• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Is this flywheel usable?

mike20016

Member
Local time
2:36 PM
Joined
Jan 24, 2021
Messages
24
Reaction score
8
Location
Alabama
I'm getting ready to assemble a 440 from a motorhome for my Roadrunner, and I think I've determined that the neutral balance flywheel from my old 383 should work. My question is whether this particular flywheel is safe to use -- I found some marks in it which I'm unsure are casting marks or something similar or cracks. Here are some pictures. I can post more if these aren't good enough to ID the marks' origin.
20210307_120418.jpg
20210307_120425.jpg
 
First up, most 440s from 1974 and later had cast cranks and were externally balanced. The harmonic balancer will clearly state if it is for a cast crank.
Secondly, ANY flywheel that has cracks big enough that you can catch with a fingernail....NOT good.
Also....Road Runner or road runner. Two words. No factory literature shows it as one word. THAT is the actual bird. The cars used emblems with all lower case letters, the factory literature often capitalized the first letter of each word.
 
I bought a new one from Jegs for right around $100,, but its Chinese made
 
I would see if i could find someone local that can blanchard grind it, and find out how much dollars. That would tell me to have it done or shop for new.
I would NOT run it as is, but it does not look unsafe to me. But then again, have you ever seen a flywheel explode?
 
Looks like if you use it, You'll be limping around like Garlits!
 
Thanks everyone. Yeah I'm definitely not willing to lose my legs over this one, so I wanted to check if I was being paranoid over casting marks or if those are really cracks. It sounds like I'm probably better off getting a new flywheel. Out of curiosity, is there any danger to having a machine shop work on it like 33 IMP and PlyBeep68 suggested? I see that Brewers sells one for $200, so I'm leaning that way so far.
 
Well i tried to imply that i would find a shop that could....and then find out how much. If it's $15, sure, cut it and lets see what we've got. If the "cracks" go away, then you're good. If not, youre out $15. If its $75, it's shopping for a new one time.
A new flywheel might be an excellent investment in peace of mind.
 
Are you planning on spinning your engine 6k? I've seen worse looking wheels resurfaced with good results and looked pretty good after but they were being used in 'normal' service and not for high rpm use.
 
Hey DadsBee, I see you have that baby chucked on the I.D. of the bore. Just how do you
indicate the bore and the face that bolts to the flywheel?????
 
Don't follow... why do I care about the bore and that is the flywheel.

I build airplanes, so I just wing it ! :D
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top