Re: 60 Corvette & 71 GMC clutch, bellhousing...
Greg,
ANY 14in diameter, 168 teeth flywheel for 55-85 Chevy V8 will fit ANY 55-85 Chevy V8. This also includes ANY 63-later Chevy 6cyl engine. In 63, the 6cyl engine was TOTALLY redesigned and consequently, BOTH the flywheels and bell housings for the V8s and 6cyls interchange.
The early Chevy V8s ONLY got the big flywheel. The smaller, 153 teeth flywheel wasn't introduced until 1963. Therefore, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 bell housings and ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 starters were ONLY for the big flywheel. Also, the early flywheels for cars/Vettes had a bolt pattern for a 10in clutch. Some trucks and the later cars with the 168 teeth flywheels, got a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch. By the 70s, all 168 teeth flywheels only came with a bolt pattern for the 11in clutch. So, if you get a late-60s through 85 168 teeth flywheel for your 60, it will only accept an 11in clutch (yes, there were SOME flywheels with a dual bolt pattern for 10 or 11in clutch, I think they were service flywheels). My opinion is WHY have a small flywheel with a 10 or 10.4in clutch when you can have the big flywheel/11in clutch????????? All my Chevys have the big flywheel/11in clutch, including the 56 Vette (which of course, originally came with the big flywheel anyway!!!).
If you locate an iron 55-62 bell housing, and you want to stay with the bell housing mounted starter, then you can use any 55-62 (up to 70 for trucks) housing mounted starter. BUT, I would discourage using a 55-56 starter 'cause they're kind of different from the 57-70 starters.
Another option for a starter to use with an open bottom bell housing, is the block mounted starter with a CAST IRON nose and staggered bolt pattern.
Finally, in short, ANY 55-85 168 teeth flywheel, 55-63 pass car/Vette cast iron or alum open bottom bell housing and bell housing mount starter (or the block mounted starter with iron nose and staggered bolt pattern) will make a compatable combination for your 60.
What you MUST use that will be unique to your 60 is all the clutch linkage, including the throwout bearing fork for a 60.
One last detail that I need to clarify is the neutral balance vs unbalanced (or external balance) flywheels. As I mentioned, ALL 55-85 168 teeth flywheels are totally interchangeable. BUT, the SB400 and 454BB used a flywheel that had an additional weight on the backside (as shown in the comparrison below). The flywheel on the right, with that added weight, is the SB400/454 style, which CANNOT be used on any engine that is internally balanced. Even though the 2 flywheels are physically the same and physically interchangeable with any 55-85 V8 crankshaft, you gotta use the right flywheel with the corrosponding engine (external or internal balanced).
Are you sufficiently confused now?
Greg,
ANY 14in diameter, 168 teeth flywheel for 55-85 Chevy V8 will fit ANY 55-85 Chevy V8. This also includes ANY 63-later Chevy 6cyl engine. In 63, the 6cyl engine was TOTALLY redesigned and consequently, BOTH the flywheels and bell housings for the V8s and 6cyls interchange.
The early Chevy V8s ONLY got the big flywheel. The smaller, 153 teeth flywheel wasn't introduced until 1963. Therefore, ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 bell housings and ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 starters were ONLY for the big flywheel. Also, the early flywheels for cars/Vettes had a bolt pattern for a 10in clutch. Some trucks and the later cars with the 168 teeth flywheels, got a bolt pattern for an 11in clutch. By the 70s, all 168 teeth flywheels only came with a bolt pattern for the 11in clutch. So, if you get a late-60s through 85 168 teeth flywheel for your 60, it will only accept an 11in clutch (yes, there were SOME flywheels with a dual bolt pattern for 10 or 11in clutch, I think they were service flywheels). My opinion is WHY have a small flywheel with a 10 or 10.4in clutch when you can have the big flywheel/11in clutch????????? All my Chevys have the big flywheel/11in clutch, including the 56 Vette (which of course, originally came with the big flywheel anyway!!!).
If you locate an iron 55-62 bell housing, and you want to stay with the bell housing mounted starter, then you can use any 55-62 (up to 70 for trucks) housing mounted starter. BUT, I would discourage using a 55-56 starter 'cause they're kind of different from the 57-70 starters.
Another option for a starter to use with an open bottom bell housing, is the block mounted starter with a CAST IRON nose and staggered bolt pattern.
Finally, in short, ANY 55-85 168 teeth flywheel, 55-63 pass car/Vette cast iron or alum open bottom bell housing and bell housing mount starter (or the block mounted starter with iron nose and staggered bolt pattern) will make a compatable combination for your 60.
What you MUST use that will be unique to your 60 is all the clutch linkage, including the throwout bearing fork for a 60.
One last detail that I need to clarify is the neutral balance vs unbalanced (or external balance) flywheels. As I mentioned, ALL 55-85 168 teeth flywheels are totally interchangeable. BUT, the SB400 and 454BB used a flywheel that had an additional weight on the backside (as shown in the comparrison below). The flywheel on the right, with that added weight, is the SB400/454 style, which CANNOT be used on any engine that is internally balanced. Even though the 2 flywheels are physically the same and physically interchangeable with any 55-85 V8 crankshaft, you gotta use the right flywheel with the corrosponding engine (external or internal balanced).
Are you sufficiently confused now?
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