My 67 orginally had a V8 and 3spd. The trans is still there, but a 350 is in its place. I don't know squat about SBCs....so: are they internally or externally balanced? are they balance differently for auto or man. transmissions? will any chevy year motor bolt up to a 67 bellhousing? the more info the better....all thoughts appreciated!!!!

Internally balanced except for the SBC 400. But this does not mean that they all use the same balancer.

The flywheel or flex plates interchange up through 1985, except the SBC 400, which is unique. There are two diameters / tooth counts, each one reuqires it's own starter nose cone, but the interchange as a match set.

Any year SBC will bolt up starting in 1957 (or maybe '58, not sure) to your trans.

Any year SBC will bolt up starting in 1957 (or maybe '58, not sure) to your trans.


Well, any year from '55--up should bolt to the TRANS. But the first (three???) years didn't have the provision for side motor mounts--they had front mounts. So, the early engines would bolt to the trans, but be very difficult to mount in a newer chassis.

Isn't the starter mounting different in those first years too?

Guy,

Buy a copy of HPBooks "How to Hotrod Small Block Chevy's" and you will be good to go.

pdq67

SB Chevys are totally, completely, 100% interchangeable from the first one in 1955 up to 1985 (but still sorta kinda since then). As mentioned, the 55-6-7 small blocks DO NOT have the provision on the sides of the block for mounting, those 3yrs had mounts on the front of the block. But otherwise, they are still interchangeable, although you probably don't even want one of those because their only real value is for a correct matching restoration.
For the purpose of what you are wanting to become educated about, SB Chevy engines are so universal that it is unlikely that there will never be an engine which enjoys so much popularity. Even though they came in MANY different displacements, and interchangeability and accessories are almost unlimited, the MAJOR differences are internally. For example, the biggest SB ever available was the SB400, and it will 100% drop right into the very first Chevy built with a V8, 1955. As already mentioned, the SB400 is somewhat unique because it is internally balanced, which means it requires its own unique balancer and flywheel---------------but those parts are still physically interchangeable. The back of the block, where the bell housing (or automatic tranny) bolts up to it, is 100% the same for ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy V8s ever made (SB, BB W-motor, V-6, 63-later straight 6, etc). And the bolt pattern on the rear of a bell housing for a manual tranny is the same since 1955 (except the real late stuff). For example, if you wanted to replace the 3sp tranny in a 1955 Chevy with a 1969 Muncie 4sp, it is essentially a drop-in, bolt-in swap and drive it away (of course you have to cut a hole in the floor and install a shifter).
Starters were mentioned earlier. True, the early V8 blocks were different than later blocks. The REAL EARLY V8 blocks did not have provision for attaching a starter because the starter bolted to the bell housing instead of the bottom of the block. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, its not likely that someone is going to be installing a 1956 265 into their 1967 Chevelle. Thus, that issue is really a non issue. By 61 or 62, all SBs had provision for attaching the starter to the block.
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL V8 flywheels (55-85) are 100% interchangeable between ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Chevy V8 engines (SB, BB, W-motors). Remember, the 400 uses a different flywheel because it is externally balanced--------------------------but it still has the same bolt pattern as all other flywheels! Thus, PHYSICALLY interchangeable. There are only 2, two, TWO sizes of flywheels and bell housings. Period! They have to be matched to each other as well as the appropriate starter must be matched to the flywheel. The 86-later flywheels are also only available in 2 sizes, BUUUUUUUUUUT, because of a change in the rear of the crankshaft, the 86-later flywheels have a different bolt pattern and can only be used with 86-later engines. BUT OTHERWISE, THEY'RE STILL INTERCHANGEABLE. Again, for example, you can take a 92 350 V8 and bolt it into a 55 Chevy and drive it away. You just have to have the 86-later flywheel to go with the 92 engine. The 55 bell housing and either the later starter (bolted to the block) or the early starter that bolts to the bell housing, will bolt right up to the 92 350.
As has been mentioned much earlier, 55-57 V8s used FRONT engine mounts. All the later blocks still have these mounting locations on the front of the blocks (some later blocks don't have the holes drilled and threaded, but that is too easy to do simply by using the 55-7 mounting bracket as a pattern for drilling the holes------------------again, tooooooooooooooooooo easy and interchangeable).
Not even the old Ford Flathead V8s enjoyed this much universal interchangeability!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, whatever it is that you may be wanting to accomplish, if you have questions, just come here and someone will clarify anything you need to know. Don't hesitate to ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!