66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

[Doug C.]

Can someone enlighten me as to the proper flywheel tooth count (153 or 168) for a 1966 L-79 327 with a muncie 4spd.? Thanks

[Craig S.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

I believe this uses the 14" flywheel with 168T count....Craig

[Jim T.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

My vote is with what Craig says. One easy way to verify is what starter nose is on your starter. If the two bolts are staggered, its for the big flywheel. If the the two bolts are straight across the nose is for the smaller flywheel.

[Jim T.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

Just pulled out my Corvette genuine GM 1981 parts book. For 63-68 327 engines the part # is 366860 and has a casting #3791021. This is for all except heavy duty clutch models.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

Doug-----

ALL 1963 through 1968 Corvettes with 327 cid engines and manual transmissions used a 12-3/4" flywheel with 153 tooth count ring gear. Absolutely. Positively. No exceptions. Period.

[Doug C.]

Thanks Joe, That is the info I was looking for *NM*

[Craig S.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

Thx Joe - I shouldn't have guessed on that one....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: Thanks Joe, That is the info I was looking for

Doug-----

Also, your bellhousing should be a GM #3858403, although it's remotely possible that a GM #3840383 could have been used. Either of these bellhousings will fit your application perfectly and are used with a 12-3/4" flywheel. No other bellhousings were originally used for the 63-68 small block application, and I don't know of any others that were specifically designed for use with the 12-3/4" flywheel.

[Jim T.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

Next time I will get out of my chair and look at the cars in the garage. My 68 L79 327 has the smaller flywheel and uses the straight line bolt pattern of the starter nose. My 70 350 has the off-set starter nose and uses the larger size flexplate.

[Craig S.]

Re: 66 327 Flywheel tooth count, 4spd

Me too Jim. I have the small ones on my 67, large on the 74....memory is the 2nd thing to go....Craig

[Clem Z.]

my guess is to why they did this

is because they changed to a taller rear gear to get better milage and less emissions per mile and they needed more mass in the flywheel to get the corvette moving from a dead start because the bigger and heavy wheel will do that. JMHO