67 327 Flywheel

[Mark L.]

Any recommendations on brand and vendor for a new OEM type flywheel. Just noticed some of the teeth are less than pristine. Thanks

[Edward J.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Mark, if you can find a ring gear there’s no need to replace flywheel.if you need a hand I can stop by your house and show you how.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel


Mark and Edward-------


I cannot find that a ring gear was ever separately available from GM for the 12-3/4", 153 tooth flywheels used for all 1963-68 Corvette small blocks. I don't know of an aftermarket one, either, although there may be one.

There is at least one available flywheel including ring gear for the application. It's LUK #LFW131. Less than 100 bucks.

[Edward J.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Joe, Jegs shows a Gm 153 tooth ring gear, I know I replace a few 153 tooth flywheels before, the aftermarket make them. Looks like O Reilly’s auto parts sells them also.

[Mark L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Thanks Joe and Ed. Looks like a way forward.

[Robert P.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

It is possible to remove the ring gear and flip it over, the teeth that where on the back side should be like new . you will need a torch the get it cherry red
Bob Peckham

[Duke W.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Yes it can be done, but it's best to find someone with some experience. I've seen it done but don't recall the gear getting cherry red hot.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Joe, Jegs shows a Gm 153 tooth ring gear, I know I replace a few 153 tooth flywheels before, the aftermarket make them. Looks like O Reilly’s auto parts sells them also.

Edward------


Yes, there was a 12-3/4" flywheel for 2 piece seal engines available from GM until recently. However, it's not a direct replacement for the 1963-68 small block flywheel and was never cataloged for those applications. It's a lightweight nodular iron flywheel and of GM #14085720. 1963-68 flywheels were all standard weight. I believe it will work for the 1963-68 applications, though.

However, it's now GM-discontinued. So, if Jegs or O'Reilly's has them in their own stock, you might be able to get one from them. If they're counting on getting one out of GM stock, that's another story.

[Robert P.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

I should have explained myself better , with a torch we would get the ring gear hot in a few shot and then tap it off flip it over and tap back on using a drift punch while it was still hot . Sometimes the ring gear needed to be heated again but it wasn't a hard job. I am sure any shop with a older tech could help you.
Bob Peckham

[Con X.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Just did this. Had a couple areas on the ring with suspect teeth. Tough to get a good picture. Had a local machine shop replace the ring $65.
Now I'm trying to figure out what caused it.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Just did this. Had a couple areas on the ring with suspect teeth. Tough to get a good picture. Had a local machine shop replace the ring $65.
Now I'm trying to figure out what caused it.

Con------

What caused it is simple: the starter drive engaging the ring gear over a long period of time when the starter drive is not perfectly aligned with the ring gear (which would be a very common situation).

You could have just had them reverse the ring gear and you would have been "good as new".

[Con X.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Con------

What caused it is simple: the starter drive engaging the ring gear over a long period of time when the starter drive is not perfectly aligned with the ring gear (which would be a very common situation).

You could have just had them reverse the ring gear and you would have been "good as new".

Thanks Joe, I think. The spare part pile is growing. I'll be at the machine shop again testing the clutch plate disengagement, as recommended by Lars, and see his reaction to reversing the gear.
The starter is still under the house, but hope it emerges soon and I'll check the gear on it. Installation in Service Manual just says place in position and bolt, so guess it's just time/number of starts.

[Gary B.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Yes it can be done, but it's best to find someone with some experience. I've seen it done but don't recall the gear getting cherry red hot.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Thanks Joe, I think. The spare part pile is growing. I'll be at the machine shop again testing the clutch plate disengagement, as recommended by Lars, and see his reaction to reversing the gear.
The starter is still under the house, but hope it emerges soon and I'll check the gear on it. Installation in Service Manual just says place in position and bolt, so guess it's just time/number of starts.

Con-----

It would not be a bad idea to replace the starter drive. They are not expensive.

It's also possible that your starter needs to be shimmed a little for better alignment. However, based on your ring gear photo, I would say that starter shimming would not be necessary.

[Mark L.]

Re: 67 327 Flywheel

Just did this. Had a couple areas on the ring with suspect teeth. Tough to get a good picture. Had a local machine shop replace the ring $65.
Now I'm trying to figure out what caused it.

Con, thanks for the lead. It's become apparent that finding a ring gear is a challenge. Even the FRG-153N is listed as a fit for the automatic (flex plate). I have no idea what, if any, difference there would be. At this point I'm considering flipping the original ring gear over.