frankgv

Hello.
I have a stock ,I think?? bellhousing on my 64 327. The starter bolts to the block in a straight line. From reading does that mean I have 153 tooth small flywheel.
Can that support , with the right clutch about 400hp at the wheels .would a lighter flywheel be good, I have a 3.67 1st gear in a 5 speed.
Thanks ( again )
Frank.

JohnZ

Yes, your car had a 12-3/4" 153-tooth 30# flywheel when it was new, and it'll work just fine for you today.

frankgv

Thanks John.
Maybe a double disk centerforce will be good.

Avispa

I put 12 3/4" flywheels and 10.4" clutches on all my big blocks. Any decent single disk clutch, including Centerforce gold, will hold 400 hp easily unless you're running slicks on the back. If you can find a GM lightweight steel flywheel, so much the better. You aren't going to need the rotating mass of a stock flywheel with a 3.67 first gear.

yellowvettemike

The flywheel on the '62 we are restoring is about 14" in diameter and has (as close as we can count) 168 teeth. Is this flywheel, which we feel is larger than the original (car came with 340hp/327), ok for a stock application? Not trying to hijack the thread.

Avispa

Not unless you have a correct bell housing and starter for the big flywheel. If memory serves me right, C1 bell housings were only made for the small flywheel and the starters mount on the bellhousing. Not sure there is anything you can do to make a big flywheel fit unless you plan to change the bell and starter.

MikeM

The only 1962 Chevrolet that used the 12 3/4" flywheel was the 4 & 6 cylinder Chevy II. Everything else, including Covette used the 14" flywheel.

yellowvettemike

This car was drag raced in part of it's life so the car came with a bell housing that does fit the big flywheel and the block has the starter mounting holes to allow correct mounting of the starter(on the block and not on the bell housing as was stock in '62). We bought a high torque starter and it seemingly fits. So we think all will fit. I guess my question is about the bigger, heavier(?) 14" flywheel. It should operate on this set up satisfactory?

MikeM

The '66 and later midyears used the larger flywheel.

frankgv

[Thanks, What would be the upgrade clutch, the dual disk.Is the 400hp you are saying at the wheels or crank. We would have about 400 at the wheels and use street slicks on occasional 1/8 th runs.

I put 12 3/4" flywheels and 10.4" clutches on all my big blocks. Any decent single disk clutch, including Centerforce gold, will hold 400 hp easily unless you're running slicks on the back. If you can find a GM lightweight steel flywheel, so much the better. You aren't going to need the rotating mass of a stock flywheel with a 3.67 first gear.[/QUOTE]

DZAUTO

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, got that, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 55-62 Vettes and full size pass cars with a V8 and manual tranny ONLY got a 14in diameter, 168 teeth flywheel. MANY, but not all, of those 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for the 10in (now 10.4in) clutch. SOME 55-62 168 teeth flywheels had a bolt pattern for the larger 11in clutch, such as HD applications, police, taxis, W-motor cars, trucks, etc.
Also, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of the above had an OPEN BOTTOM bell housing that would only work with the 168 teeth flywheel and the starter bolted to the bell housing---------NOT THE BLOCK!
The first year for a starter to be mounted to a V8 block was 1963 (OTHER THAN A FEW EARLIER EQUIPPED WITH A TURBOGLIDE TRANNY). The smaller 12 3/4in 153 teeth flywheel on a V8 engine was first introduced in 63. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 63-65 Corvettes had the 153 teeth flywheel ------------------------INCLUDING the 65 396. Then in 66, on BB engines, the 168 teeth flywheel returned, and those all used the 11in clutch. Thus, beginning in 1966, there were TWO sizes of flywheels, bell housings (ALLLLLL of them were the full enclosure alum style--------------no more open bottom bell housings), clutches and TWO different block mounted starters.
This particular type of question seems to pop up about every 2wks. WHY?

MikeM

Only reason I can figure is for you to make sure your shift key is still working.

W Guy

Mike,
These days, the only thing Tom can do is sit around and exercise his fingers.

DZAUTO

Verne,
Believe it or not, I am now partially able to get back out in the shop and work, but I do have to keep off the knee as much as possible. Right now I have two FI units undergoing rebuild and someone called wanting to bring me another FI car. Plus, I got a call 2-3wks ago from a guy wanting his Muncie rebuilt for his Chevelle.
And NO, I still haven't touched the FI on the 56 yet. It's still on the back burner. After that, when the knee has healed a little better, I have got to get the 383 pulled out of the 51 Chevy. And I still have two posi rears to build (one for the Chevelle and one for the Cutlass). And Janet wants me to run the vacuum sweeper and get the laundry done DAMN, she's a slave driver!!!!!!
Since the surgery, today was my first Sat to go work on the plane, and I'll be darned if the Impala didn't throw the alternator belt on the way there. So, call AAA and have it brought home. CRAP! Now I gotta go out and fix that! I HATE SERPENTINE BELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I just pour me a Coke and put a little Crown Black on it.

Avispa

Ok, looks like memory didn't serve me correctly. I'm pleading dementia. Last time I pulled a clutch out of a C1 was 35 years ago.

A Centerforce gold 10.4" clutch will easily hold 400 rwhp for Frank's benefit. That's what I have in the red thing. It makes 450 on an engine dyno, should be 320 to 350 at the tires.

DZ, try Capt.Morgan spiced rum with Dr. Pepper. You can't tell the rum is even there.

DZAUTO

Sounds good, I love rum, but sorry, I'm not a DP fan.