I'm in the process of rebuilding a '77 350 to go in place of my 305 HO in my 84 Trans Am. I am going to buy a new balancer and flexplate and have everything balanced for the 350. My question is should I buy the 153 tooth, or 164 tooth flywheel? Does the 350 block have a different bolt pattern for the starter? Which starter should I buy, one for a 77 chevy, and will it have clearance problems or are all starters the same size/shape? Any thing else I should know? Thanks for any help.

 

I believe that for your transmission, you want a 153 flexplate. In my experience, if you cant go with a high torque gear reduction (aka mini) starter, use one for the car as long as it bolts to the block. Hope that helps.

 

You can reuse the flexplate off of your 305 along with the starter. Just make sure the starter will bolt to the new engine. If not, have a machine shop drill and tap the hole you need for your original starter.

 

Can I just buy a 153 tooth flexplate, and a starter for a 77 chevy? or will the starter not work with the 153 tooth flexplate, or not clear other parts?

 

You want to use a starter and flywheel for the car the engine is going into, not the one it came out of. You can buy another 153 tooth flexplate, but be sure and get the starter for your car.

 

so I pretty much have to get the block drilled and tapped then? thanks for the info

 

Read through this post, or just look at the pix posted by RB83L69:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=287166

If it has all three holes you're good, if not get it drilled and tapped at a machine shop while it's out of the car.

 

My 350 block looks like the one in the pic, but in that post it says the hole has to be where the lines intersect, so I take it I have to have the block drilled?

 

Correct

 

thanks for the help

 

For the learning impaired-I am hearing that you cannot use a 168 tooth flexplate with a 700r4. And if not why not?

I just looked up this http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...SUBCAT&CATID=R

It is a catalog item for a 168 tooth flexplate for a 700r4. What am I missing here?

 

It should be too large in diameter, meant for the 400, 4l80e, etc.

 

A 168-tooth flexplate fits in the TH700 bellhousing. The only issues are whether the starter required for such a flexplate will mount to the engine, and whether the starter will interfere with 3rd gen exhaust. The solution typically is to use a mini starter when using a 168-tooth flexplate or flywheel.

 

Well there you go, I learn something everyday.

 

I can speak from experience, that five7kid is correct. I'm having a different issue, but when that gets fixed, it'll function correctly. Here's what I'm dealing with.
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=287013