GM Flywheel questions
 

I need to replace my 168t Mercruiser Flywheel on my 5.7L 2001 Mercruiser. Can I use any GM compatable 168tooth flywheel as long as it is for a one piece rear main seal? Theres nodular iron, cast iron, steel and many more plus many different weights...Also replacing the triangular 3 bolt engine coupler.... My flywheel was rusted away, teeth brittle thin and slivers of rusted material falling off it.
Suggestions please....need to get her back on the water :drink:

I believe the only diff on sbc between a one piece seal and two is the bolt pattern on the mating surface of cranks . Unless its stroked any 168t for a one piece seal should work fine .

If the flywheel is good and just the teeth are bad you maybe could just put on a new ring. I have changed them before.

Teeth are thin and agree on changing the ring gear but the flywheel is shot! rust chunks coming off in slivers / sheets...
Wondering what would be best as far as flywheel material vs. cost......this motors stock and no plans on doing anything to it other than maybe....maaaybe doing an overhaul on it while its out of boat.

80 bucks at summitt. probably 25 to 50 at boneyard...any one piece big dia wheel will do.

the 5.7 [350] is a neutral balance engine,make sure you get a flywheel without a counterweight.a 454 or 502 flywheel is externally balanced,so those flywheels wont work,even though they might bolt up.

My question would be, why is it rusting so badly????????

Well i have the same questions.....and no real answers. The motor has quite a bit of rust...wondering if the bilge was full of water for an extended time...or.... was the bilge pump no working and while riding around, it was sitting in salt water..... i dont know.
I havent owned the boat for a long time but i do know the bilge pump works and since ive owned it, its always washed / flushed every time. Lots of rust back side of block between flywheel and block, spots along the lower sides of block and metal accessory brackets have some rust. I dont see any water damage anywhere else in the boat and everything else looks in excellent condition......pulled engine mount bolts and runners feel solid as can be.
Not sure how well the guy before me took care of it (looks good!)...but i do have lots of documentation of all the services/oil changes and any repairs.
Anyone have any ideas?

Depending on the climate where you live it may have been caused by the natural heating and cooling cycles causing the engine to sweat . When storing i try to keep the engine bay ventilated by opening the hatch a bit and also a coat of WD40 works wonders to keep rust at bay and moisture from infiltrating your plug wires and cap .

Better check for rusted out freeze plugs at the rear of the block. Over time automotive engines find their way into older boats. Many DIY boaters in fresh water areas won't bother to change the freeze plugs or head gaskets. It becomes a matter of when ...not if. Salt water won't wait but a few months...then anything that's not marine will be like an Alka-seltzer in a glass of water.

Sound wisdom !!

jlb,
There were a couple of differrent flywheels for the on pc seal small blocks. One of them was very light, it was used on Camaro's and Firebirds. Make sure you match what you have as far as weight goes. I am pretty sure the marine ones were the heavier version.

Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

There is an 8 digit number casted into the flywheel. There will also be the last 3 digits of that 8 digit number casted in another place on the flywheel. The only safe bet is to get a flywheel with the same numbers. That isn't a part number but a casting #.
Eddie

I plan on replacing the freeze plugs...the large plug in center rear of block (camshaft freeze plug ) is rusted pretty good.
I live in FL. and since ive owned it for the past year, i alway keep bilge as dry as possible and open hatch when stored but the damage was obviously already done before I purchased. I keep in a garage out of weather to.

good advise everyone....theres actually still a barecode sticker on the flywheel with the numbers 01-12568....not sure that relates to anything but going to research it. I will have to look for other casting numbers later today. Quick online
research doesnt show anything for those numbers.

if salt water gets up to flywheel then boat is run, will throw salt water all over rear of engine. and it is an area virtually impossible to clean or even rinse down. unless you fill bilge with fresh water and run engine...

# on mine is 93433010 N, Fits 1 pc seal 350 and mercruiser 6.2.

Mine looks like 14091599 N

Quick research showed 86-2000 small block, make sure you have the right tooth count, sme # of teeth it had before.

12 3/4" flywheel has 153 teeth and the 14" has 168 teeth. I have seen both on small blocks, but the big blocks use the 168 tooth.
Eddie

be careful NOT ALL 5.7 CHEVYS ARE neutral balance if it is a 1 pc real seal crank it is external on the back and int. on the front.buy the correct flywheel ,bbc will not fit ...

If I understand all the posts correct a #14091599 1pc external balance flywheel will work on my Gen V 502. correct?

No,
That flywheel is for a Small Block, not a Big Block.

The Gen V and VI 502 flywheel has a casting # ending in 805. I have several if you need one.
Eddie

can someone verify this? my 1-piece flywheels don't seem to have any counterweight on-in them.

dk,
I bet if you look at it closely you will see a weight molded into the flywheel.

However, there is the possibility that if it is a custom built engine that it is completely internal balance with no weight on the flywheel.

Flywheel marine vs automotive
 

Trying to figure out if i can use the standard or manual flywheel or the automatic flywheel seems to be to thin compared to the old one i took out which is a 12inch version an it was a 82 350 an im replacing motor with a 97 350

Help
 

any help please

no

yes

you need a CLUTCH flywheel from a one piece seal 87 or newer small block. the thin one is starter wheel for automatic trans. it uses the torque converter for the rotating mass that is needed. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/p...make/chevrolet