Riles

iTrader: (1)

Well, I was moving right along in my T-5 swap when I became stumped. The flywheel that came with the tranny was much smaller than mine, and I can't figure out where to get the right one (or if it will fit).

My flex plate was 168 teeth. Now, I see that 153 tooth flywheels are easy to get and plentiful. Should I just get one of these and move the starter? If yes, how would I go about doing that?

I cannot seem to find a 168 tooth flywheel anywhere. On top of that, I've been reading through the forum and see that it may not even fit inside the bellhousing of the T5.

My final problem is that the small flywheel that came with the tranny wouldn't even bolt up to my engine. Now, will the 153 tooth wheel have the same bolt pattern of that smaller one (which won't fit), or will it have the bolt pattern of my 168 tooth flexplate?

I'm really stuck here guys.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

No, in fact, it may not.

You just need to get the right flywheel for your motor.

If you have a 2-pc rear main seal engine, get the flywheel for a 83-85 Camaro/Firebird V8. If you have a 1-pc RMS engine, get the flywheel for a 86-92 Camaro/Firebird V8. You'll find that there are 2 different ones available for each year range; one will be for the high-perf cars (with L69 & LB9), and will weigh about 16 lbs; and the other will be for the grocery-cart cars (the LG4 & L03 versions), and will weigh about 22 or 23 lbs. Chances are, you'll want the light one.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the quick response. The reason I hit this roadblock is because the engine is a non-original 350, so I wasn't really sure what was going to fit it.

Aren't the 83-85 camaro flywheels 153 tooth? What will that do for my starter, since my auto had a 168 tooth flexplate?

Sorry, I thought I had a grasp on everything, but I think I'm about to go nuts!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yes, of course; since they had to fit inside a T-5 bell housing.
Not much... just render it useless to you. But the starter itself will be unaffected.
It's all really simple... just a bunch of car parts... they're not smart enough to ousmart you. You'll be OK as long as you don't outsmart yourself.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Haha, nice post. I like how my starter's feelings won't be hurt, lol. So I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel here- in order to complete this project, I need a 153 tooth flywheel and a new starter for that flywheel, correct? Will that starter bolt right up to my engine, or do I need to drill any holes?

Thanks again!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Correct.Depends... if the hole is there that usually isn't, then you won't. If the hole isn't there, then you will.

I strongly suggest that you get the flywheel and the starter, and THE RIGHT BOLTS (they are special.... just any old bolt won't do) and test fit it all BEFORE you drop the motor into the car. That way, if your block doesn't have the hole in question (a block from before about 78 won't have it), you won't have to pull it back out to take it to the machine shop to get it done.

I'd also strongly suggest, rather than buying the stock 83-86 305 starter which struggles to turn over even a weenie 305, get a gear-reduction one. Either an aftermarket "mini-starter", or a LT1 starter such as for a 93-97 Z28 or Trans Am.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Cool. I'll head out to the store and pick that stuff up. Unfortunately, the motor is in the car, so hopefully I won't need to hit the machine shop (I'll pray for this one!).

I've already purchased the hardware from Summit racing, so I'm sure its the right stuff.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

¿hardware?

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Just all the bolts I'm using during the swap. Flywheel bolts, pressure plate bolts and transmission bolts. The only bolts I'm re-using are the bellhousing bolts, and because of today's conversation, the starter bolts.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Phew! It works! It took forever to get the flywheel and starter, but I finally got it all on there last night. The flywheel came off of a 1978 monte carlo, 153 teeth (although I was told it would be coming off a 1983 camaro... not worth fighting over). Its old, but it has a fresh clutch surface.

The starter was a lifetime-warranty piece of junk from Autozone. I just had to give up with mail order- its so easy to just go to the store and give them $39.

Anyway, you were right- one of the holes was missing. But, it was super easy to drill by hand. I knew I wouldn't be accurate enough to drill and tap it by hand, so I just drilled it all the way through the area on the block, and used a nut (with lock washers). Unbelievably, after I got the flywheel back on and the starter connected, get this... it started!

I didn't run the engine, I just wanted to make sure it would crank. I haven't felt this relieved in a long, long time. Thank you SO much for your help.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Shagwell

just FYI - the aftermarket mini-starters use the standard(non-offset) bolt pattern for either flywheel size. The flange has two sets of holes so it's either in close for the smaller 'wheel or out further for the larger.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Man, that would have been nice. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be in the market for a new starter in a few months... lol

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yup; would have been, but isn't.

That's fantasy land.

Imagine a starter, specifically the nospiece, where it mounts to the block. You got a chunk of metal, shaft goes through the middle of it with a bushing and a Bendix and so forth, and 2 bolts go through it, one on either side of the shaft. Got the picture firmly fixed in your mind?

Now imagine moving the shaft over 5/8" closer to the crank without changing anything else.

What just happened?

Right... IT HIT A BOLT.

THAT'S why there is NO SUCH THING as a starter that will fit the early-model bolt pattern, when using a 12.8" (late-model) flywheel. GM engineers are smart, but they're not smart enough to include "features from the future" on their blocks.

Unless of course, the space aliens took a break from creating crop circles or putting Elvis' face on Mars or whatever else they do when they get bored, and they snuck into a block factory late at night and put those future features onto some blocks before that size flywheel got put into use.

The aftermarket starters that fit both bolt patterns will do so IF AND ONLY IF the block has both bolt patterns in it.

Riles

iTrader: (1)

Lol, well put.