chuddy117

Hey guys, I just purchased a 91 350 TPI for my '55 chevy. I need to find a flywheel and clutch setup for it. I have a lead on an 11" clutch out of an early 80's El Camino for free. Will this bolt up? I"ve heard there are two different flywheels, one for the two piece rear seal and one for the one piece rear seal. Where would I find the one I need, and which one would I need? Thanks, I'm new to these motors!

CHad

JoelOl75

You need a 153 tooth one piece seal flywheel. Chevy went to the one piece in 86. The diameter and pressure plate depends on what tranny you will be using.

chuddy117

Hi, I will be using a late 60's Saginaw 3 speed. I go to quite a few swap meets. How would I know what a 153 tooth flywheel looks like and the clutch/pressure plate? Thanks much.

CHad

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

You don't "need" a 153-tooth flywheel. I assume you're using a '55-'57 bellhousing, so the larger 14", 168-tooth flywheels will fit in there (you can tell the difference by the size, or count the teeth). You do need, however, one intended for the one-piece rear main seal crank.

You're going to have to mix & match: the clutch disk has to fit the tranny input shaft; the pressure plate has to work with the disk and flywheel. I would think a flywheel from a later model light truck would do the trick, from there you're going to have to have a good relationship with the parts counterman to get the pieces together. You might be able to do it at swap meets, but you're braver than me if you go that route.

BigRuss

The stock flywheel for the engine should probably be a 153 tooth flywheel for the one-piece seal crank, so you're probably better off sticking with that. You can put a 168 tooth on there, but you'll have to make sure you have the correct bolt pattern for a 168 tooth starter, which you'll also have to buy.

Ukraine Train

a new style flywheel, like the one you need, has a 3" bolt circle (center to center). the older flywheels for two piece main seal engines have 3.5" bolt circles. i picked one up for $60 at a bone yard and had it machined for another $20.

JoelOl75

Sorry, you don't need a small flywheel, he's right. But the larger flywheels for one-piece seal cranks are not factory (as far as I know) and cost $$$. The small ones can be had for a song and resurfaced for a small fraction of a new large flywheel. Then there's the fun of trying to mount a starter, might have to drill/tap a new hole in the block or use a special dual pattern mini. Then the starter snout might contact the bellhousing requiring some grinding.


I'm having fun trying to figure out the opposite. I need a large two piece rms external balance flywheel for a 400sb for a t56.

I think I'm going to have to get a small one and tap the block though. Think chevy would'a stuck with one size, or made all the mounts universal.