my ride vt ecotec

[vt3.8lt]

What size dowels do they take?

[vs ss]

The holes must be drilled as the holes in the cranks are not dowel holes. The size of the factory dowel is 8mm thick and 24mm in length.

[vt3.8lt]

Yeah thats what i thought ill have alook and see if i can order some dowels

[vt3.8lt]

Just found a 8mm x 24mm dowel and tested it in the flywheel and it seems a bit loose should it be an inerfeerance fit? Or will it be ok how it is?

[immortality]

No, they must a tight fit. If loose they will come out.

[vs ss]

Should just slide in and out of the flywheel with slight drag( some aftermarket flywheels are looser),but they are a real tight fit in the crankshaft.

[vt3.8lt]

Ok then i think im gonna need a different size dowel pin

[vlad01]

I would forget 8mm dowels, no point for something that small for this application. I would use at least 10mm and even up to 12 is possible.

Yes should be a tight fit.

The indexing holes in the crank I measured at 10.3mm and 11.4mm for the opposite side. Not sure how the ecotec manuals had the dowels, whether it was the indexing holes they used or new additional ones were drilled?

Can't verify that one but my understanding is it was the large indexing holes re-purposed.

[immortality]

The manual cranks had extra holes drill for the dowels. There was a good thread on JC that had pics of the various crank flanges but the pictures have unfortunately disappeared

Fairly much makes my point though, dowels do stuff all unless they are a firm fit. At work we use dowels and taper pins. Dowels are used to locate/align the part and bolts clamp and hold it all together. On the older machines where pins hold parts together taper pins are used. Drill hole, ream to size and fit taper pin.

[vt3.8lt]

ok cool thanks for the help guys looks like im gonna sorce some 10mm dowels and drill out the crank and flywheel to suit i just home theres going top be enough meat left on everything once there drilled out as everything is quiet close together