kenmo

I e-mailed Corvette Central about their flywheel part #532003 which is a 168 tooth and accepts the 11 inch clutch and seems to be for internally balanced Chevy V8s. Which is what I want. However Corvette Central lists it for 66-69 427 and 69-81 350 with #621 Bell Housing.


So I contact them via e-mail asking if this flywheel will work with my small journal 327 with a Muncie M21 and bellhousing #3704922.


I receive a reply that this flywheel only works with 621 and not my bell #922...


I thought both bellhousings could accomodate the same flywheel? Anyone care to comment?


Summit Racing also has a few flywheels adverised but some have a note not SFI approved? Sorry not sure what that means?


Thanks kindly

Crunch527

Nope...the flywheels are different. You need the 621 fly wheel if you are going to run an 11 inch clutch. I swapped to a 11 inch clutch/flywheel/
bell when I added a 5 speed.

SFI is a safety-related cert tied to performance standards...notably tied to racing. Google it, you will find more details and you will be able to better assess if you care about SFI based on your application.


Frank

Joe Inama

621 and a 444 will work with a big block and 11 inch set up.

kenmo

Thanks kindly for the reply Tom....Appreciate it...

DansYellow66

Running a stock aluminum bellhousing would probably make an SFI flywheel worthwhile. There isn't much between your feet and a flywheel if one were abused to the point of coming apart at high rpm.

kenmo

My bellhousing GM #3704922 is iron cast...

kenmo

So is in other words the flywheel Corvette Central claims would only work with GM bell housing #3899621 would be fine with my bell #3704922...

wmf62

Ken
i have a 922 bellhousing and i use it in my 62 with the large flywheel and the 11" clutch.

Bill

Plasticman

Ken,

I would think you could get a better flywheel (SFI rated) from Summit or Jegs.

Understand you live across the border, but think both those companies whould ship "up north".

As stated previously:

Any Chevy 168 tooth flywheel that is neutral balanced for a 2 piece oil seal (pre 1986) style crank, for an 11" clutch pressure plate (if that is what you have - which is not original) will work.

The original clutch was 10.4" (also called 10-1/2").

Plasticman

kenmo

Thanks kindly.... I've purchased quite a few items in the past from SummitRacing but the shipping to Canada of an item weighing 20 to 30 lbs is often almost as much as the item.

I could have it shipped to northern Maine but I will not be in Maine until the summer and I was hoping to have the Vette back on the road once the snow leaves the ground....

Cheers

wmf62

do what ya gotta do, and drive it...
Bill

(hopefully the ferry will be running this year...)

Razzle

the bigger flywheel puts the starter further out, making it's nose interfere with the smaller bellhousing

Plasticman

V-8 solid axle Corvettes (1955 through 1962) only used one size flywheel, and they are all 168 teeth.

There is no "bigger" flywheel for the Small Block Chevy.

Plasticman

6T5RUSH

DZAuto,

"Now, with all of the above in mind, one thing I really dispise about the small, 153 teeth flywheel is that the required starter is almost against the side of the oil pan----------------------WHICH REQUIRES REMOVING THE STARTER TO DROP THE PAN!!!!!!!!! Just an additional hassle if there is a need to drop the pan."

I hear ya' on that. I'm looking hard at 2 pan bolts that my starter nearly hides...thinking there just might be a slim type ratcheting wrench to slip up there and get maybe a 1/4 turn at a time vs. removing the starter. I know, I know, it's only 2 bolts on the starter but If the above can be done with the right wrench, I'll leave that starter in place. Mine has a shield on her to boot.

Thanks Tom for your insight here.

Jim
In God We Trust!

kenmo

Do most 168 tooth flywheels have the option (ability) to accommodate either the 11 inch or 10.5 inch clutch?

wmf62

most, no
Bill

W Guy

FYI: The 004 168 tooth flywheel will accomodate an 11" clutch.

Verne

MikeM

I believe '57-'60 TurboGlide blocks were drilled for a block mounted starter.

Razzle

The 168 tooth flywheel IS the bigger of the 2 flywheels that will go on those motors. The smaller being 153(?). The original poster said he was told he'd need the 621(?) bell with the 168 tooth flywheel in question and that's correct. The bigger of the 2 flywheels (I don't think the OP specified what year he had, but it's not important to help him address his issue) needs a starter that mounts with the 2 staggered holes instead of the 2 holes directly opposed from each other. This starter, to clear the 168 tooth flywheel is mounted further outboard, enough to hit the smaller bell, making the 621 bell necessary.

wmf62

the open bottom 922 bellhousing uses a starter that bolts to the bellhousing not up to the block; so as long as you have the right starter nose, no problem...

and, i seem to remember, Tom Parsons says there is a starter nose that will fit into the 922 bellhousing AND allow the starter to bolt up to the block; i just don't remember what nose it is.

Bill