Help!
I have just been to the local Ford dealer to buy a Type 9 to Pinto intermediate plate, they tell me that they cant get them anymore!!!

Any ideas where I can get one from?

If it's a machined part you have a drawing of the part - I could possibly get it made up for you. Nothing to with me but the said bloke is very able to do most engineering things.

ATB

pardon my ignorance but what's an intermediate plate??

NS, i would have asked the same, i'm guessing a "bell housing ?"

If its the thin steel plate that covers the btm 1/2 of the exposed flywheel ect most people ditch this don't they ?

[Edited on 5/3/05 by Jon Ison]

Yes, sorry its the thin plate that sits between the bell housining and the engine.

Can I live without it?


Thanks for the offer Hellfire, I may end up making one myself.

yup, ditch it.

Well, umm...
Mechanically it does nothing.... but it does stop the bottom of the bellhousing scooping up water and muck into the clutch.
David

It provides accurate location for the starter --- on the old two bolt inertia starter Ford bellhousing if you ran without one the starter pinnion and ring gear would be chewed up within couple of weeks.
With three bolt starters it is a lot less critical but should still be fitted.

It does help to stop the clutch sticking if you leave the car stood. If you can't get one cut yourself a template and make one to cover the exposed bit when the engine and gearbox are fitted together.

I cut one out of aluminium sheet when I connected my zetec to the sierra type 9. I probably could have got away without one but I didn't like the thought of the clutch getting loads of crap in it.

Can't you get one from the scrap yard. My local place has a shed full of gearboxes, the intermediate plates, as you call them are sometimes on the floor.

you'll have to take the flywheel off to get at them, or cut a nick in the side to get it round the end of the crank.

tom

If it's used for accurate location of starter, then I'd be inclined to find out how thick it is, and stick some washers between starter and b/housing. Instant accurate location.

ATB

Simon

PS It's also known as a poo plate, for reasons David set out!