I'm setting up a 31' chris cat with SSM Vs/Velvet drives. The boat came with twin motor plates and mounts. The rear plate is about 1/4" thick steel. The tranny/bellhousing is from a TRS, without a rear motor mount plate. It used tailstock mounts instead.
With the added thickness of the rear motor mount plate, do I need to mill of 1/4" from the bellhousing for the transmission input shaft to seat fully in the flexplate/flywheel? BTW, the bellhousing is a Merc, top mounted starter, twin tranny,oil cooler unit.
Gary

Gary-
The flywheel will require the ring gear to be mounted from the rear instead of the front. A standard flywheel can be cut down to do this if needed.

Remember that the ring gear/starter gear engagement will be affected by the engine plate. If the starter, drive plate and flywheel were from a TRS without the plate, then the starter gear will barely engage the flywheel, if at all, when you add the mount. You could put some paint or machinist blue on the gears to check this when the machine work is done.

I would also look carefully at how much metal will be left before you mill the bellhousing- and this sounds like the best solution.

I have #3 speedmasters with bellhousing mounted starters in case you need some measurements- my engines are on stands right now.

Good Luck!
Bulldog aka Ronnie

Thanks bulldog. There seems to be enough metal to cut down the bell housing. But to make it easier, I think I'll try to talk the owner into going with the tailstock mounts and lose the rear plate.
Gary

If you talk to Mark at Bam you can by the bell
housings with that taken into account.

I know Compition Marine Center Mills there's
per application.

Cougarman