to mate up with the location of the starter motor on the 901 tranny?

Sorry for the confusion, but I am just trying to understand what is required. Incidentally, the 225mm Kennedy clutch disc appears to be a perfect fit to the 3.2 flywheel installed on the motor.

[earossi]

OK. Yes, the 3.2 has a 9 bolt flywheel. The flywheel that is on the engine does mate up perfectly with the Kennedy 225mm disc. I am assuming that the spline count on the disc will match the output shaft of the 901 tranny. So, my question becomes one of knowing if the starter gear will mate up with my existing 9 bolt flywheel (with integral ring gear) when the starter is mounted to a 901 gearbox. If the answer is "yes" then I guess that I just mount the Kennedy pressure plate WITHOUT mounting the ring gear to the pressure plate that was supplied with the plate assembly.

Incidentally, if someone knows the spline count on the 901 or other data that would allow me to confirm that the 901 will fit the setup I have, please provide that data.

Also, does the same pilot bearing work for the 3.2 flywheel as for the 2.0 liter four cylinder motor?

[worn]

So, my question becomes one of knowing if the starter gear will mate up with my existing 9 bolt flywheel (with integral ring gear) when the starter is mounted to a 901 gearbox. If the answer is "yes" then I guess that I just mount the Kennedy pressure plate WITHOUT mounting the ring gear to the pressure plate that was supplied with the plate assembly.

I think the added ring is actually for the starter. Pictures would inspire us.

[earossi]

So, my question becomes one of knowing if the starter gear will mate up with my existing 9 bolt flywheel (with integral ring gear) when the starter is mounted to a 901 gearbox. If the answer is "yes" then I guess that I just mount the Kennedy pressure plate WITHOUT mounting the ring gear to the pressure plate that was supplied with the plate assembly.

I think the added ring is actually for the starter. Pictures would inspire us.

No, you are definitely way ahead of me. My 914 still has the 2.0 four installed. I am in the "parts gathering" phase of the project.

I have the 3.2 motor with stock flywheel. I have items such as the firewall engine mount, the oil tank, engine tin to mate the motor to the car, etc. But, I am several months away from actually making the swap. Actually, I am gong to have the final installation done by someone else who has done these conversions before.

But, there are questions that arise as I put the parts bin together. Arrangement of the air intake for the motor for clearance is something that I have got to look at. I am planning on using a completely stock 3.2 motor which produces more torque that I can really use effectively. So, I plan on staying with the Motronic FI system. This should result in a reliable installation, if done properly.

Yes, the stock flywheel ring gear is used for the speed sensor. I know that I will have to cut out a clearance window in the bell housing of the 901 tranny to accommodate the speed sensor. But, on the 3.2, I "believe" that the same ring gear used for the speed sensor is also the one used for starter motor engagement.

So, when the 901 trans is bolted up to the 3.2, will the starter motor engage the 3.2 installed ring gear mentioned above. Or, do I need to mount the second ring gear to the Kennedy pressure plate as supplied with the clutch package?