Ok im wanting to use my t5 on this 400sb... where can i get a flywheel or what do i need to make this work? thanks guys

 

you need a 400 specific flywheel for this to work.it must be an externally balanced flywheel.they are out there.usually from trucks which came with a 400 4bbl and 4 speed.not very common though.

 

ok cool... just so i know, what is the size on the t5 flywheel? 11 1/2" or what? thanks

 

a machine shop can balance a 350 fly wheel to work with the 400
and there is a plate or adapter that can be used to make the 350
work ... ive never used the adapter but im told by others that it worked just fine ... good luck ... tao

 

Use a 83-85 305 V8 T-5 flywheel; and have it "unbalanced" to the stock 400 spec.

You have to use the 12.8" flywheel, because the 14" one won't fit in the bell housing, and the starter for it won't fit either.

You'll have more trouble with the starter, actually. Get the right inner bolt hole, the one closer to the crank, added to your block, BEFORE you put it in the car; it's a whole lot easier to do it now, than it is to believe all the people who tell you what you want to hear, about how this or that starter "ought to" work. I can tell you, if you don't have the right bolt hole, no starter will work, it's physically impossible; so get it right while it's still easy.

Bolt your flywheel to the motor, bolt the starter to the motor, and see if it works. It'll be REAL obvious. You don't need a battery or anything, just the 400 block with the crank in it, the T-5 flywheel, and the T-5 starter.

 

I just went through this drill, got both the T-shirt and the hand stamp.....

You definitely need the small (10.5") 400 block externally balanced flywheel. I ordered one from Summit and got the wrong one to start with (too big a diameter), when I re-ordered the right one the only one they had that would fit inside the small T-5 bell housing was a Mcleod brand. Part number for the 10.5" flywheel with the 26 spline shaft to match up to my 91 World Class T-5 was MCL-460300-2C (price $248.99).

As for the starter, the standard T-5 305 starter would not work with my 10.5 compression 383. Most of the high torque mini starters have the wrong gear for that 153 tooth flywheel. I had to order a mini high torque starter from Summit as well. The one I finally got to work for me was Summit part # PWM-9600 (price ($149.95), which has multiple mounting positions so it mated right up to my late 70's vintage 350 block on my 383. I went thru 3 mid-ninties high torque mini starters in just a few hours before ordering this one.

For what it's worth, I also went with their Ram Kevlar clutch kit (# RAM-98730 for another $280)

Hope this info helps a little bit.


- Vern

 

You can run a 350 flywheel,Neutral balance,with a balance plate,the flywheel will probably be 153 tooth,starter,well I went through the same thing and finally got one from www.speedwaymotors.com.It's a mini starter that will work with any smallblock chevy application and big block too,go figure,but again you gotta have that right hand bolt hole.Mine was an automatic aplication but the problems are the same.If the dude has the part numbers you should check it out.Oh by the way my starter cost $130.The balance plate was also purchased from speedway and it was like $25.Just take it to have it balanced,Harmonic balancer through flywheel,INCLUDING the rings,rods,crank,pistons and rod bearings,oh yeah,clutch and pressure plate too.Any good machine shop that balances with bobweights can do this.Cost me the best $150 I ever spent.Good Luck.

 

The starter I listed above did not need any extra holes drilled anywhere. Had to play a bit with which set of holes on the starter to use, but it worked out fine. My motor was already assembled so taking it apart to go get a balance plate made was not an option.

 

There's your clue, right there.

The small flywheel was not used in any cars until about 78. A block older than that, will not have the late-model bolt hole in it, unless somebody besides GM put it there. No "features from the future".

And if your block doesn't have the right hole, you won't be able to bolt up a starter that will work with the small flywheel; because where the starter drive has to be located to contact the flywheel, is about 5/8" inboard of where the starter drive was on the older motor, and a bolt installed in the hole that's there, would have to go RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE of the starter drive. No amount of rotating the starter motor on that aluminum plate will fix that; the starter shaft and drive all stay in the same place regardless of rotation, the only thing that changes is the location of the body of the starter motor.

Since the majority of 400s were produced in the early and mid 70s, prior to the introduction of the 12.8" flywheel, odds of your particular block having the late-model hole, are not very high.

Check before you install.

THERE IS NO STARTER THAT WILL WORK, if your block doesn't have the right hole. Believe it.

 

I just got a 400, and that starter came with it. Is this starter unworkable with an '85 bellhousing (or whatever would prevent it from working)?

Thanks,
Jason

 

What starter? Is it for a 12.8" flywheel, or a 14" flywheel? Does the block have the bolt hole that will allow a 12.8" starter to bolt up to it?

 

Ok,I did a 383 external balance motor starting with a 327 block,it only had the two bolt holes straight across and guess what,I put a 153 flexplate,neutral balance(standard 350 type two piece rear main style)and a balance plate to get the balance right.The plate is a little chunk of metal that goes between the crank and the flexplate or flywheel.Anyway this block is like a 67-68 era block and the multipurpose mini starters sold for racing work on just about anything.I've never seen a small block chevy that did not have the two bolt holes straight across,but I've heard they exist.Anyway you can use a small flywheel,and yes they do have specific parts for your application,as vernw pointed out.Yer problems are easily solvable with a little research,enjoy that 400,the torque is glorious.There are two spacings on the straight across bolt holes and the multi purpose mini starters have provisions for either.We use this same starter on 400's to 305's so as long as the tooth count is right it should work,there are only two options 153 and 168,oh and the other 383 we did is in a race car with a 153 tooth flywheel,guess what,same starter.This is accomplished by multiple bolt on the starter itself.check one out dude,there are three holes,easy as pie.

 

thanks guys pretty much figured everything out now.. thanks for all the imput appreciated.

 

I have the starter for the 12.8" flywheel and the starter for the 14" flexplate. If I am understanding correctly neither will work with a flywheel that fits the 400a dn T-5 mated together. The 12.8" starter won't because the block doesn't have enough holes, and the 14" starter won't because the flywheel that fits the trans doesn't have the right teeth?

I am just trying to make sure I understand. I had no idea that there were different starters.

Jason