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Removed the flywheel from the 66 today 327 to replace. The alignment dowel pin is missing and the flywheel alignment hole was installed 180 degrees out fram the crank alignment hole . Is there a reason for this or I am missing something besides a dowel pin or maybe bubba was here. Dave
interesting, the flywheel should only go on one way..... the bolts are not symetrical
Bill
On ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevrolet V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal), EXCEPT, EXCEPT, EXCEPT the SB400 and the 454BB, beginning with the very first 265 in 1955, the flywheel can be bolted onto the crankshaft in ANY position! Again, EXCEPT for the SB400 and 454, ALLLL Chevy V8 engines are INTERNALLY balanced, thus, the flywheels for those engines are NEUTRAL balanced. MOST of those engines DID NOT have an alignment dowel pin in the rear flange of the crankshaft. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL bolt holes on ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal) are EQUALLY spaced, so it does not matter which way the flywheel is bolted on----------EVEN THOUGH BOTH THE CRANK FLANGE AND THE FLYWHEEL DO HAVE A HOLE FOR AN ALIGNMENT PIN. PERIOD (that includes SB400 and 454 engines).
Since the SB400 and 454 engines are EXternally balanced, their crankshafts had, and needed, an alignment pin because installation of the flywheel on those two engines was critical.
When I assemble ANY engine, whether it be INternally balanced, or EXternally balanced, I do install the flywheel with the alignment holes in the same position.
On ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevrolet V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal), EXCEPT, EXCEPT, EXCEPT the SB400 and the 454BB, beginning with the very first 265 in 1955, the flywheel can be bolted onto the crankshaft in ANY position! Again, EXCEPT for the SB400 and 454, ALLLL Chevy V8 engines are INTERNALLY balanced, thus, the flywheels for those engines are NEUTRAL balanced. MOST of those engines DID NOT have an alignment dowel pin in the rear flange of the crankshaft. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL bolt holes on ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal) are EQUALLY spaced, so it does not matter which way the flywheel is bolted on----------EVEN THOUGH BOTH THE CRANK FLANGE AND THE FLYWHEEL DO HAVE A HOLE FOR AN ALIGNMENT PIN. PERIOD (that includes SB400 and 454 engines).
Since the SB400 and 454 engines are EXternally balanced, their crankshafts had, and needed, an alignment pin because installation of the flywheel on those two engines was critical.
When I assemble ANY engine, whether it be INternally balanced, or EXternally balanced, I do install the flywheel with the alignment holes in the same position.
On ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevrolet V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal), EXCEPT, EXCEPT, EXCEPT the SB400 and the 454BB, beginning with the very first 265 in 1955, the flywheel can be bolted onto the crankshaft in ANY position! Again, EXCEPT for the SB400 and 454, ALLLL Chevy V8 engines are INTERNALLY balanced, thus, the flywheels for those engines are NEUTRAL balanced. MOST of those engines DID NOT have an alignment dowel pin in the rear flange of the crankshaft. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL bolt holes on ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy V8 engines (with 2-piece rear main seal) are EQUALLY spaced, so it does not matter which way the flywheel is bolted on----------EVEN THOUGH BOTH THE CRANK FLANGE AND THE FLYWHEEL DO HAVE A HOLE FOR AN ALIGNMENT PIN. PERIOD (that includes SB400 and 454 engines).
Since the SB400 and 454 engines are EXternally balanced, their crankshafts had, and needed, an alignment pin because installation of the flywheel on those two engines was critical.
When I assemble ANY engine, whether it be INternally balanced, or EXternally balanced, I do install the flywheel with the alignment holes in the same position.
Tom Parsons
This is all correct for factory OEM engines however with the advent of aftermarket crank MFG you can see internally balanced 454's and 400's. Case and point is my 406SBC and 496 BBC as they are internally balanced.
Last edited by 4 Speed Dave; Oct 3, 2012 at 03:23 PM.
Reason: added info
And fill the dowel pin hole with RTV in order to help keep any fluid leakage off the flywheel.
Awesome trick! Never thought of that.. Gonna add that one to my bag! What im not going to do though, is pull four trannies to do it until I have too!!!