wiboater Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) I pulled the Bellhousing off of a 1938 Dodge RC 218 engine, 25 inch block. The bellhousing is different on the transmission side They gave more room for the clutch plate. I Took some pictures , will try and post them later. You are probably right about the flywheels though too. The one that I had in the 36 I had replaced a while back. The one that came out of the truck was thicker on the block side . I'll have to measure them tomorrow. Anyway I should be ok now with the 218 bellhousing having more room inside at the top. I did just realize though I would have to use a 37 or 38 transmission though because the 36 has the shifter moved forward. It sits on part of the bellhousing. I'm trying to find a different flywheel now. Edited November 17, 2019 by wiboater Wanted to add something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiboater Posted November 17, 2019 Report Share Posted November 17, 2019 anyone know the dimensions on the 230 Ci. flywheel ? Thickness where it bolts on. and from there to the face. Just thinking about maybe taking a 218 flywheel in and having a machine shop take some material off to make it a 230 flywheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiboater Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 I called the guy I got the engine from and he found a flywheel for a 230 he had. It was thinner and now the clutch fits fine. Transmission is back in etc. Thanks for the info about the clutch differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayfarer Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Good to hear that you have it together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiboater Posted December 6, 2019 Report Share Posted December 6, 2019 Anyone know the reason the holes on the flywheel are drilled so it will only fit on in one position? Just curious. I can see if it were balanced on the engine at the factory but if you replaced one it would be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted December 7, 2019 Report Share Posted December 7, 2019 one hole is offset probably so the flywheel isn't put on backwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiboater Posted December 7, 2019 Report Share Posted December 7, 2019 wouldn't it still fit backwards though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted December 7, 2019 Report Share Posted December 7, 2019 Not without a blowtorch and a BFH Rather than go into the geometry, as an exercise simply trace and cut out the flywheel holes on paper...then align the paper holes to the crankshaft, then flip the paper over to see the difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kencombs Posted December 8, 2019 Report Share Posted December 8, 2019 On 12/6/2019 at 10:14 AM, wiboater said: Anyone know the reason the holes on the flywheel are drilled so it will only fit on in one position? Just curious. I can see if it were balanced on the engine at the factory but if you replaced one it would be different. My guess: The parts are balanced separately when new but with a 'dummy' standard flywheel or crank attached. The hole offset assures the real part is assembled as the dummy was when balanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted December 9, 2019 Report Share Posted December 9, 2019 if you put it on backwards the engine will turn the wrong way! ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted March 4, 2020 Report Share Posted March 4, 2020 So this is what I’m going to try on my a Desoto; going to pick up Plymouth running gear this weekend to use the trans on my 237. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobrated_man Posted July 27, 2021 Report Share Posted July 27, 2021 On 12/6/2013 at 2:58 PM, wayfarer said: You might want to check that engine id code. The 230 is a 23" engine. I would be shocked to see a 4-bolt crank pattern on any 25" crank. The 172 tooth ring gear started in 1957 on the v-8's, and the crank flange projection of the pre-62 v-8 is the same 1.1875" as the L-6. The bell housing will be different between the 146 and 172 wheel simply due to the wheel diameter and the resulting starter location. wonder if this thread is still alive., if so, i have a question. i have been given a P26 engine to replace the blown one in my 1959 Dodge truck. Now this P26 block for some reason has a 4 bolt crank, and matching flywheel. But the flywheel had the 146 tooth count, so i replaced the ring gear with the 172 version, which was on the 1959 engine. will there be a problem with this, using the 12 V starter and this 4 bolt crank/flywheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted July 28, 2021 Report Share Posted July 28, 2021 It's my understanding that the 8-bolt crank was employed to deal with the resisting torque of fluid drive couplings. I'm guessing that if the 4-bolt and 8-bolt flanges have identical geometry, then additional holes cold be machined...not something I would try with a handheld drill. I was also under the impression that the 8-hole pattern was not symmetrical, so there's that detail to verify. I think the flywheels are interchangeable, but there must have been a good reason why Chrysler upgraded to to 8-bolt crank for the flathead torque monsters... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted July 28, 2021 Report Share Posted July 28, 2021 8 hole cranks do not have symmetric holes either. There is one that is slightly off from the rest so that my Fluid Drive would only go on one way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Oil Soup Posted August 1, 2021 Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 Another thing to consider is that the flange on the 230 crank is 3/16” further back than the flange on the 218 necessitating machining the starter mounting pad that 3/16”. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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