Hi all, Got a 59 401, originally a Dynaflow and want to use it in a stick application with a 65 GS Bellhousing and flywheel. Fyi: looking at putting in a 36 Chevy Coupe in a gasser build. Do I need anything different besides a pilot bushing adapter or is there something special that is required as I know a new th400 requires a adapter so figured I would ask. Regards, Jim
Hi, Neat catalog, but doesn't answer whatvI was asking, Do I need to add anything to the crankshaft and or am I going to have other issues with the combination as I know full size cars had stepped flywheels vs the A-body was flat. Regards, Jim
An option would be to machine the center of the 65 flywheel to fit the wider flange of the earlier crank and use a pilot that fits the center of that crank.
Hi, That is what I was wondering and hadn't occurred to me that was different. I was kinda wondering if there will be any issues with starter engagement and clutch fork position being closer to the trans if the crankshaft is farther out of the back of the block vs newer engines. Regards, Jim
The flywheel mounting surface relative to bell hosing mating surface is same for both early and late cranks. The early cranks had a wider centering area and pilot hole for the flywheel/flex plate as the dynaflow converter had a a larger pilot then the later ST400/300 converter. The ring gear was on the converter for the dynaflow and on the flex plate for the ST400/300. That is the reason the earlier starters reached further into the bell housing. Were you to machine the center hole in your 65 flywheel larger to fit the early crank, you would use the 64+ starter. Or, just get one from Tom that fits. Cheryl
If this is to be a gasser, you should definitely get one of Tom's mini-starters - it will save pounds of weight.
