Flywheel/Starter
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Griswold CT
Flywheel/Starter
Now what do I do??? Removed a 350 from my 61 and replaced with a 283. Engine is installed and installed a correct 283 starter. Problem that I now have is that I failed to determine what the flywheel size was when I removed it from my 350. The starter does not engage the flywheel.
So it looks like I cannot use the correct starter and will have to get another. Any suggestions on this?
So it looks like I cannot use the correct starter and will have to get another. Any suggestions on this?
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From: Camp Verde AZ
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What bell do you have? An original '61 bell or something else?
If you had a block mounted starter, and you now have the bell mounted starter,and you have a small flywheel, you will have to go back to a block mounted starter, if it will clear the bell housing.
DZAuto knows more about starter intechangability/fitment issues than me.
Search his name and flywheel and starter, you will get some good info
Doug
If you had a block mounted starter, and you now have the bell mounted starter,and you have a small flywheel, you will have to go back to a block mounted starter, if it will clear the bell housing.
DZAuto knows more about starter intechangability/fitment issues than me.
Search his name and flywheel and starter, you will get some good info
Doug
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From: Washington Michigan
If you have a C1 bellhousing, it takes a bellhousing-mounted starter, which requires a 14" (168-tooth) flywheel; no other combination will work. If you have a later C2 bellhousing, that takes a block-mounted starter; DZAuto can tell you what your options are for that based on how your block pad is drilled.
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Very good info above.
There are only TWO sizes of flywheels (or flexplates for auto trannys), 14in diameter (168 teeth) and 13in diameter (153 teeth). There are no other sizes, period.
Thus, you must have the appropriate starter to match the flywheel size that you have.
You mentioned that you installed a "correct" 283 starter and it will not engage your flywheel. Right up front, that tells me that your correct 283 starter is mounted to the bell housing, AND, it will ONLY work with a 168 teeth flywheel. If this is what I have correctly understood, all you need to do is locate a big, 168 teeth flywheel. Also, if the flywheel on your 350 was the smaller version (153 teeth), then that means that you also had a 10 1/2in clutch. Only the EARLY 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in flywheel. All the later 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch (I personally prefer an 11in clutch over a 10 1/2in clutch). Sooooooooooooooo, if you can't locate a 168 teeth flywheel with the bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in clutch, then you will need to swap both the flywheel and clutch. Have I thoroughly confused you?
There are only TWO sizes of flywheels (or flexplates for auto trannys), 14in diameter (168 teeth) and 13in diameter (153 teeth). There are no other sizes, period.
Thus, you must have the appropriate starter to match the flywheel size that you have.
You mentioned that you installed a "correct" 283 starter and it will not engage your flywheel. Right up front, that tells me that your correct 283 starter is mounted to the bell housing, AND, it will ONLY work with a 168 teeth flywheel. If this is what I have correctly understood, all you need to do is locate a big, 168 teeth flywheel. Also, if the flywheel on your 350 was the smaller version (153 teeth), then that means that you also had a 10 1/2in clutch. Only the EARLY 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in flywheel. All the later 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch (I personally prefer an 11in clutch over a 10 1/2in clutch). Sooooooooooooooo, if you can't locate a 168 teeth flywheel with the bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in clutch, then you will need to swap both the flywheel and clutch. Have I thoroughly confused you?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 214
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From: Griswold CT
Very good info above.
There are only TWO sizes of flywheels (or flexplates for auto trannys), 14in diameter (168 teeth) and 13in diameter (153 teeth). There are no other sizes, period.
Thus, you must have the appropriate starter to match the flywheel size that you have.
You mentioned that you installed a "correct" 283 starter and it will not engage your flywheel. Right up front, that tells me that your correct 283 starter is mounted to the bell housing, AND, it will ONLY work with a 168 teeth flywheel. If this is what I have correctly understood, all you need to do is locate a big, 168 teeth flywheel. Also, if the flywheel on your 350 was the smaller version (153 teeth), then that means that you also had a 10 1/2in clutch. Only the EARLY 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in flywheel. All the later 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch (I personally prefer an 11in clutch over a 10 1/2in clutch). Sooooooooooooooo, if you can't locate a 168 teeth flywheel with the bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in clutch, then you will need to swap both the flywheel and clutch. Have I thoroughly confused you?
There are only TWO sizes of flywheels (or flexplates for auto trannys), 14in diameter (168 teeth) and 13in diameter (153 teeth). There are no other sizes, period.
Thus, you must have the appropriate starter to match the flywheel size that you have.
You mentioned that you installed a "correct" 283 starter and it will not engage your flywheel. Right up front, that tells me that your correct 283 starter is mounted to the bell housing, AND, it will ONLY work with a 168 teeth flywheel. If this is what I have correctly understood, all you need to do is locate a big, 168 teeth flywheel. Also, if the flywheel on your 350 was the smaller version (153 teeth), then that means that you also had a 10 1/2in clutch. Only the EARLY 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in flywheel. All the later 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch (I personally prefer an 11in clutch over a 10 1/2in clutch). Sooooooooooooooo, if you can't locate a 168 teeth flywheel with the bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in clutch, then you will need to swap both the flywheel and clutch. Have I thoroughly confused you?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 214
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From: Griswold CT
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
You can replace the flywheel from under the car by removing the trans and bellhousing.
Make sure you support the rear of the engine.
if the car is way up off the ground, i used a long chain wrapped and both side of the frame and bolted togther, and a scissors jack between the chain and oil pan to adjust engine position.
You may, i repeat MAY, be able to use a small gear drive starter off a late model Corvette with that bellhousing. It mounts to the block. if you can go this route please note that i had to put a flat washer on each starter bolt as shims between the gear drive starter and block as the early blocks are machined a little differnt and the starter was being canted at an angle due an irregularity in the mounting pad.
Doug
Make sure you support the rear of the engine.
if the car is way up off the ground, i used a long chain wrapped and both side of the frame and bolted togther, and a scissors jack between the chain and oil pan to adjust engine position.
You may, i repeat MAY, be able to use a small gear drive starter off a late model Corvette with that bellhousing. It mounts to the block. if you can go this route please note that i had to put a flat washer on each starter bolt as shims between the gear drive starter and block as the early blocks are machined a little differnt and the starter was being canted at an angle due an irregularity in the mounting pad.
Doug
