Flexplate

[Harmon C.]

I bought a cardboard box at Carlisle with part number GM #14096987 on it with a new flexplate in the box. When checking the number it come up for a flywheel for a big block. The stamped numbers on the flexplate are MCS 6997 also 42 54 IN OZ. What is this for?

Lyle

[Joe L.]

Re: Flexplate

Lyle-----

Someone "switched boxes" on you. The GM #14096987 is a flywheel for a Gen V or Gen VI (i.e. 1 piece rear seal) with manual trans and 14" flywheel (168 tooth).

Most likely, someone was converting a flex-plate-equipped crate big block engine to manual trans, purchased the 14096987 flywheel for the conversion, then put the removed flexplate in the same box the flywheel came out of. If that's what happened, then the flexplate in the box is likely a GM #10185034 or 10185035. The former is a flexplate for Gen V and VI big blocks with forged steel cranks and the latter for the same engines with cast iron cranks.

The other numbers on the flexplate are the manufacturer's ID and part # ("MCS 6997") and a reference to balance ("42 54 IN OZ."). I can't otherwise decode them, though.