FeedVaal

An unnoticed, loose starter ate my ring gear. It's chewed pretty well and is missing a tooth so that I play Russian roulette with the stater engagement. About every tenth try, I find the bald spot and have to roll the car in gear to turn it enough to grab. Has anybody replaced their ring gear on the driveway or is this something a shop will have to do? Anybody have a source or know a part number for my stock '77 350, 168 tooth ring gear? :smash:

DeenHylton

You'll need to take the flywheel into machine shop and have the new ring-gear pressed on. You also need to replace the starter drive on your starter as it will have a bad wear-pattern from running loose.
Deen

GTR1999

Remove the flywheel and the gear can be hammered off. Replacement can be bopught form any good parts store for about $20-25. You can put the new gear in an oven to heat it up then in install it on the flywheel hot. What I did last time was get the flywheel ground and new gear installed for $35-less part cost.

FeedVaal

Due to time constraints, I think its going to be easier to just buy a new flywheel. Without pulling the old one, is there any way to verify which flywheel I need? Is it specified in the assembly manual?

GM shows this: "GM PART # 3991469

DESCRIPTION: ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FLYWHEEL

Outside diameter is 14" for years 1955-85. Crank Flange bolt pattern: 3.58"; clutch dia.: 10.4", 11"; starter ring gear teeth: 168. For two-piece crank seal. This 14" diameter manual transmission flywheel accepts an 11" diameter heavy-duty clutch. It can be used with all internally balanced Chevy big-block V8 engines."

It says it can be used on big blocks, but ZIP says their's is for small block only. Zip's price is a lot better but I want to get the right part. Did Chevy use the same flywheel for all manual trannys in '77?



[Modified by FeedVaal, 10:05 AM 9/11/2003]

FeedVaal

Well, I just ordered Zip's flywheel trusting to luck it's the right one. :blueangel:

I'm thinking the old one will make a great paper weight.