The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop flywheel and clutch interchange

in trucks did the clutch increase in size in '54 with the 235? do the earlier 216 flywheels and starters interchange?

There was a change in ring gear tooth count with the introduction of 12 volt starters, but the flywheels are interchangeable. I am using a '50 216 bellhousing and a 6 volt 216 starter on my '62 261 with a '62 261 flywheel with 11" clutch. The inner diameters of the ring gears are differant but I had a machinist turn down the diameter of my flywheel to fit the older, thicker 216 ring gear that I took off my old flywheel.

My reason for doing this was that I wanted to keep a foot stomp starter and I didn't want to have to find a 12 volt version, and I wanted to be able to have the truck be six volt if I wanted to. I wanted the heavy duty clutch that the 261 came with, instead of the 9" clutch that was on the 216. The machine work cost me $50.

I have another 235 flywheel that has a 10-1/4" clutch, which should be the standard 235 size.

Thanks Josiah. Interesting I didn't know you could remove just the gear. So I guess right now my '58 235 does have a 216 flywheel with the 9" clutch and since I am switching to the '54 housing I might as well use the '54 flywheel and clutch that came with it.

Other than road testing is there a good way to tell if a clutch disc needs replacing? Can you just look at the "tread" depth and clean it with brake fluid? I remember doing that on my VW back in high school but I am finding that I did lots of things back then that weren't necessarily right.

I am slowly working on a 46 pickup and plan to use a 59 235. I got a free 78 SM465 four speed that has the 5 1/8 inch diameter input bearing retainer. I also got the aluminum V8 bellhousing and fork.

Your comments do not mention any problems from the 4 11/16 inch diameter center hole in your bellhousing. I was going to get the 59 bellhousing and input bearing retainer ,achined to 5 inch as mentioned at the Novak site.

Am I on the right track or have you found a better route? How did you handle the problem with the pedal brackets that were bolted to the stock bellhousing? Make your own adapter plates or buy the modified bellhousing from Jim Carter?

Thanks