Hi All, First time poster here. I have been trying to find information on the Pioneer FW-155 flywheel. It does not cross reference to the 326, but it does the 400 and all the specs seem to suggest it should work on the 326. Anybody have some first hand experience of actually installing one of these on a 326? My current flywheel is heat cracked bad and cannot be turned down anymore, its an original 1967 GM 9779232 . The register is 2.75 and its a 166 tooth. I dont need an SFI nor do I want to pay a premium for one. Just looking for a stock replacement. Dont suggest the Luk LFW-131. That flywheel does not even come close to what is advertised. I had a look at one a local supplier brought in and its a 2.5 bore, and its outside dia is way smaller. The installation bolt holes were smaller as well. Luk product support is of no help. On a side note whats with this internal /external balance thing. Eyes are going buggy trying to get to the bottom of all this.
I would think a Hayes flywheel from the Summit catalog is all you need. As far as I know the 326 has the same crank flange as the other Poncho motors of the late 60's.
I bought mine from SD Performance 604 490 2211. Dave will explain the internal balance. Engines like chebbies are balanced via the flywheel and harmonic damper, Pontiacs are balanced internally. Where on Vancouver Island are you? The guys at Central Island engine and machine in Duncan will be able to help you out as well. I had my 428 on there dyno, they tuned me an additional 50 HP. Ours are 166 teeth some ,like luk. have a 153 tooth and a 168 tooth. Pontiacs made in Canada like the Beaumont and the Acadian had chev engines. Our Firebirds were made in the USA and have Pontiac engines. Some manufacturers think they are all the same and we get parts we cannot use. You're better off consulting a Pontiac specialist like SD Performance, or a speed shop like Central Island than you are talking to someone at a parts store counter that has never seen a flywheel. I hope you're putting a new clutch in with the new flywheel, make sure the bolt pattern and diameter are matching. Some are 11" yours should be 10-5/8", unless it's been swaped out before now.
Welcome to the site. There's a few guys on VI with Firebirds, some visit this forum some don't. They may be close enough to you to help you out if you need.
Hi Al, Thanks for the info on Central Island Engine. I was wondering if someone had a dyno here on the island. I'm in Port Alberni, so Duncan isnt too far away. My car has been sitting for the last 15 yrs. I was in the process of restoring it as the older children were doing their own thing and then.......Baby 3 comes along. Well fast forward and now its time to blow off the dust and get back into it. Before I took the car off the road it had a brand new clutch in it. It was chattering bad so being much younger and not as knowledgeable i changed the clutch thinking the problem would go away. A couple of weeks after, I grenaded the transmission( messing around on the street). The car has sat ever since with me picking away at it as time and money prevail.The clutch has less then 200 miles on it, so i will roll the dice and reuse it with a new flywheel. I have been quoted 700.00 for a Centerforce and 277.00 for the Pioneer FW-155. Knowing I wont be running a quarter mile anytime soon and not having gobs of horsepower, Im sure the pioneer will more than suffice for my application.
Must be cooking over there, it's 100 F here and the pavement I was working on yesterday was 143 F. Warmed up the toes a bit.
If you buy a stock replacement flywheel you won't have to worry about external or internal balance, unless you have a 301 which is externally balanced. Some Ford and Chev engines were externally balanced using the flywheel and harmonic damper to balance the crank. While the Pontiacs are considered internally balanced, once the whole rotating assembly was put together there was a slight [just an ounce or so] imbalance so the flywheels/flex plates were drilled. They are still considered internally balanced as the crank was balanced. Externally balanced engines have large weights attached to the flywheel. If you rebuild your engine and balance the rotating assy you will want a neutral balance flywheel. My rotating assembly is completely balanced so I use a PRW PQ series SFI neutral balance flywheel.
Thanks for the explanation on the internal/external thing. Cleared it up quite a bit actually. Yes it was smoking hot here. 104F. at my place. Was a good day to work in doors and stay out of the sun. I ended up taking my flywheel to a local transmission guy who has been doing this for years., and got his advice on how bad the flywheel was. He kinda of shrugged and said I should turn it once more, as a local shop down the road has a new surface grinding machine. It does a way better job than turning it on a lathe. 60$ later it looks like new. As opposed to 400.00$ I'm budgeting, it was worth the gamble in my mind. Time will tell..
