I'm having trouble identifying the correct starter while using the #3791021 12.5" 153 tooth flywheel intended for my 1958 Corvette with stock tranny & 283 engine. The 3635S cone starter bolts up to the bell housing ok but I have a gap of roughly 3/4 between the ring gear and the starter gear. I only know of 2 common size flywheels Chey used, a 168 tooth larger dia flywheel for 11' clutches and the 153 tooth smaller dia. flywheel used with 10" clutches. What part number starter do I need for the 153 tooth flywheel?
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
If I understand you correctly, the gap is normal as the gear moves toward the rear of the car when the solenoid is engaged. There is only one flywneel that will work with the 3-bolt starter nose that bolts to the bellhousing rather than to the block, and it is the small flywheel you have. Typical casting number is 3729004, or 3791021.Bill Clupper #618 -
Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Thanks Bill, The gap will not allow the starter gear & ring gear to mesh. I have another 58 vette complete with a flywheel (did not count the teeth yet) that is a bit larger in Dia. that nearly touches the bell housing flange where the starter cone is an does work with the stock 3635S starter. I'm a bit baffled on this one but I have to believe their is a standard Chevy starter out there for some application that will bolt up & mesh with this flywheel.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Have you checked the casting# against the two I listed?Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Hi Bill, the #3791021 12.5" 153 tooth flywheel is the one I've got installed.
Yea, It should work but that flywheel does not work with the cone starter as my other 58 Vette has. I wouldn't mind finding the block mount style starter so that I won't have to disassemble all that's been done. I just need a few starter part numbers to try.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Clark-----
The problem is that you have the wrong flywheel. ALL C1 Corvettes originally used a 14", 168 tooth flywheel. Original C1 bellhousings are compatible with this flywheel only and this flywheel is GM casting #3729004. If you use any other flywheel with a C1 bellhousing, then I am not aware of any starter that will work. There may be one, but I'm not aware of it.
GM casting #3791021 is a 12-3/4", 153 tooth flywheel but it was NEVER used on a C1 Corvette. It's first use was for the 1963 model year. The only way that I know of that this flywheel can be used on a C1 is to use the GM #3840383 or GM #3858403 bellhousings. Of course, if you use these bellhousings that creates other adaptation problems for a C1.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Joe is correct, if you have an original '58 block, the block mount starter used with the 021 in the C-2 cars cannot be used. The 004 is the one you need.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Clark,I had a similar situation. It sounds like you have a '64/'65 327 flywheel. If you use the matching new style block mounted starter, the nose section will not clear the lower bolt boss on the old style bellhousing (at least in my experience). With a little "on the car" modification of the bellhousing, it will (it took me 20 minutes). The downside is that the bellhousing can not be then used for the original three bolt style starter since the threaded portion off the boss is removed. Considering the effort to pull the trany and housing and or engine, the future cost of a bellhousing was worth the labor savings. My engine is coming out next year to get a correct block so it made sense to me.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Oh boy, I think that may be the case. Thanks for the response & good feedback.
ClarkComment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
As already mentioned, you have the wrong flywheel. The ONLY flywheel used up through 62 on V-8 engines (Vette, pass cars, trucks) was the larger 14in, 168 tooth flywheel. But, the good part is that 14in flywheels are literally a dime a dozen. ANY 14in flywheel up through 1985 will work just fine. The early flywheels which were 14in had a bolt pattern for a 10 1/2in clutch. Later 14in flywheels had a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch. So, for example, if you should locate a 14in flywheel for a 1979 350 engine, it will work just fine. Of course you will have to use an 11in clutch instead of the 10 or 10 1/2in clutch (which I personally would prefer). One thing to be aware of. The 454 and SB400 engines with a 14in flywheel, CANNOT be used because they were an UNbalanced flywheel. The reason is because they had a large weight cast on one side of the flywheel to provide sufficient weight for engine balancing. If you were to use one of these flywheels (SB400 or 454), it would all bolt up just fine and everything would work perfect-----------------------until you started the engine. It would shake your engine apart!!! Also, as mentioned, if you use a block mounted starter (straight across bolt pattern) to mate with your 13in flywheel, you will need to permanently modify the bell housing (by removing the lower bolt hole). This will permanently ruin the bell housing for future use with a housing mounted starter. I would HIGHLY discourage you from doing this. These early housings are still fairly easy to locate, but they are becoming more scarce and prices are going up.
But besides all of this, it is really too easy to pull the tranny, clutch and flywheel on the early Vettes. It would be worthwhile to just install the 14in flywheel.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Thanks a million for all your great input. I now know what I need to do.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Tom-------
I'm not so sure that a later 14" flywheel will work. I thought that the 57-62 flywheel was specially configured for the 57-62 clutch set-up.
In any event, I don't think that an 11" clutch will fit within a 57-62 style bellhousing. The original clutch for 57-62 was a 10" clutch. Some of the later 14" flywheels are dual-drilled for 11" and 10-1/2" clutches. So, if the later flywheels will work in a C1, used in combination with a 10-1/2" clutch the set-up may work.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
Joe,
Yep it all do fit.
Basically, dimensionally, a 14in flywheel from a 55 Chev V-8 all the way up to a 1985 14in flywheel (last year for the 2piece rear main seal) are interchangeable.
Also, the 55-62 pass car, Vette (and trucks up to about 70), used the same configuration iron bell housing. The provision for side mounts on some housings were different, but otherwise, they were the same. Late 50s cars with HD (11in) clutch, 348 and 409 cars, as well as trucks, with 11in clutch also used the 14in flywheel with a 11in clutch-------------------------------ALL OF THIS WAS CONTAINED IN THE SAME BELL HOUSING. I'm sure you are familiar with the 60-62 Vette/409 alum bell housings. As I'm sure you know, those alum housings are dimensionally the same as the 55-62 iron housings (but without the side mounts used for 55-57). I used to have an iron housing (with a 56 date on it) in my 56 with a 76 truck 14in flywheel----------------AND AN 11in CLUTCH. I now have that same flywheel and an 11in clutch in a 60 alum bell housing in my 56. So, yes, any 55-85 14in flywheel, 11in clutch will fit and work fine in the early iron housings.
This same bell housing, flywheel and 11in clutch setup is in my 51 Chev and in my son's 66 pickup.
If you will take a very early 14in flywheel (say, 55-57) with the bolt pattern for a 10in pressure plate, and place it next to, say a late 70s 14in flywheel, with a bolt pattern for an 11in pressure plate, you will notice that dimensionally, they are the same (if the flywheel is for a SB400 or 454, it will have an additional weight on the backside). They all have 168 teeth, same bolt pattern for the crank flange and a hole for the alignment dowel pin. The thickness will be essentially the same. One of the MOST noticeable features of the very early flywheels, is that they have a groove in the clutch surface which will NOT allow the use of an 11in clutch. Thus, drilling and tapping holes for an 11in pressure plate would be a waste.Comment
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Re: C1 Starter w/153 tooth flywheel
I have an 11 inch clutch with the 60 aluminum bell housing in my 60.Comment
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