Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
Acquired a balanced, rebuilt, bolted flywheel from CA Corvair. Looks great! I have NOS GM clutch plate assembly and NOS GM clutch disc. CA Corvair recommends to balance Clutch plate assembly with flywheel. Is that really necessary since I'm using NOS?
Is such balancing normally done for a regular driver car? Any advice would be great help. Thank you!
Is such balancing normally done for a regular driver car? Any advice would be great help. Thank you!
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
balanceing the parts is a good idea - nos/used or rebuilt.
-Scott V.
-Scott V.
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
ALWAYS balance the pressure plate and flywheel as an assembly. The shop will also install a marks on the flywheel and PP so you can orientate them correctly when you take them apart and reassemble.
I have NEVER had a flywheel/PP assembly that was in balance. An no you don't install the clutch disk when balancing the flywheel/PP. Some do check the clutch disk balance separately, but the clutch disk spins separately and any high spots wear in fast. Usually a disk does not have a balance issue.
I have NEVER had a flywheel/PP assembly that was in balance. An no you don't install the clutch disk when balancing the flywheel/PP. Some do check the clutch disk balance separately, but the clutch disk spins separately and any high spots wear in fast. Usually a disk does not have a balance issue.
- bbodie52
- Corvair of the Month
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Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
You mentioned an NOS pressure plate and a new bolted flywheel from California Corvairs. I wanted to point out that there are two clutch designs for the Corvair. The "Flat Finger" pressure plate MUST be matched with a flat surface flywheel as shown in the top picture below. This is the design for 1960-1963 Corvairs. In 1964 a "Bent Finger" design was implemented, and this was the design used in 1964-1969.
The Clark's catalog page above also mentions a recommendation for balancing the clutch disc and flywheel as a unit.
As shown above, either combination can be used on any model year Corvair, but the clutch components cannot be mixed. The correct pivot ball stud must also be matched with the bent finger or flat finger design combination. The correct throw out bearing must also be matched with the pressure plate and flywheel combination chosen.
The Clark's catalog page above also mentions a recommendation for balancing the clutch disc and flywheel as a unit.
As shown above, either combination can be used on any model year Corvair, but the clutch components cannot be mixed. The correct pivot ball stud must also be matched with the bent finger or flat finger design combination. The correct throw out bearing must also be matched with the pressure plate and flywheel combination chosen.
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
I know that it's a better idea to balance them together but when I ask around town I've yet to find someone who actually did that. I've been doing Corvairs since I was 18 and I have yet to balance them as an assembly before I install.
Just last month I installed a CU bolted-flywheel into my 65 Corsa along with a rebuilt pressure plate from another source and a new clutch from a vendor at Palm Springs. If it's out of balance I sure can't tell and I've put a couple of hundred miles on it already. This is at least the 6th or 7th time I've changed out failing Corvair flywheels without any concern about balancing the two parts.
Just last month I installed a CU bolted-flywheel into my 65 Corsa along with a rebuilt pressure plate from another source and a new clutch from a vendor at Palm Springs. If it's out of balance I sure can't tell and I've put a couple of hundred miles on it already. This is at least the 6th or 7th time I've changed out failing Corvair flywheels without any concern about balancing the two parts.
Dave W. from Gilbert, AZ
66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
66 Corsa 140/4 Yenko Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140 Coupe w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5
64 Greenbrier 110/PG, Standard 6-Door
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
Thanks for all of the great insights and advice. I have been careful to use absolute NOS GM for the 1960 year, with the flat fingered PP and a flat Flywheel. The other parts are from Clark's and I know they are sticklers for accuracy. Since it is a low mi. original I hope to use NOS unless there is something improved to replace, like that balanced, bolted flywheel instead of the riveted original. Thanks again!!
Next is to take that engine package out
Next is to take that engine package out
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
Seems like if it's genuine GM NOS pp assembly it is what would have gone into the original vehicles back then. When I look at it I see evidence of balancing like little flat pieced welded on and shallow holes drilled, like it was balanced in is manufacture.
- bbodie52
- Corvair of the Month
- Posts: 11894
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:33 pm
- Location: Lake Chatuge Hayesville, NC
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Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
If you haven't done that before the attached guide booklet may help with the procedure. It is a good supplement to the guidelines contained in the factory Shop Manual...JayB wrote:...Next is to take that engine package out...
- Attachments
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- Corvair and Corvair 95 Power Train Removal & Installation.pdf
- Corvair and Corvair 95 Power Train Removal & Installation
- (3.35 MiB) Downloaded 87 times
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
That's odd since it's very difficult to center a pressure plate and balance it by itself. If the shop can mount the flywheel to a balance fixture then having the pressure plate attached to the flywheel should not be an issue. In fact I was told by my machine shop "We can't balance the pressure plate separately from the flywheel".azdave wrote:I know that it's a better idea to balance them together but when I ask around town I've yet to find someone who actually did that. I've been doing Corvairs since I was 18 and I have yet to balance them as an assembly before I install.
I is best to balance the flywheel by itself before adding the pressure plate assembly for the final balance, but not necessary for the average engine build.
Re: Install new flywheel and clutch - Should I balance?
Thanks everyone for great advice. I used a California Corvair balanced, bolted flywheel with GM NOS clutch pressure plate assembly and disc and new pilot bushing and release bearing. Since there is no shop in town I took a chance and did not balance flywheel with pp ass'y. The NOS pp ass'y was from factory NOS and looks like some balancing had been done when built with little welded on metal pieces. Anyway, it all went together fine and all the old clutch noises are gone. The balanced flywheel made the engine MUCH smoother and quieter with no vibrations as before.
Thank you for helping make this a successful "DIY" project.
Thank you for helping make this a successful "DIY" project.