Clutch Drama with a 3.2

[Targa Me]

Hello Everyone.
Ok, here's whats been going on.
I recently change my clutch on my stock 3.2 1984 Targa.
I tried to start her up and all I hear is the starter motor spinning. I immediately thought I had a starter problem.
Long story short... I don't have a starter problem. The clutch pressure plate did not come with the ring gear attached. Have any of you run into this? Can I easily transfer the ring gear from the old pressure plate to the new? What all is involved with that?
What confuses me is that the first time I replaced the clutch I didn't need to do this.
Unfortunately I didn't buy the clutch assembly from our Host.
Help please.
What's wrong with this picture !

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey L,

I see why not the Sach's kit here does not have it either and the Ring gear is sold seperately. Just make certain you gradually torque it in a star pattern and you should be golden.

J

[Walt Fricke]

Pressure plates never come with a ring gear. The old one is always reused unless teeth are broken, in which case it is separately replaced.

I don't see how you were able to attach the pressure plate to the flywheel without at least noticing that the bolts were too long for that. I suppose you mistook the timing teeth on the flywheel for a ring gear? But we have all made some strange mistakes along the way.

[rusnak]

Wow, that's weird. Somehow you forgot about the starter gear. I'll see if I can post pics of the flywheel, and one of the pressure plate. In your pic, you can see the speed sensor "teeth" of the flywheel. The starter gear bolts on over the pressure plate. I hope your bolts are not scraping against the bellhousing.

[Targa Me]

Walt, the first time I did a clutch on this car the press plate DID come with the ring gear.
Anyway, I feel pretty stupid for not noticing that this one didn't. D'oh !
What's the procedure for making the swap, anything special I need to know about?

[Targa Me]

How do you remove the starter ring gear from the pressure plate?
I just found this post... now I DO feel like a dumbass.

Well like Mr. Freeborn's quote says, "A good sense of humor.....

[Rot 911]

Don't feel too bad. I made the same mistake after reinstalling my engine after rebuilding it.

[CCM911]

A very common mistake.

Think of the bright side. You will now be an expert at engine removal/install.

[rusnak]

Mine just fell out with the pressure plate. If yours is stuck, heat it with a torch, and knock it iff the pp by tapping the pp upside down, wearing some heavy gloves.

[Walt Fricke]

I had the thought Christopher had - the first engine R&R is always the hardest.

Pay attention to which way you install the ring gear. The flanged outside should fit over the outside of the pressure plate. In other words, facing the engine, or in the orientation which puts the ring gear farther from the transmission/starter than the other way around. Easier, perhaps, by doing it just as it sits on your old PP.

I also had Rusnak's thought about the bolts bumping into the engine bell housing (sort of an anti-bell housing?) webbing. Then I realized that 1) the starter of course did not have a chance to turn the engine over, and 2) after installing the PP there is no particular reason to try to turn the engine over by hand. And if one tried, interference would be obvious, though that would really have perplexed Targa Me.