[DeTomaso] Techno question: aluminum flywheel washers

[steven.liebenow at att.net]

Jack wrote: "The reason for the thin washers is simply to be sure the flywheel boltheads 
clear the clutch when the engine is hot 'n running."

Jack,

I'm confused....(so what else is new!?)

Why or how does putting a washer under the flywheel bolt get the bolt head further away from the clutch disc?  To me, a washer would put the bolt head CLOSER to the clutch disc and potentially cause interference!

If anything, I thought it had something to do with keeping the bolts from biting into the aluminum and allowing the flywheel to loosen up!

On Ford HP aluminum intakes (and TRANSMISSIONS!) of the 60's, there were Tech Tips that recommended placing hardened washers under the intake bolt heads and the transmission bolt heads, to help prevent the heads from working themselves into the soft aluminum and then eventually causing bad things.....

If you doubt this, I have a C6 tranny case at home, that originally came behind a 428CJ that was raced heavily. The bolts loosened up, and eventually allowed the tranny to shift so much that it took a couple of very large chunks out of the case at the block surface!

I now use hardened washers against aluminum......

Steve