Installing a Ramjet 350 in my '65 and hit a snag with way starter mounts

[JWG]

I'm preparing to drop a Ramjet 350 into my '65 C10 with 3 speed manual and noticed that the Ramjet engines starter mounts to the block whereas the starter that I pulled off my truck actually mounts to the bell housing.

What do I need to do here? Different bell housing? If so which one?

I pulled the Ramjet out of my '69 vette 4 speed car. The ramjet has a good center force clutch and pressure plate mounted to the flywheel. I'm wondering if this clutch/pressure plate/flywheel will work with my original 3 on the tree transmission?

Thank you for any help and advice!

[Chevy Fleetside]

You need a starter for a automatic tranny and you will need the bolts also. They bolt to the block as the maunals bolt to the bell housing.

[JWG]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

You need a starter for a automatic tranny and you will need the bolts also. They bolt to the block as the maunals bolt to the bell housing.

Thanks for your input!

I actually already have the starter that bolts to the block. I guess this is the starter for the auto? This is the same starter I've been using on this engine in my 4 speed manual vette. Can I continue to use this starter bolted to the engine?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Sure. As long as the flywheel has the same amount of teeth. I think the auto has 168 but I am not 100% on that.

[Captainfab]

If you're keeping the 3 speed and original bellhousing, you use the same starter that was on your truck that bolts to the bellhousing. A block mounted starter will not work with the original cast iron bellhousing. If you decide to do away with the original bellhousing and it's crossmember, and use an aluminum bellhousing as was in your Corvette, you will have to install a trans crossmember.

[JWG]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you decide to do away with the original bellhousing and it's crossmember, and use an aluminum bellhousing as was in your Corvette, you will have to install a trans crossmember.

Great info! This is what I want to do.
So my corvette bell housing will bolt to my 3 speed tranny?

What cross member do I need to buy and where do I buy it?

Thanks for your help!

[Chevy Fleetside]

I have to quit thinking automatic all the time. I must be getting old.

[61K10]

you have to use the flywheel off the vet. the ram-jet eng has a 1 piece rear seal and uses a different f/w that's in your tk. your vet set up should all fit in the cast iron bell housing. if the vet set up is 153 tooth f/w you need to go with the trans mount as capt said and use all the vet stuff.

[JWG]

Originally Posted by 61K10

you have to use the flywheel off the vet. the ram-jet eng has a 1 piece rear seal and uses a different f/w that's in your tk. your vet set up should all fit in the cast iron bell housing. if the vet set up is 153 tooth f/w you need to go with the trans mount as capt said and use all the vet stuff.

Very good! That's my plan! I'm going to leave my flywheel/clutch on the engine and use the vette bell housing.

what trans cross member do I need to buy? Where do I buy it?

Thanks so much for the help guys!

[61K10]

ck out the venders here on this site. does your trans have a rear mount?

[chevy_mike]

One thing to note is, most truck trans had a large diameter housing bore and car bell housings use the small diameter. It is possible to put a car trans into a truck bell housing, if you use a reducer ring but you cannot put a truck trans into a car bell housing, it won't physically fit.

If you keep your truck housing and trans, then you need to deal with the starter issue as you see or change the flywheel/clutch to one for a one piece rear seal that is the right diameter as your truck setup.

[JWG]

Guy's, just got the ramjet out of the Vette and see that the input shaft on the Vette trans is completely different than the big 10 spline on the truck tranny.... so my centerforce clutch on the ramjet will not work.

So, now my plan of action is to take the clutch off my 350 that came out of the truck (it's brand new) and mount it to my Ramjet flywheel (for 1 piece rear seal) and then go ahead and install the engine with the truck bell housing and starter.

Anyone foresee any problems with this plan?

[JWG]

Well, the vette bell housing actually fits. Check out the picture showing my cross members.

Do I need a different cross member?

Now, my plan is... clutch that was on the truck goes onto the Ramjet flywheel.
Bolt tranny into place on the engine. Install as an assembly

[JWG]

Okay now my dilemma is with the vette bell housing installed now there is nowhere to mount the trans to the cross member.... the factory bell housing bolted to the cross member at the locations circled in the picture.

What now? Anyone make some sort of trans adapter mounts, or am I stuck going back to the factory bell housing?

[Captainfab]

If you are going to go with the aluminum bellhousing out of your 'Vette, the bellhousing crossmember in your truck needs to come out. Then you need a trans crossmember under the rear of the trans. There are aftermarket trans crossmembers available that most everyone seems to use. Myself I choose to use a factory crossmember from a '63-'87 truck with an auto trans. This will locate aprox where the e-brake crossmember is now. The e-brake will have to be dealt with in one of a couple ways. The one issue I see is that there appears to be no holes drilled and tapped in the trans mounting pad on your 3 speed. I have to ask....why don't you want to use the 4 speed that was in your 'Vette? That would make your truck a whole lot more fun to drive IMO.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

One thing to note is, most truck trans had a large diameter housing bore and car bell housings use the small diameter. It is possible to put a car trans into a truck bell housing, if you use a reducer ring but you cannot put a truck trans into a car bell housing, it won't physically fit.

AFAIK the larger 5-1/8" bore truck bellhousings started in '68; '67 and back used the 4-11/16" bore.

[ImpalaJim]

Yikes I could never tear apart a vet for a truck

[JWG]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you are going to go with the aluminum bellhousing out of your 'Vette, the bellhousing crossmember in your truck needs to come out. Then you need a trans crossmember under the rear of the trans. There are aftermarket trans crossmembers available that most everyone seems to use. Myself I choose to use a factory crossmember from a '63-'87 truck with an auto trans. This will locate aprox where the e-brake crossmember is now. The e-brake will have to be dealt with in one of a couple ways. The one issue I see is that there appears to be no holes drilled and tapped in the trans mounting pad on your 3 speed. I have to ask....why don't you want to use the 4 speed that was in your 'Vette? That would make your truck a whole lot more fun to drive IMO.

Great Info from you as usual. I appreciate the help!
The 4 speed is staying in the vette. I may upgrade the trans in the truck later on.

I've decided to just use the truck bell housing and continue to use my block mounted mini starter that's already on my Ramjet 350. I just learned that I could do this so I'm rolling with it

[JWG]

Originally Posted by ImpalaJim

Yikes I could never tear apart a vet for a truck

Well, I'm not actually tearing apart the Vette. I pulled my Ramjet 350 out of it because I'm installing a Ramjet ZL1 in it

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

AFAIK the larger 5-1/8" bore truck bellhousings started in '68; '67 and back used the 4-11/16" bore.

Interesting. I know the one in my old '65 was the large bore but I don't know if it was original to the truck or not. After almost 50 years, who knows what PO have done. LOL