Buick flywheel with heavy outer ring (and a diaphragm pressure plate in lieu of the originial long-style unit)
Buick/Olds 215 Flywheels
This article appeared in The British V8 Newsletter - Volume XII, Issue 1 - January 2004by: Kurt Schley
The OEM Buick and Oldsmobile 215 flywheels were very similar. All were manufactured from cast iron. The flywheels are 13.10" in diameter (not including the ring gear) and are drilled for the Long style 9-1/2" clutch with three pairs of 5/16 - 18 tapped holes on an 11.37" bolt circle. The flywheel i.d. at the crankshaft is 1.34" inside of 6 each .47" diameter bolt holes on a 2.32" bolt circle. The friction surface to mate with the clutch disc is 10.50".
All of the OEM 215 flywheels were individually balanced. Around the circumference of the flywheels
were drilled a ring of equally spaced holes on a 11.18" diameter circle. The balancing procedure
was a two phase procedure. After an initial spin on the balancing machine, one or more metal pins
were inserted into the ring of holes on the flywheel periphery, if necessary, and staked permanently
into place. This placed the flywheel into a neutral or balanced state. The flywheel was then attached
to the crankshaft and the assembly spun again. If any imbalance in the flywheel/crankshaft combination
was present, additional balancing pins were installed as necessary. The second set of pin(s) is a
press fit and can be removed.
If the original flywheel on a 215 is damaged or worn, a replacement flywheel of identical type can be installed without the need for balancing at a machine shop. Merely remove the un-staked pins from the old flywheel and install them in the exact same location in the replacement. (If there were un-staked pins in the replacement flywheel remove them before transferring pins from the old flywheel!) Do not attempt to transfer the staked pins. Use the offset crankshaft attachment bolt to position the two flywheels identically and determine the proper pin locations.
Buick - Buick employed two styles of manual flywheels, a light and heavy version. The "light" version weighs in at only 23 lbs. and is flat faced on the clutch side. This flywheel was supplied only in the 2-door 3-speed sedans which, because of their relatively light weight, did not require a heavier flywheel to get smoothly in motion from a stop. The balance of the Buick 215 powered cars, such as the 4-door coupes and the station wagons, were built with a beefier flywheel. The "heavy" version flywheel incorporated an integral cast inertial ring around its circumference which boosted the weight to 32 lbs.
Oldsmobile - The Oldsmobile 215 flywheel inventory included two which were very similar to the Buick versions, plus an intermediate weight flywheel for use in the turbocharged Jetfire and in Oldsmobile sedans supplied to police departments. The reduction in weight was accomplished by machining of the inertia ring of a "heavy" version flywheel down to only a 1/4" width. In addition to its weight, the intermediate flywheel was unusual in that it was drilled for a 10" clutch. Oldsmobile engineers figured that both the Jetfire's 210 HP or the constant abuse of police patrols required the larger clutch to provide an acceptable service life.
If the original flywheel on a 215 is damaged or worn, a replacement flywheel of identical type can be installed without the need for balancing at a machine shop. Merely remove the un-staked pins from the old flywheel and install them in the exact same location in the replacement. (If there were un-staked pins in the replacement flywheel remove them before transferring pins from the old flywheel!) Do not attempt to transfer the staked pins. Use the offset crankshaft attachment bolt to position the two flywheels identically and determine the proper pin locations.
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Buick - Buick employed two styles of manual flywheels, a light and heavy version. The "light" version weighs in at only 23 lbs. and is flat faced on the clutch side. This flywheel was supplied only in the 2-door 3-speed sedans which, because of their relatively light weight, did not require a heavier flywheel to get smoothly in motion from a stop. The balance of the Buick 215 powered cars, such as the 4-door coupes and the station wagons, were built with a beefier flywheel. The "heavy" version flywheel incorporated an integral cast inertial ring around its circumference which boosted the weight to 32 lbs.
Oldsmobile - The Oldsmobile 215 flywheel inventory included two which were very similar to the Buick versions, plus an intermediate weight flywheel for use in the turbocharged Jetfire and in Oldsmobile sedans supplied to police departments. The reduction in weight was accomplished by machining of the inertia ring of a "heavy" version flywheel down to only a 1/4" width. In addition to its weight, the intermediate flywheel was unusual in that it was drilled for a 10" clutch. Oldsmobile engineers figured that both the Jetfire's 210 HP or the constant abuse of police patrols required the larger clutch to provide an acceptable service life.
The drivetrain engineers at Oldsmobile also incorporated a refinement which physically differentiates
the Olds from the Buick flywheels. Early testing of the 215 revealed a very slight rocking motion of
the engine when idling. Numerous tests determined that this movement could be eliminated by drilling
a single additional balancing hole .25" diameter x .7" in depth in the flywheel just inboard of the
standard ring of balance pin holes. The Oldsmobile harmonic balancer was redesigned to incorporate a
small cast-in rib (Photo ) whose weight offset that lost to the flywheel's balancing hole. The slight
imbalance induced by the hole in the flywheel worked in synergy with the redesigned harmonic balancer
to eliminate the engine rock and afford an overall smoother running engine.
Pontiac - To accommodate the 215-powered Pontiac Tempest's unusual drivetrain, a flywheel unique to the Tempest was designed. This flywheel was flat-faced and heavy at 40 lbs. Unlike the Long-style clutch drilling used by Buick and Olds, the Pontiac flywheel is drilled for a Borg&Beck clutch.
Pontiac - To accommodate the 215-powered Pontiac Tempest's unusual drivetrain, a flywheel unique to the Tempest was designed. This flywheel was flat-faced and heavy at 40 lbs. Unlike the Long-style clutch drilling used by Buick and Olds, the Pontiac flywheel is drilled for a Borg&Beck clutch.
Flywheel Ring Gear - The flywheel ring gear was manufactured with 156 teeth and is a shrink fit on
the flywheel which makes replacement relatively easy. To remove a worn or damaged ring gear, two
3/16" holes are drilled, one side to side between two teeth and another intersecting hole from the
outside in, and the gear is split at the holes with a sharp chisel. The new ring gear is then heated
with a torch or in the oven to expand it's diameter. While hot, the gear is pressed onto the flywheel,
making sure that it is aligned with the flywheel face and with the chamfered edge of the ring gear
against the flywheel shoulder. OEM specifications call out that the ring gear must withstand 28,000
inch/pounds of torque without slipping.
Disclaimer: This page was researched and written by Kurt Schley. Views expressed are those of the author, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee. Apply at your own risk.
Disclaimer: This page was researched and written by Kurt Schley. Views expressed are those of the author, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee. Apply at your own risk.
