<a href="http://www.crosswinds.net/~jprevost/temp/temp.htm">Flexplate picture</a>
What is with the weight? I know it's not a 400 flexplate because it came off of my 305 and they don't look like that. My only question of importance is: Can this be installed wrong?

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

[This message has been edited by JPrevost (edited May 09, 2001).]

 

One piece RMS flexplate, all 86-up SBC's have that kinda flexplate. Yea, you can install it backwards.

 

What would be some problems if installed backwards? I was thinking the weight could be in the wrong place and I'd get bad vibration.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

 

I don't think it would give you a super bad vibration.
Just check and see if the three converter bolt locations(where it's dished) are rised towards the converter.
Hell, I don't even think you could get the converter to bolt up, without a big gap if its on backwards.

Did you take it off a different car ? It you did, and put it on yours it's not balanced to your crank. This could be bad to your crank bearings over the long run.

Now that I think about it - You would know if its on backwards, when its bolted up to the crank. That index whole is a dead give a way.

Ron



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'82 Trans Am
'81 Camaro Z-28
'94 Vette LT1 Coupe

 

IIRC the weight will hit the block when you try to turn the engine. I dont think it clears enough so that the car could be running. Now that I think about it, it might be the bolts that wont clear the block. Its one or the other.

If you have a vibration, check the balancer, chances are it has slipped.

You can get the converter bolted up, and its otherwise impossible to tell its on wrong unless you realize the converter doesnt look like its bolted up right. Unfortunately the index hole is basically useless on a nice clean crank.

 

Okay, ronterry, you said it's not balanced to my crank. I just took it off my old l03 and put it on the new 330hp vortec gm crate engine. I know I didn't put it on backwards but could I have installed the weight at the wrong position like 120 degree's off? I have a new 8" balancer.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

 

You gotta install it correctly or you'll be in for a mess later. There should be only one way to install it as the 1-piece crank has a stud on it that goes into a stud-receiving hole on the flexplate. Maybe the 305 flexplate differs from a 350, not sure...

EDIT: BTW, it is called a "batwing" flexplate, named after the weight's shape and is for externally balanced cranks. Ie, the flexplate weight finishes the balancing equation.

[This message has been edited by FastBroker (edited May 10, 2001).]

 

So this flexplate isn't good for this engine? Does anybody know that? I thought all 283-350 small blocks were internally weighted and if external it was usually still on the crank! I really need to know this info ASAP because I have over 1000 miles on the new engine already and the last thing I want is engine wear from a crap flexplate.



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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

 

It's a good thing to balance the crank with the flexplate, and balancer. I think the biggest problem with yours is that it may be balanced for a different engine.
I put on a new TCI plate, and I don't remember it having that batwing deal on it? I had my assembly balanced at a local crank shop with the flexplate. After getting it back there were three or four holes drilled out to remove weight.

I guess what I'm saying is, I would drop on a neutrally balanced flexplate it I didn't get it balance with my assembly. (Say I break mine in a couple thousand miles, I'm not going to tear my engine a part to balance a new plate.)

Also, the 305 & 350 use a different crank. The 305 crank counter wieght locations are very much different than the 350.

Ron



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'82 Trans Am
'81 Camaro Z-28
'94 Vette LT1 Coupe

 

Okay, this sucks. I'm going to call up a few engine shops and some other places tomorrow to ask them for their opinion. I really hope I don't need to get a new flex plate, that would suck.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website