Cracked??

[ABX131]

I just noticed the bell housing on my TH350 is cracked around the middle bolt hole on the drivers' side just above the guide hole...Are these repairable or is it done?

[chevy_mike]

I have had a buddy take cracked ones and have a good welder TIG them up.

Not sure if they have them for a TH350 but I know for the TH400 there are aftermarket bell housings where you cut off the stock area and bolt to the pump housing. Might check into that.

[DesertCat]

Mine was welded in the same place IIRC. Don't know the story, bought the truck with it that way.

So far, so good...

[ABX131]

This is a 4x4....is welding strong enough to hold up?

[tincan1966]

There are a couple reasons why the bellhousings crack on 4 X 4's
Either the bolts weren't tight at some point between the bellhousing and engine.
Or with the location of the engine mounts being farther forward and the trans mount at the tail housing, there is a lot of weight hanging in the middle. In the '70's Chevy added plates between the motor mount and the block and solid steel rods that bolted to those plates and a bolt on lower flywheel cover. This offered added rigidy and reduced any unecessary flex between engine and trans. If your trans has threaded holes along thelower portion of the bellhousiing, you can add the bars to stiffen it up..

I know GM ran this same setup thru the '90's in the 4X4 trucks, and Suburbans.

[Captainfab]

There should be no reason that.that welded up transmission case shouldn't be as strong as it was originally. That is providing the person performing the repair does it correctly. For some strange reason it seems to be difficult to find a welder capable of welding aluminum. Or at least it is around here. I have guys bring me aluminum repairs quite frequently saying they can't find anyone that really knows how to weld aluminum. You may have better luck over there in the Seattle area.