66 Valiant Signet has a 360LA engine - what do I need to know?

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Super Sleeper

Super Sleeper

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So I'm tearing into the engine on my Valiant because the flywheel ring gear was split and just spinning loose. That's probably why my brother parked it in 1996. It turned out that the engine uses a 53020006 360 LA block. It's also a 4sp M/T. I pulled the engine yesterday and have the flywheel out. It weighs 27.2 lbs but there's no counter weight on it. The damper does have a counter weight between the v-belt pulley and the damper. I assume that it has the cast crank in it.

Do I need the counter weight for the flywheel or is it more of an issue for A/T? Here's a couple of pictures of the flywheel. There are no markings on it so I have no idea what it came from. The clutch is a Centerforce.

Thanks - Jim

49238820076_ca366c49a1.jpg
20191218_083254 by Jim Harris, on Flickr
49238819666_bd73a372e7.jpg
20191218_083232 by Jim Harris, on Flickr
 
Perhaps, but I thought that would be about right for neutral balance of the part itself. I think some aftermarket flywheels offer an attachment for the counter weight as needed by the application. I could be wrong, though! I had only read that the 360 with the cast crank needed external counter weights on each end? But maybe with the heavier flywheel that's not necessary?
 
A cast crank 360 definitely needs the external balancing. Unless your bro converted to neutral balance.
The weight in the front was cast into the balancer. Can't remember how it was done on the flywheel.
Mopar Performance/Direct Connection used to publish the drilling required to convert a neutral balance FW to external. Maybe someone here has access to it.

Having said that, and reading your other post about this car....I'm sure your brother knew what he was doing and did it right! Especially if he raced it and worked in the industry all those years.
 
Are you sure its not a SFI flywheel? It doesn't look cast. I'd get it surfaced and find a ring gear and continue on.
 
That does not look like any factory flywheel I have ever seen. and that is wayy too much drilling, waaay to far away from the crank centerline, to be just to balance the flywheel to neutral;so
I agree, put it back together with a new ring gear, and you'll know right-quick.
 
I agree that the flywheel looks and weighs like steel. SFI? Hard to tell without markings. As far as the holes drilled in it - your judgement is way better than mine. And I do believe that it was put together right - but I want to know what you all know, what to look for, what's right. And I don't want to do it twice. Thanks for your input.

Jim
 
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