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1941 Buick Flywheel Install


bingart

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I'm working on a 1941 Buick Special for a friend and need some help with procedure for installing the flywheel, Clutch & Bellhousing. I received this car with the motor removed and rebuilt and a box or two full of parts. I need to install the flywheel, clutch and bellhousing onto the engine. I've tried a few things and can't seem to get the correct sequence. Any help would be much appreciated!

bingart

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You'll need to bolt the bellhousing to the block first. Then the flywheel to the crankshaft with special attention to where the ignition timing mark is on the flywheel. You'll need to bring the No.1 piston to the top of its stroke on its compression stroke and make sure that when you fit the flywheel, the timing mark is in the general area of the little window in the bell housing just behind the starter motor. The flywheel is not doweled and has no reference marks or location pins and can go on in the wrong place if you don't check for that mark. Then the clutch plate and pressure plate goes on as per usual making sure the clutch plate is centered .

Danny

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Thanks Danny, I've got it to that point but the flywheel is unwilling to go up into the bellhousing. It seems to be hitting the bolts in the back of the crankshaft. Do the bolts need to come out and go back in from the flywheel side? If that is the case how do I get them out? Thanks again for all of your help!

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Sounds like Ben might be onto it with removing the back cap. I don't remember the flywheel being tapped so there must be nuts to go with the flywheel bolts ???. (I had my flywheel and crank balanced as a unit and didn't notice that the guy had put my flywheel back on the crankshaft in the wrong position until after the engine was reassembled.) I'd have to get to a crankshaft to refresh my memory and that is a bit hard to do at the moment. If nobody else can offer anything I can dig out the Buick manuals and or the Motor Manuals and see what they say and maybe post a scan of the info.

Danny

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Thanks Danny, I have a Motors Manual and it doesn't give any information on installing the flywheel. You are correct in that the crank is not threaded and the bolts just slide through the holes. As I mentioned the bolts are already installed and seem to be bumping against the flywheel when I try to bring it up into the bellhousing. I have a 1941 Buick Shop Manual coming and it should be here early next week. If you happen to find your manual and can get me a photo that would be great! Thanks, bingart.

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You will need to remove the main bearing cap, I believe. Then remove the bolts. They will only come out of the crank with the main cap off. Then, holding the flywheel in place, insert a bolt and put the washer and nut on it. Then on to bolt #2. So on.

Let's see if these pics help. As you can see, the bell housing must go on first. Then the flywheel. The first picture shows the cap removed, if you look just over the top edge of the flywheel. Second one has cap installed. But one can see the bolts. With the cap removed, they can be installed.

Hope this helps. I did not have a pic from the engine side with the cap off. Sorry.

Ben

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Edited by First Born (see edit history)
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Thanks Guys, that basically answers all of my questions. The photos especially. It looks like I have a bit of work ahead of me. Sometimes you have to go backwards in order to move forward I guess. At least I have a plan of attack now so that I can help out my buddy! Thanks again!

bingart

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  • 2 years later...

Yes, the rear main cap must come off. I have a couple Buick service manuals from 1939 to 1946, and they all say the same. Drop the cap, then 3 of the bolts will come out. Then, carefully turn the crank to get at the other 3 bolts. I find that the hardest part is making sure the rear main seal does not leak. The 320 cu.in. engine is different, it uses bolts from the clutch side.

Gary

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  • 8 years later...

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