The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 53 216 vs 54 235 flywheel

I posted this a while back. I am putting a 1954 235 blueflame engine in place of my 1953 216 thrustmaster (in my 53 3600)

Back then Tim suggested to use the 53 bell housing and clutch assembly. I am buying a new clutch and want to have the fly wheel resurfaced.

Does anyone know if the 53 216 flywheel is the same as the 54 235 flywheel? The 53 has a 4 on the floor I believe the 54 was 3 on the tree.

I am asking as I would like to resurface the flywheel and the one on the 216 is still in the truck. The one from the 235 is in with the other engine parts.

Thanks
Rich

Rich,

My guess is that you could use either clutch-assembly/flywheel set inside the 53 clutch-housing. Just match the clutch-assembly to flywheel (I do not know if the diameters of the clutch-assemblies were the same on 53 216 and 54 235).

There are also two sizes of throw-out bearings.

Maybe someone will have advice one which might be right (and conform/correct my advice).

Did the number of teeth on the flywheel change between engines? Make sure your starter will work.

The starter teeth will be the same from 1938 through 54, but there are optional disc and pressure plate sizes(the flywheel is drilled different for different size pressure plates), so it is hard to tell until you measure the disc.

4 speed flywheel will use the larger diameter pressure plate and clutch disc.Both flywheels will work,depending on what size of clutch and pressure plate you want to use.

Tim

They are not the same. The interchange is as follows for 216 & 235
3705387 Chev Tr 42-53 1/2 T w/HD clutch 9 hole cover
3705385 Chev Tr 42-53 3/4 & 1 Ton w/o HD clutch 6 hole cover
3708431 Chev Tr 54-55.1 1/2, 3/4 & 1 Ton HD Clutch
3703579 Chev Tr 54-55.1 1/2, 3/4 & 1 Ton w/o HD Clutch

The change between 53 and 54 was number of holes in the cover and tooth count on the flywheel.
Some had 139 tooth and some 153 later 168. This is not to say they won't fit but the are not the same.

I took the bell housing, flywheel,pressure plate,clutch disc and starte out of my 1941 1 ton and bolted it all right up to my 1962 235.

Your fit problem will come on the other end. You will need a modified short water pump, adapter plate and and crankshaft pulley to make it all work.

Look at Patricks write up on 216 to 235 engine swaps, it is all there for you.

If it's a 1954 235,it already has the short shaft water pump,It's a direct fit.

Make sure you count the teeth on both fly wheels,just to be safe.
139 teeth= 6 volt starter
168 teeth= 12 volt starter

They should both have 139 teeth.
I was thinking 2 series 235 "1955.2 to 1962" have the 168 tooth flywheel.

You can run your 6 volt starter on 12 volts with no problems at all.


Tim

Thanks for all the info guys. I am having the engine rebuilt and the flywheel resurfaced. Once I get all the stuff back I will pull the 216 and match up the flywheel and clutch assembly from each to see what fits best. Then I can buy a new clutch kit at that size/design.

I am replacing the water pump anyway since I do not want to trust my newly rebuilt engine to a 50+ year old water pump.

The harmonic balance is junk so I need a new one of those as well.

I have posted some new pics of the clutch kit that came with the 54 235...I am not sure if these look right to me. This looks like the clutch cover for a 216. It would not be the first thing the guy I bought it from was wrong about but I am not the clutch expert.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2399189850083206947RFgsSK
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2828004190083206947qodsHd

oh and also both the 54 that this came out of and my 53 are 6v stomp starters

Looks like you need a bigger hammer.

Cletus
That is my little hammer for little jobs
As a Stovebolter I have many from this size to my 20 lb king pin hammer ;-)
Rich