Bell housing question for 1947-1959 trucks with MT

[Lugnutz65]

Hello! I'm visiting from the 60-66 section. I like the pre 1960 trucks a lot but I don't know much about the drive trains.

I help a lot of folks convert from the TOTT column shift to the T5 tranny with OD. I need some clarity about bell housings on these 1947-1959 trucks.

What engines and bells had a SBC V8 pattern bell? I know the 230, 250 and 283 had them but what about the earlier years. The modern 4.3 has the SBC pattern too. What about the bells for the 235ci and other engines?

Also, what is the center bore diameter of the different bells? As I understand it, some have a 5.125" center bore and some have a 4 + 11/16" center bore.

Lastly, do they all have a Muncie bolt pattern where the tranny bolts up?

Thanks for the help.

[OrrieG]

Read these links over at Stovebolt. Early six and V8 use different bellhousings. All up to 59 have mount bosses on the bottom. All are cast iron. Don't know about center bore, I know its an issue on later aluminum bellhousing because trucks are larger and there can be pilot bearing centering issues if used with a smaller automobile trans.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/en...lhousings.html
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny.htm
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/trannyswap.htm

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Read these links over at Stovebolt. Early six and V8 use different bellhousings. All up to 59 have mount bosses on the bottom. All are cast iron. Don't know about center bore, I know its an issue on later aluminum bellhousing because trucks are larger and there can be pilot bearing centering issues if used with a smaller automobile trans.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/en...lhousings.html
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny.htm
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/trannyswap.htm

Thanks, The first link confirms a lot of info. However, the 216, 235 and 261 bells are excluded from the article. My curiosity comes from the question I am frequently asked by folks with the 216, 235, and 261 engines. They ask me "Will a T5 bolt up to my ### engine?" I usually answer, "The T5 requires a bell with Muncie pattern and a 4 + 11/16" center bore". The length of the input shaft is likely the same but I'm always ready to learn something.

Keep the info coming, and thanks again.

[chopit]

I just searched T5 on this board and this was the first thread that popped up...T5 behind a 235.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=644565

Here is a great article from another site specifically aimed at 216/235/261 and tackling
it from a different direction to make the spline work

http://www.adchevy.com/techtips/t5swap