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Large 168 vs small 153 flywheels

2K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  tomslik 
#1 ·
What would be, if any, disadvantages of using a large 168T flywheel with the saginaw 4 speed tranny in my ElCamino?

The engine is a supercharged 350 and I believe it would be better having the larger 11" clutch (maybe even a 12") it's a daily driver and I don't want to go around replacing clutch disks often, also the larger clutch will hold up better the torque of the supercharged engine.

since it's not a race car I don't care about the ligther and smaller 153 flywheel and it's 10" disk, also the 153 compatible starter seems too small to crank the big 350 and I don't want to buy a high torque 153 starter.

I have all the parts to complete both a large and small setups, but I have this small 153T starter from a 305 and a big 168T that came off a 454.

please comment.
 
#2 ·
Actually, the question should be.
What starter is going to work with my bellhousing?

do you have the bellhousing that can fit an engine with the 168T?

AT and manual trans starters are DIFFERENT for this bell.

The 153T starter should be fine for starting the car, provided it is in good shape.

Nothing wrong with a 10.4" clutch----GM has been using them for years,
in performance applications.

I am using a 153 tooth flywheel in my 66 Elky, 'cause that is the bellhousing
I had onhand, and my Powerglide starter would work

If I wanted to use the bigger truck bells, I would have had to purchase a spacer ring (and quite possibly machine my bearing retainer) to mate the trans and bell.
 
#4 ·
well I have both large and small bellhousings as well as all related parts for both size setups. both starters are from manual trans cars.

the thing is that in both the Balzer and K20 pickup I used to own I always had to use the 12" disk cos the smaller 11" crapped up quite fast, and the engines in both were stock 350's, now my elky has a supercharged 350 and to me the 10" disk seems like too small for the aplication.

it would be embarrasing burning up the clutch instead of the tires... wouldn't it?
 
#5 ·
Might have to do with the lining on the clutch.

I burned up a 12" in my 79 C-10 pretty quick once. (L82 powered at the time)
Lasted about a week.

I seemed to make the next one last about 6 more years.

When I put in the 454---I went to an 11" diaphragm, and that clutch has been
in the truck since '94. Went to the diaphragm 'cause the Borg & Beck was too hard on my left knee :embarrass .

I have an 11" in the 59 Elky, diaphragm, hydraulic----easy as my Ranger
to operate

The 66----don't have that car all together yet-----but hope to at least finally start it by the first of the year.

What year is your Elky???
 
#6 ·
I agree on the diaphragm, they were not available here until the 305 blazers arrived in 1981, have used them ever since, I wish american car companies learned from the japs about making clutches, they never chatter and are so easy to operate.

anyway do you think I should go with the 11" on the large flywheel/housing ?

and my elky is a 1981, came with a 267 and TH200, now has a 350/ 4 speed saginaw, if I find a muncie I'll grab it.
 
#7 ·
I would think an 11" would be more than enough to handle that car.
Pretty easy to break the tires loose on these----not a lot of weight
aft of the door.

From the factory, that car would have had a 10.4" and either a 3-spd or 4-spd.

Might want to double check for clearance at the top of the tunnel.
The 11-12 bell does not fall back to the trans as smoothly as the 153T bell.

It has a more horizontal run toward the back before it drops down to the trans.

Not sure if the G-Body floor will take it without some creative persuasion.

I'll tell you what tho-----with the smaller bell in my 66----sure is easy to get to the bolts---only one presents an issue getting out-----but will unthread all the way and hang in hole
 
#10 ·
#13 ·
I had a pressure plate explode in a 1968 Chevelle SS396 in 1974.. OEM aluminum bell housing was in use, not scatter shield. Exploded during a 1 - 2 shift around 6500 RPM, throttle wide open in a power shift

the list of parts destroyed is very long and my right foot was just missed as a piece swung around and split open the trans tunnel area at the fire wall.
 
#15 ·
i've ran lakewood's before and if you have a tight tunnel, (like i do with the rambler) a Quicktime bellhousing might be a better choice.
and i think i heard Lakewood bought Quicktime but the shield is the same they tell me
btw, i DO have a Quicktime for my rambler, damn nice housing..
 
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