SM465 Aluminum Bell housing

[RedRoad]

Try this over here as the 4x4 forum is a ghost town these days.

I have 2 1974 465/205 assemblies with the aluminum bell housing which I plan on swapping into my K20 with the **** box th350.

Has anyone used the later aluminum bell housing in a 72 or earlier truck? what mods if any are needed? Can I just use the 71/72 z bar and link? From what Ive seen looks like the rod is WAY longer than the 73 up parts, is there any other differences?

Thanks

[fp1967]

It's been a little over 20 years since I did any parts swapping on the 73 and newer trucks but if I'm remembering correctly, the clutch ball for the z-bar screws into the aluminum bellhousing and that's why the rod is so short. On a 72 and earlier 4wd, the clutch ball screws into the forward of the two holes in the engine block, hence the long clutch rod. The cast iron bellhousing uses a cast throw-out bearing arm with a hole in it for the rod to protrude through. The aluminum one uses a stamped arm with a dimple in it that the end of the rod goes up against. I would think you could use the aluminum bellhousing and stamped arm, but you would need a long clutch rod with a custom end on it to match up to the stamped arm. The starter for the TH350 should work with the aluminum bellhousing. The cast iron bellhousing uses a different starter nose that bolts up to the bellhousing. Did I confuse you?

[RedRoad]

thanks for the reply. Been doing a bunch of searching and am hoping I can get it to work with the custom long rod.

What I am now trying to figure out is the z bar and the engine side stud.

Ive found two repro bell cranks, one for V8 and a shorter one for V6. Here is the V8 one

http://www.usa1industries.com/1967-7...-assembly.html

anyone know what the difference is on the engine side stud between 2wd and 4wd?

http://www.usa1industries.com/1963-8...stud-ball.html

[El Dorado Jim]

I had the cast iron bell housing,with sm465/205,in my 72, the transfer case was noisy,I had an extra aluminum bell housing, trans/transcase from a newer truck,I installed this into my 72, if I remember right, I had to use the cast clutch rod from the cast bell housing, but had to change the ball from the cast bell housing and install it into the aluminum bell housing, and then you can also run the 2-bolt starter which are easier to install anyway....