Buick odd fire flywheel...

Hi,
I found a flywheel in a junk pile that says "1977 Buick V6 odd fire" on the clutch side of it. I have a 1968 CJ5 with the 225 V6 and an "adapted" automatic trans. My question is- Would this flywheel work on my engine if I had an original trans. say a 3 or 4 speed? Any pictures or measurements of the "correct" flywheel for the 68 would be very helpfull.

Josh

 

It should work, did you get a chance to move or pickup the flywheel. These flywheels are very heavy compared to most engines including big blocks, they weigh about 60#s.
I will post a picture this evening of mine, it is laying in the garage floor, I am at work right now taking a break so I can't do it now obviously.

 

Pictures, measurements, anyone?

 

I did some "detective work" and am fairly certain this flywheel will work. Novak says the CJ5 V6 used a 10.5 inch clutch on this flywheel(.http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/buick_90_v6.htm). I measured the marks left on it and they are 10.5 inch. Any other thoughts would be helpful.
Also, does anyone know what adapters etc. I would need if I want to put a T18 with granny gears behind the Buick V6? Can I use this original style flywheel?
Josh

 

yes you would use the v6 flywheel and bellhousing for a t18 swap. i did the sm420 swap myself so i am not for sure on t18 mods. novak should have info as well as this forum (search).

i believe that you need to have the bell machined to fit the t18 and an adapter for the tcase.

chris

 

I'm sorry about the pictures, was tired when I got home from work, 14 hours makes for a long day, back at work for another long day, off tommorrow and tuesday. will get picture posted this evening , promise!!!

 

here is a pic from my 420 conversion.

chris

 

Pictures of an oddfire flywheel! Better late than never. In the front flywheel picture the 2 cap screws that are sticking out are stuck in the 2 bolt holes that are offset to keep from putting the flywheel on wrong.

 

The stock Jeep flywheels are very heavy as said. The car flywheels however are about half the weight of the Jeep flywheels, about 30lbs.
There are some car flywheels out there that accept a smaller clutch, 10" or as small as 9 1/2 if I remember correctly. I've actually had one of these in my posession. Avoid these like the plague. The balance for the oddfire 231 and 225 is close enough where you can use them interchangably with no problems. The bolt pattern is the same also. The even fire flywheel you can't use without rebalancing. Nickmil.

 

Well,
If I should avoid the car flywheel, how can I tell the difference? You guys said that the car flywheel is much lighter. Does anyone have the weight of either one so I can weigh mine and compare? Also I just found a damaged Ford T-18 trans with granny gears for cheap. Does anyone have a list of mods+ parts. It is a Buick V6, Dana 20 transfer, D44 rear (center I believe?), D27 front (3.73's), TH400 AT with the sucky 2.48 1st gear , And of course the mystery flywheel.

Thanks,
Josh

 

The car flywheel should weigh about 30# while the Jeep flywheel is suppose to weigh more than 50# closer to 60#.

 

Scratch that. I just found out that the man trans is a NP435 not a T18. Sorry I am more of a body guy than a mechanic.

 

The NP435 will work if you can get it, there is a link on the novak website for using this. I have seen several jeeps with the NP435 in them, just as good and as plentyful as the t18. Buy the way what do you call cheap for a granny geared 4 speed, I can get an sm420/465 or NP435 for about $75, prety much all day long.

 

By cheap I mean $0. My brother had an F250 that he spun the rear splines off by doing a line lock----duh! This wouldn't matter anyway because to convert it you need a different shaft. He said I could have it. I don't think I'm going to convert any time soon anyway. Too many expensive parts needed. I have the flywheel? and the trans. I will need a GM bell housing which needs machining, a 1 week paycheck adapter kit, the manual trans pedals, a clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, Shifter fork, related linkage, then have driveshafts made. We're talking Donald Trump mulla. I'll hold on to the trans and hope for the other parts to fall from the sky. Most bone yards don't even have any Jeeps around here anyway, people have hogged them all up. Unless you guys have access to cheap parts and used adapters?

Josh

 

I didn't mean avoid the car flywheel, just to avoid the ones that use the 10" or 9 1/2" clutch as there is not enough clamping force for a Jeep. If yours has the 10 1/2" clutch bolt pattern you'll be fine. I have a car flywheel in my CJ-5 behind a 231 and like it cause I can rev much quicker with the lighter flywheel. I also run sand and mud a LOT that requires quicker rpm changes. Most people prefer the heavier flywheel as you can lug the motor much better as the extra mass helps keep the engine turning over at very low rpms. Comes down to personal preference and the use the Jeep will see. Nickmil.

 

Thanks for the info. I didn't have a scale so I made a mini-balance setup using my barbell set and it came out to be 50 or more pounds. It has to be the heavier one, it is like 1 1/2 inch thick steel.
Josh

 

"adapted" auto? So the crank is machined for the pilot bushing then...? I don't think most of the Buick (as opposed to Jeep) V6's that had automatics were machined. Just pointing out a possible problem down the road if you didn't already consider that.

As for the flywheels, I've used them interchangably (even/odd fire) on both even & odd fire motors. The even fire flywheel being noticably lighter which gave me slightly better acceleration. I went back to the heavier odd fire version as it gave me better crawling ability with it's increased rotational inertia/momentum/kinetic energy, etc. & I hardly notice the slower acceration. The idle is also smoother with the odd fire/heavy flywheel than with the odd fire/light one. With the even fire it's hardly even noticable which one is on there as far as no-load idle is concerned, but like I said, for the trail I'd stick with the heavy one.

 

JAB,
What do you mean the crank is machined? I haven't had the thing apart, but I would think they just bolted a GM automatic flywheel to the crank and put a torque converter on it.
Josh