It's been awhile

[Tom Spurgeon]

Hello from restoration forrest!
For those who remember, I'm still in the middle of restoring a 1960. For those who don't I'm starting with a body and frame and not much else. Since I last posted, the engine is together, the frame is prep'd for paint, the correct rear end is installed, T-10 transmission rebuilt and everything is coming together for the rolling chassis. My question, did the '60 only come with a 168 tooth ring gear on the flywheel? And, is the proper clutch size 10.5"? These are the parts that most of the parts catelogs call for. However, I'm hearing from some "vette guys" that an 11" clutch was available. My delima -the parts store does not reference an 11" clutch assembly for the '60. Anyone know this?
Again, your help is appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tom Spurgeon
corvettethomas67

[Joe L.]

Re: It's been awhile

Tom------

All 1957-62 Corvettes used a 168 tooth, 14" flywheel and a 10" clutch. None of the parts are available anymore from GM.

[Tom Spurgeon]

Thank you Joe *NM*

[John H.]

Re: It's been awhile

Paragon has reconditioned correct (casting #3729004) 168-tooth flywheels, and the matching LuK "RepSet" 10" clutch kit; used both on my '57, no problems.

[Christopher R.]

Re: It's been awhile

The flywheel for 55-62 Corvettes was p/n 3815933. It was cast 3729004. It takes 10" (or what is called 10 1/2" which is really 10.4") pressure plates. The Luk RepSet sold for this application works great. The Luk RepSet is a diaphragm clutch, which is superior to the original 3 fingered coil spring one.

I don't think there's anything special about that flywheel. I got the same flywheel on a '75 Camaro with the low HP V8. The '73-'75 Chevy parts catalog lists that same p/n for '73-'75 Chevy passenger cars, Camaros, Chevelles, and Chevy IIs. Probably came on other other Chevys of that period. Shouldn't be hard to find.

An 11" clutch was never a factory option for C1s. The flywheel looks big enough to handle it. Any competent machine shop could drill this flywheel for an 11" clutch. I don't know why you'd want to, though. Don't know if an 11" clutch would fit in the stock bell housing.

[Dick W.]

Re: It's been awhile

FWIW, I seem to remember buying a Schiefer (spelling?) aluminum flywheel and a 11" clutch setup for a small block in the early '60's. I guess there is room, but with the state of art in clutches today, I think that it would be overkill.

[Jon #40768]

Re: It's been a long while

Back in the early 70s I had a big brake fuel car that had an aluminum flywheel and bell housing. I was in high school and did not realize that this was a very rare car. I thought that all vettes were built like this. Oh well... Did chevrolet ever sell an aluminum flywheel?

That thing sure did rev quick, unlike my big block.

Jon

[Dick W.]

Re: It's been a long while

To my knowledge Chevrolet never offered an aluminum flywheel. The only option that I know of was the Chevrolet Power Book of old listed the nodular iron ('65 396 and '67-'69 L/88) flywheel which necessitated use of a different starter nose. I cannot remember which was the 153 tooth and 168 tooth flywheel.