Buick 215 V8 Stuff

[NCtim]

Some of you might know of this site but for those that don't, check it out:

http://www.vintagecarpartsselection.com/Vintage-Ford/buick-215.html

[DiDueColpi]

Pretty ham dandy to know Tim.

Cheers
Fred

[NCtim]

 -- moved topic --

[joe_padavano]

Not exactly bargain basement prices.  Most of those photos look exactly like ones in current ebay ads, by the way.  The auction prices are somewhat lower.

[kwangtzu]

Click on the photo on the site and it takes you to the ebay ad

[White Envy GT]

Hi Everyone.  I am new to the forum but have been working on a Buick/Rover V8 conversion on an MGB GT for the last while and have enjoyed looking at the forum for ideas and tips.

I have been sourcing out a suitable engine and along the way I have picked up a fairly complete Olds 215 2bbl.  Along with the engine came parts of another 215 with this crankshaft which I don't recognize, it could be for a marine application.

Anyone know what it is?  The spring plate was bolted directly to the flywheel.

[pcmenten]

I think you're right, I think that's from a boat transmission. Big springs to soften the engagement of the transmission.

Note that Oldsmobile flywheels had a slightly different balance scheme than Buick, so try to find and Olds flywheel.

[White Envy GT]

Thanks for the reply,  I was suspicious that it may be marine as the pallet of other parts had marine pieces mixed in.  The crank looks like it has been coated with protective grease possibly has been machined.

The engine came with flywheel and bellhousing so I don't need this one.

I am mating a T5(from camaro V8) to it, what is the best way to go for a clutch?

Thanks

[DiDueColpi]

Actually I think that that's the flywheel and coupling for the old "slim jim" automatic.
Some of the old resto freaks will offer you real cash money for it!

Cheers
Fred

[roverman]

fits "slim jim", aka Roto Hydro 240. They used a fluid coupling instead of torque convertor. Among the WORST automatics-ever! About 2 seconds slower in the 1/4 mile over available 4 speeds. I replaced one in my 61' F85, with a Vega turbo 350. Felt like I added 50hp, under the hood,(efficiency).

[joe_padavano]

Sorry, but you are all incorrect.  That is the flywheel and center damper for the RotoHydramatic 5, as used behind the Oldsmobile version of the 215. The RH5 does not use a conventional torque converter.  It has a fluid coupling in the middle of the trans.  The input shaft on the RH5 looks just like the one on a manual trans, which is why that damper plate looks like the center of a manual trans clutch disk.  Since the RH5 doesn't have the rotational mass of a torque converter, the heavy flywheel is needed instead of a flexplate.

[White Envy GT]

Interesting.  In any case I guess that is surplus to my needs.

How different is the balancing of the Olds and Buick manual flywheels.  From what I can find out the Olds has an extra hole to counteract a slight low rpm wobble.

Thanks for the info guys.

[pcmenten]

Going from memory, the Olds engineers detected a fore-and-aft rocking motion, which they counteracted by adding weights to the balancer and flywheel.

[DiDueColpi]

You'd think the Olds boys would like the rocking chair sensation.