Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 216 flywheel versus 261 flywheel

I'm putting a pretty warmed over 261 into my 50 chevy car. I'm also installing a T-5 tranny. I'm using the stock 216 bell housing with an adapter, etc. I'm planning on using a 9 1/8th clutch disc from a s-10 pickup. My question is which flywheel to use...the one off the 216 or the 261?

Evidently this was a such a stupid question that no one out there in inliner (chevy) land wants to even bother with giving me some needed advice. All I really want is some help on figuring out this clutch/pressure plate/flywheel package for a 50 car that is going to have a T-5 transmission behind a 261 engine.I'm certain lots of you have done this very same installation...

Is the 261 flywheel a larger diameter than the 216 flywheel? If so, it might not fit into the 216 bellhousing, and then there would also be an issue with starter engagement with a larger flywheel with a starter meant to be used with a smaller diameter....

Yes, the 235-261 flywheel is slightly larger than the 216 flywheel and with more teeth. So, if using the 216 bell housing, use the 216 flywheel along with a similar size clutch package. You could actually use the 6V starter too. It will take the short burst of 12V, just spin faster.

I believe the 216 flywheel had 139 teeth and the 261 more than likely had the 168 we are all see as normal. I believe someone on e-bay listed a 12 volt little high torque starter that bolts on the early bellhousings with the 2 horizonal bolts but I haven't seen them lately

I had 2 adapters made 20 years ago to put the little starters on my race cars with the 139 tooth wheel. Funny thing is the original Nissan starters (where all of the little V8 starters came from) originally have the proper gear (number of teeth and pitch) for the 139 tooth old Chevy and GMC flywheels. Any good starter shop can change this out for you or you can do it yourself if you find the conversion and it has the 168 tooth ring. Personally I have used both the 168 and the 139 in a stock bellhousing and prefer the 139 because it turned the engine over faster....Good Luck