I have a '58-'59 era small-block that came with a stick that I'm converting to a 200R-4 Automatic trans. I wondered if anyone knows which flexplate I need and where to get it? I have the trans and torque converter- just need the flex-plate and starter. Also was hoping someone had a direct answer as to where I can find a set of chrome OE-style pulleys? I'm amsuming these engines originally used a "long" water pump and I'm keeping it relatively stock- just dressed up a little. I noticed people selling these parts list them as '64-up, and do not include the earlier engines. Is this because they used a different harmonmic balancer set-up than the '64-up engines? Does it affect which flex-plate I need as well? Thanks Jim
Jim, as far as I know early-water pump pulleys for long pumps are the same (except for the 1-belt or 2-belt part), and the same for the crank pulleys. I dont think theres much diff between what youd find in the Summit book versus what you find at Krack Auto. 265/283 used the little no-balancer hubs on the crank and the pulley bolts on the same pattern. If you want some old crusty originals Im going to a Model A swap Sunday and can look there. Homie
Jim, Those are internally balanced,in other words use the standard flex plate w/168 tooth ring gear and starter for the year of engine.(there are some differences in starter bolt pattern. The external balanced engines are 400 sm.blk and big blocks. I'm not sure which ones or if its all of 'em. Your 283 came with a short pump so just buy pulleys accordingly. There are no "bolt up" differences. The only problem you might run into is the 200r4 trans might require a smaller flywheel. The Camaros and some others use that trans. and have a 153 tooth ring gear. You can do all that but will need a mini starter with a combination bolt pattern(100.00 or less). Normal
I have originals on my engine- was hoping there was a set ready to go I could bolt-on when I clean up the engine. Thanks, Jim
Those engines were internally balanced and the crank flange bolt pattern should take a later flex plate , however ,it would be wise to see if the nose of the convertor will fit and that your block has the starter bolt holes drilled into the bottom of the RH ear .GM made several diameter changes in flex plates and you have to match the proper starter nose to it.
Finding chrome pulleys for the 283 is no problem, I've actually been looking for an original steel / black paint crank pulley for mine, and it is harder to come by than chrome. the PAW catalogue has what you are looking for. Let me know when you decide to s**** the old pulleys and I'll take em.
my '60 283 has a short water pump. i don't think your going to find a chrome water pump pulley real easy (unless some resto places have one). the water pump pulley for the generator is about 1/4" deeper then the alt pulley (i believe it's for gen only). those pulleys you can't run with the large 4 bolt main balancers of the late 60's/70's. the crank pulleys are the same through the years (can't get a picture because my photoshops ****s). if you want to cheat a little you can run the pulley (black one) that makes the w/p turn faster, it's from a 70's van. the step pulley in the picture is the same depth as a single groove alt w/p pulley.
Also I want to run a Powermaster Alt that looks like an early generator- Anyone have experience with one of those??? Anybody hear of early 283's that were painted yellow? I just recently found out that all '57 Trucks ran GREY 265's when equipped with a V-8, 283 wasn't available in trucks from what I recently read.
I'm not reccomending these guys, I'm just saying all I did was type 283 chrome pulley long into google: http://www.hotzoneperformance.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HZ-9605-9608
Here's a website that lists engine colors for Chevrolets. Hope it helps. http://www.cs.siena.edu/~lederman/truck/Do***ents/danroyEngineColors/danroyVCCAcolor.html Also, 366, 396, 402 and 427 big-blocks were internally balanced. The 454 and larger engines were externally balanced.
I've got a set of chrome pulleys I'll swap you for your stockers. I've got a 283 that I'm trying to make look new/original.
this is the pulley set you would need for an early 283. the one that lucky strike linked to were for later motors with long water pumps and 2 groove pulleys. I'm running stock painted pulley's on my generated 283 http://www.hotzoneperformance.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HZ%2D9600+HZ%2D9602
I was gonna say that the '58/9 SBC used a short pump. I go a '59 in the garage right now awaiting its trip to the machine shop. The 200R should have an 11" converter. At least the last one I put in an old hooptie had an 11" converter. And the mini starter was what we ended up using. Summit will have what you need in the line of pullies in stock. But I personally prefer old crusty one's myself. I just prefer the look of aged chrome. Whatcha buildin' this time Jim?
I used a gm dealer 305 balancer. it was 45 bucks and worked great, but was a smaller diameter than what the tab wanted. put on a new tab, ready to go. pulleys fit fine.
That's a short pump motor... get a single grooved short pump pulley at any swap meet or from Summit. Also, the "yellow" SBC motors were actually chartruse... they were the 265's that were left over from 1956 and installed into the '57's... Sam.
...just my .02 cents Jim, but fan belts tend to slip on chrome pulleys. That said, I've got a new set of chrome short pump pulleys(single groove) I'm not going to use on my coupe(went with the stock painted ones)...you can have 'em if'n you want 'em, but you gotta send your stock ones to DRD57...
The stock 283 balancer should be riveted together so you have to use a pulley that has holes in it so the rivets can go through them if you run a new style pulley it will not draw up tight to the balancer, because of they are not equipped with the holes.
Yep that's right. Sorry. Im running a long water pump on mine. I guess I could switch over to a short pump. I've got a couple laying around.
Homeresque... 265/283 used the little no-balancer hubs on the crank and the pulley bolts on the same pattern. Homereaque, Do you know the reason for the small no-balancer hub on the early 283? I have a 1964 283 that was connected to a Powerglide. When it goes back in the Elky, it will have a Muncie M-20 behind it. Was the small hub used on both auto and manual trans units? Or do I need to get a real torsional balancer to go along with the swap? Any information is really appreciated. Weldon Haltom Baytown, TX
Jim, aren't you going to have to drill and tap the block for the starter to be able to bolt up? Good luck Fitzworld
I think '57 was the last year for SBC to not have a starter to block provision, and even in '57 some of the V8s had factory block mounted starters (the Turboglide equipped cars...I had one). 58 was the first year for the side mounts, and i think from then on they had block mounted starters too. all small blocks ran a 14" flexplate until 1980, when they switched to the smaller 12.5" flexplate. many of the later 14" flexplates from the 1970s have the same bolt pattern so you can use a factory starter with the later trans. I just pulled the 78 sbc out of my truck last week and dropped in an 86 sbc, the 12.5" flexplate bolted right up to the '78 converter
After you drop the 200 trans in, do you have to cut or modify the driveshaft if you're replacing an early glide?
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