Swapping out the cast iron powerglide on my 348 chev to a 200 r4. Found out I need some parts, Chev starter with parallel bolt holes to go into the block, Different flywheel, Im told a chev small block one will work but unsure, the 348 holes dont line up to the 200 r4 torque converter and I need a fine spline yoke for the 200, Anyone have parts, I live near Brantford Thanks Steve
The 200-4R will bolt up to the 348, but make sure to get a 168 tooth flexplate, because the 348 block is not drilled for a 153 tooth starter.
You will also need all the usual automatic changeover parts - radiator, cooling lines, shift linkage, TV cable and steering column (unless you want a floor shift).
In addition you will need to shorten the front driveshaft and get a new yoke that fits the 200-4R output spline.
For the rear mount you can either get an aftermarket crossmember or cobble your own.
168 tooth flexplate for sure but you'll find the normal parallel bolt pattern won't quite fit. The spacing of the holes are a little different on the 348 You can re-drill the one of the holes in the starter but it's hard to do unless you have something like a Bridgeport mill because you're only moving it over about half a hole. You can use a modern mini starter with the staggered bolt pattern. It will bolt right on. I used one from a mid nineties 454 truck engine, I can't remember what year it was I asked for at the parts counter. I think the same starters are used on the LS engines. Anyway, I think all the staggered bolt pattern starters fit the same. Here's a tread from 348/409 talking about starters.
If I remember right, the 200R4 has the regular Chevy smaller 27 spline output shaft, the same as a regular TH350 or even a later, post 64??? Powerglide. The U stock U joint size on your El Camino is 1310 I don't think the 1310 size was all that common so I think it might be just a bit harder than usual to find a used yoke the size you need. Of course you can get a brand new one if you have to or, if you get a 27 spline yoke for the more common 1330 sized U joint, you can get an adaptor U joint that's 1310 on one set of caps and 1330 sized on the other.
You're going to love that overdrive transmission.
-- Edited by jim_ss409 on Saturday 1st of February 2014 10:10:35 PM
Cast iron power glide would have a 168 tooth flex plate 14" the 153 wasn't introduced to 62 or 63 and is 12 3/4" dia I think the problem is the earlier 168 pre 62 was drilled for lack of a better term for a 10 1/2 " clutch the latter ones for 11" so by rights you should only need the the flex plate.
this is what i have bookmarked for starters
There are three common starter bolt patterns for the V8 or late six. The earlier ones bolt to the bellhousing with three bolts. All those are for the 168 tooth flywheel. The other two types bolt up from the bottom and to the engine block. The starter with the two bolt holes 90 degrees to the crankshaft is for the 153 tooth flywheel. The starter with the bolt holes about 45 degrees to the crankshaft is for the 168 tooth flywheel.
Use whatever starter your bellhousing requires. Late starters will not work with early bellhousings due to starter nose interference
I have several of the 168 tooth starters if you need one .I don't think Id call it 45 deg but it is slightly off 90
maybe this is what Jim 409 is referring to as all of these are off early 6 cylinders with 168 flexplates. if you would like to try one your more then welcome.
-- Edited by slim on Saturday 1st of February 2014 11:29:25 PM
Great info guys, thanks a lot, I never counted the teeth in my flywheel but the bolt holes won't line up with the torque convertor on the 200, I will measure the bolt holes in the block of the 348, There are there to see what starter may work, If you have a starter that i can use i will buy one from you slim, I don't think getting a flywheel will be hard but sounds like the yoke might be bait more of a challenge, Anyway it will be nice to at least get the tranni in then i can move onto the drive shaft and yoke issue, Thanks again for everyones help Steve
168 tooth flexplate for sure but you'll find the normal parallel bolt pattern won't quite fit. The spacing of the holes are a little different on the 348 You can re-drill the one of the holes in the starter but it's hard to do unless you have something like a Bridgeport mill because you're only moving it over about half a hole. You can use a modern mini starter with the staggered bolt pattern. It will bolt right on. I used one from a mid nineties 454 truck engine, I can't remember what year it was I asked for at the parts counter. I think the same starters are used on the LS engines. Anyway, I think all the staggered bolt pattern starters fit the same. Here's a tread from 348/409 talking about starters.
If I remember right, the 200R4 has the regular Chevy smaller 27 spline output shaft, the same as a regular TH350 or even a later, post 64??? Powerglide. The U stock U joint size on your El Camino is 1310 I don't think the 1310 size was all that common so I think it might be just a bit harder than usual to find a used yoke the size you need. Of course you can get a brand new one if you have to or, if you get a 27 spline yoke for the more common 1330 sized U joint, you can get an adaptor U joint that's 1310 on one set of caps and 1330 sized on the other.
You're going to love that overdrive transmission.
-- Edited by jim_ss409 on Saturday 1st of February 2014 10:10:35 PM
Jim nailed it. I have the 200-4r on my 409, 168 tooth flex plate, I used a TCI 27 tooth 2500rpm stall converter and had Alliston Transmission bulletproof the inards and put the lockup on a switch. I love it.
-- Edited by Dubya31 on Sunday 2nd of February 2014 07:58:53 AM
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Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean you should!
Here is an update, I bought a new 168 tooth flywheel, It will bolt up to the block and fit the torque converter, I found a three bolt starter as a parallel two bolt won't line up, The starter has a cast iron nose which i am told was for a four speed car, Just hope it is for a 168 tooth flywheel and I will be moving forward.
