chevy II 153 four cylinder

Thanks for the information. My interest in this conversion comes from wanting to lay the block over at a 45* angle for a lower hood line on an OT dream project. A SBC head would hopefully answer the oil drain back considerations.

 

Hey fellas.
I’m a newbie to these high tech engines and looking for a bit of help.
I’m looking to stick this into a model A with a early V8 trans behind it.
Seems like an easy swap.
49-53 pressure plate, ford clutch disk, ford throw out bearing. My question is the flywheel/starter setup.
This 153 flywheel looks different than the SBC flywheels I’m seeing on-line.
Should/can I use this flywheel (153 tooth)and starter setup? Any reason not to?
Hoping to only buy parts once.
Thanks in advance.

 

Can’t think of a reason not to run it

 

At the risk of me asking a stupid question...you do know the flywheel on that motor is for an auto trans?? Gene.

 

Stupid to assume I know what I’m talking about….just kidding.
Actually, no I didn’t. But noticed it has a lack of weight compared to the model As I usually mess with.
I’ve only replaced one auto trans before and it was a direct swap, so really didnt pay attention.

So, what flywheel do I need? The speedway adapter directions don’t call out a specific flywheel, but call for 168 tooth ring gear for some reason.
Trying to figure that out..

 

I'm not sure why you need a 168 tooth flywheel. It may have to do with the bolt pattern of the pressure plate. A 168 flywheel, usually goes with an 11" clutch, which would have the larger bolt pattern. Gene.

 

I’m assuming I’ll have to have the pressure plate drilled by a machine shop since it not a stock setup.
Merc or Ford pressure plate on the Chevy flywheel.

I’ll have to purchase regardless, so it wouldn’t matter to me either way 168 vs 153 tooth.
But, I could use the starter I have already if I can use a 153.

 

Maybe

 

An 11" Chevy clutch requires the larger bell housing .IIRC
A 153 tooth stock Chevy flywheel , 10.4 " pressure plate & disc with the more common bell housing is a direct bolt up to that engine , whether its in a boat , forklift , mail truck etc. , crank flange is the same .

 

Guys that ford/merc pressure plate is recommended because it has the ford and chevy pattern. Should bolt right on.

I can see zero reasons to not use a 153 flywheel. You change the flywheel the. You have to change the starter and on and on.

 

Yes. He originally was asking about using the 153 tooth flex plate on the engine. He needs a flywheel. So he just needs to get the correct flywheel for the other parts he has. The block is drilled for a starter so shouldn't have to worry about a starter that bolts to the bellhousing.

 

If your engine has a two piece rear main seal flywheels for the engines listed in your instructions bolt up with the exception of some 292 sixes with 1/2" bolts. The 153 four cylinder is in the inline group. There were two balance systems on v8s, internal & external. Our fours are internal. So find a 153 tooth internal balance flywheel for the engines on your list and check the pressure plate bolt pattern.
I believe others above are right but if the PP pattern does not match you can have the FW drilled for it or find a PP that matches and will work with a your ford throwout bearing. Neither is hard if you have a machinist you trust or can find a parts counter person worth a damn. There are tons of combinations out there, keep it simple.

 

Thanks all. Being new to these things it seems trickier than it probably is.
I didn’t realize there were pressure plates drilled for both Ford/chevy.
That would make it easier-not having to take it to a machinist.
I think I’m on the right path now, or better than I was anyway.
Once I get everything I’ll post it up.

 

I put a 153 Chevy II engine in my AVATAR in 1969. One of the few problems I remember is that the transmission adapter was designed for the 1955-56 starter and I had to find one and have it rebuilt. Be sure to check with Speedway about the correct starter. I was lucky with the ’32 as it avoided a couple of other problems you are going to have with the A. The clutch and brake pedals attach to the bellhousing on the Model A and the wishbone attaches to the transmission on a Model A but on the ’32 they attach to the K member.


Charlie Stephens

 

On any of the cross flow heads for these engines, What would a guy expect to pay for any of them? Looking for anything from NOS to broke in haft values? Any more rare then the other?

 

Sesco & Frontenac & others had cross flow heads , its worth noting that those companies made 153 chev II Blocks as well , so , I don't know if the crossflow heads or fit OE blocks or only their own ?

 

If you are thinking if the after market Duggan/Deppe, Ansen......starting price would be a thousand or better but then you would need their manifolds too. That is what makes the v8 conversions so attractive.

 

X2!!

 

Thank you Six Ball, Do you know if any of those will fit the 181 engine? Missing manifolds don't bother me as I made what I wanted for my 3.7 Mecruiser engine.
I guess the question would be where do I find any crossflow heads?

 

I remember seeing someone say some 181 marine heads were cross flow and other rumors but I don’t honestly remember actually seeing one

 

I have 5 181 marine engines, none are cross flow. The boat guy I got them from indicated there are no cross flow heads for these engines, but I don't know for sure.

 

The only crossflow GM inline cylinder heads are only aftermarket ones in these earlier engines. The only GM crossflow inline production cylinder head is in the newer generation Atlas 4 cylinder, 5 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines and are also DOHC.

 

Some 151 heads are cross flow but the valves are not in the same order, same spacing I think but different order. They might work if you changed cams. Same can bearings & gears. A quick gasket check would tell if the head would swap. Blackwater was way into this a while back. We were discussing the cam swap because the 151 had a roller cam. He found the valve order difference but we didn't talk about a head swap. I think this is true it has been a while.

 

Won't the early Ford transmission to Chevy adapter require a 168 tooth flywheel and early style 2 bolt Chevy starter ?

 

None of the 181/ 3.0 heads are cross flow .

Not every mercruiser flywheel is usable. Some are stepped and are not going to take a pressure plate

The OMC versions I have have a flat flywheel . Not sure of the bolt pattern yet .

 

Your boat guy is correct . none are cross flow in OEM configuration .

 

Isn't there a cross flow head for the 151? If so, maybe people are getting the two confused. Gene.

 

I think there are more than one 151 ?
There's the chevII based 153/181
There's the Pontiac based " iron duke" , 1/2 of a 389
Then there's a later 151 used in Monza ?
Then there's a Vega 4
Then there's a 4 used in S10
Then there's the ford based 3.7 mercruiser exclusive
And there's the usual internet confusion .

 

People have always confused the 153-181 with the 151 Iron Duke. It has led to a lot of miss-information. There is just enough interchange to make it confusing.