Pelase reply to Tom Wayne, not me!

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Wayne [mailto:twwayne@altavista.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2000 8:15 PM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: tiico automatic engine conversion

Hi again list:
I thought I would give you some more specifics regarding my engine
conversion gleaned after some further research today:

The aluminum conversion plate is mounted directly to the 2.0 golf engine.
Also mounted to the engine is the Flex Plate for automatic transmissions.
This plate is about 9/16" thick. When I try to put the torque converter
bolts on the flex plate there is no play to allow the engine to run. My
solution is to countersink a hole the size of the bolt head (approximately
1/4" deep) into the flex plate. This would then leave about 5/16" on the
flex plate. The flex plate and the engine are about as far against the
transmission with no play, and the engine is properly installed in the
engine bay.

So...

Was the flex plate supplied too thick?

and...

If I get another flex plate from Tiico via South Africa that is 1/4" less
thick with a 1/4" spacer in between the conversion plate and the flex plate
will it really make a difference? It seems to me that the plate with the
1/4" counter sinks would be stronger than the plate 1/4" less in width.

For those of you that have done engine conversions does this seem
reasonable? Any advice would certainly be appreciated. Please P-mail me.

Tom Wayne