400 sbc flywheel question

[Grim 82]

I'm piecing together what I need to put an SM465 back in my pickup. I sold off all of the clutch linkage pieces and the trans so I'm basically starting from scratch, aside from it still having the pedals and the frame mounted bellcrank bracket. Now I have a 400 (xxx509, 2-piece rear main) that has the weighted flex plate and the 400 balancer with the scalloped part on it. I'm guessing I need a weighted flywheel. Can anybody confirm this, and please give a recommendation on what to get and where to get it?

Also what would be a good clutch to use? I'm leaning towards a diaphragm style. I've read that they are easier to push in, which would be helpful to my less than healthy back.

I plan to use the bellcrank, linkage rods and all the misc. pieces from my 73 C1500. Will all of these parts be the same as what my 82 had, or were there differences in the mechanical clutch linkage parts between the years, or between a 4wd and a 2wd?
Thanks

[1980c10]

When comparing flywheels check your local parts store or website, have them pull up a couple to see what part #'s come up and if they match. Get a price too, it may be the easiest and cheapest way to go anyway.

My mechanical clutch that I had in my '80 was really wasy to push in and it was originial to the truck.

[bake74]

     I do believe the linkage parts are the same for a 2wd as a 4wd.  As 1980 c10 stated, both my 74 and 77 are mechanical and are real easy to push in and hold, I think easier than the newer nissan, or fords that I have owned.

[Grim 82]

Thanks for the replies fellas. I just got back from buying back and picking up my original trans and all of the linkage parts that I sold.  Of course I had to pay a storage fee....
So now I will be going back to the original setup except for the change from a 350 to a 400. I have read that there are counterweights that can be bolted to a 350 flywheel to work with a 400, and I've read that the right way to do it is to just get a weighted 400 flywheel. My question is if anybody has first hand experience with this bolt on weight and if it's a good solution, and if not, how do I explain to the parts guys what I need. Are they all the same that I could just go to Summit and order an external balance flywheel and be done? I have no idea what the motor is out of except for the casting number. It was supposedly internally balanced when it was built but it uses the conventional 400sb external balance weighted flexplate and balancer, so I'm not sure what's going on there . I just need the right flywheel and the right clutch (or re-use the original one) to get this working for me again. The build on my 700r4 was never right and still isn't, and after 8 months of screwing around I've had it and I'm getting my money back. Thanks for any help you can give me

[Grim 82]

This is the balance plate I'm talking about. It bolts onto the end of the crank behind the flywheel. Anybody ever use one of these?

[Grim 82]

For anyone that may wonder, the balance plate worked flawlessly for this swap with my 350 flywheel. Install the plate so that the extra material points toward where the counterweight on the 400 flexplate was. If you put the opposite face towards the crank it will point away from where the counterweight should be, if that makes any sense. I'm not sure if it makes any difference, but it just looked like that's how it should be. Similar plates for 454's are stamped 'FRONT' on one side but the 400 plate was not.