The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 216 vs 235 clutch size

Hi all,

I am putting a 1956 235 into my 50 half ton. I see 9-1/8" and 10 3/4" clutches advertised. Will either one work with my engine/flywheel combination? I believe I am using a 216 flywheel although currently I have the 1956 starter installed. The starter starts my engine up just fine so maybe it is a 235 fly wheel? I there an easy way to tell? Its been two years that my truck has been off the road and I cannot remember which fly wheel I installed. Especially since I had a couple of them laying around they all looked the same.

Thanks,
skipper

You'll need to find the correct flywheel and pressure plate that goes with the larger clutch. I'm running these larger clutches in both my truck and they are great, never a slip. Some one here on this site should have what you need, came with all these larger trucks.

The pressure plate bolt spacing is different between the 9 1/8" and the 10 3/4".
You will need to compare bolt pattern between the two pressure plates and your flywheel.
The 10 3/4" does have the mounting bolts very near the outer edge.

Also must be the 235 flywheel if you are using the 12v starter
with it. The 6v, 216 starter would not mesh properly with the
235 ring gear.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I just did this switch. I have all 3 clutches and flywheel combos. The third one is off a 1 1/2 ton, 11 inch clutch from a 46 with the 139 tooth ring for the foot starter. Some may this is a 10 3/4 inch but this flywheel has 9 mounting holes for the PP. Just FYI.

A couple of pictures of the stock disk and PP out of my
'50, 3604. The disk is 10 3/4" and the PP is nine bolt
evenly spaced on the flywheel:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/123518111
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/136174456
The 10 3/4" was good from '38 to '53 and the
11" doesn't show up until '54 in the
COMM & UTIL (hvy. duty).
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Prior to me installing this new 235 motor I always ran 216 motors. Last motor I ran was a 39 that ran like a watch. I have always ran the push button starter. I will have to check the spacing on the flywheels. If I understand correctly it would be better to run the 10 3/4" clutch and some 216 motors also had 10 3/4" clutches. I should also mention that I would prefer to use the push button starter so that may limit me to the what I have in fly wheels.

This is getting cornfussing RC. Many 216 truck engines used a
10 3/4" clutch as I pointed out. But....you say the engine that
your planning on using is a '56 235 which could have come with
an 11" clutch. The '56 235 also would have been 12v and you
should be able to use a 12v starter with a solenoid with the
stock flywheel.
That make any sense?????

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Maybe you should count the number of teeth on the ring gear and let us know the count?

Also later flywheels may not fit in early 216 bellhousings, check that out. A friend wanted to use big clutch assy in his 37, after got it all apart found that new flywheel did not fit into the bellhousing. Good luck