Thompson Speedway Swap Meet: Flywheel Help

[70DusterDev]

Hey all, this weekend I'm going to the swap meet in Thompson Connecticut for the first time :-D. I have a cast crank 340 that I am doing a 4spd conversion and I need a flywheel and bell housing w/ clutch fork. What should I look for to know which is right? What are the markings on the externally balanced 340 flywheel? Will any small block 340 bell housing with O/D work? Or are the clutch forks different? Should I bring some calipers to measure the bearing retainer opening diameter?

Edit: OK so just found out that I can also use a flywheel from an internally balanced 318 or 340 as long as I get it drilled. From the picture that CrackedBack posted it looks like it's just 1 hole?

 

[moper]

You should have the flywwheel balanced with the engine, and you can use any one you want. Any small block OD bell will work. OD bells and std 4spd bells are not the same. So if you have an OD, you will need an OD bell, with a std 4sp, you need the matching bell. Forks are the same, just make sure it's A/F body. I was going to sell up there but have to much to do here now (why I took today off too). So good luck. I know the usual mopar vultures will be there buying.

 

[70DusterDev]

Alright thanks, so can a flywheel from a newer 318 work too? like out of a truck? And so the bell housing cant be out of a truck either. Just an A/F body? Thats what I was wondering.

 

[dgc333]

Not to rain on your parade but the Thompson Swap meet is a racers swap meet. 80% of the car parts you will find be used stock car parts. These guys will drag along what ever other stuff they have around and some of it will be mopar but not a lot. I don't go to Thompson or Stafford with the idea finding mopar parts, I usually have the goal of finding non brand specific items like tools, carbs, etc.

That being said I have made some good scores over the years on mopar parts. Usually the racers are looking to move things so you can get some real good prices. I likely won't be going this year simply because I don't need anything.

Regarding your bell housing question; The OD trannies have a 5.125" bearing retainer and most of the non ODs have a 4.805" (early ones have a 4.354" retainer). If you have and OD tranny and find a non OD bellhousing you can simply swap the bearing retainer to the 4.805", they are avaialble new from Brewers for about $80. They also have adapters to fit the smaller retainers into the larger opening bell housing.

You can use the bell housing from light duty pickups & vans that came with an A833 tranny, I have an A833OD set up out of an 81 D100 pickup in my 68 Barracuda. The heavy duty trucks and the 90's pickups didn't use an A833 tranny so the bell hosuings for them will bolt to your engine but the tranny won't bolt to the bell and some used a bigger diameter flywheel.

BTW, you always bring calipers and a tape measure with you to a swap meet. Also, write down in a note book the specifics of anything you are looking for so you can easily confirm the part.

 

[70DusterDev]

rayer: thanks! And I have to say you were 100% correct. I have never been to a swap meet before so I didnt know what to expect. It was alot of fun and I did sell some stock 340 stuff but there was NOTHING for Mopar. A couple sets of 1.88 heads like what I was selling but you hit that one right on the hammer lol. And thanks for direction of the bell housing. Will one work from an E or B body car? I did meet some really knowledgeable Mopar guys who all said good luck finding a used cast crank externally balanced flywheel because they only made them in late 72 and 73 :angry7: So the search continues for that.

 

[dgc333]

Yes you can use a bell from a B or E body. If its there the z-bar pivot that bolts to the side won't be usable, that you will need to get an A body one but they are avaialble new from Brewers.