'62 with 235 - How to remove bell housing?

[bloody hammer]

Hi to everyone. I joined several years ago but ended up not posting much as my "project" got postponed when life got too busy. Things have settled down some now and I can actually spend a day out in the garage.

I have a 1962 Chevy C-10 with a 235. Recently I pulled the tranny and had it rebuilt. Before I put it back in I want to do a clutch job. I'm having a tough time getting this figured out though. Is there a way to get the clutch and pressure plate out without removing the bell housing? I sure can't seem to get it out.... it doesn't clear the flywheel. But to remove the bell housing I can see I will have to remove the flywheel but how do I get to the flywheel without removing the clutch/plate?

Any advice is appreciated.

[jonzcustomshop]

the bottom should be removable, you can then pull the pressure plate and clutch, after that you can pull the flywheel, and then access the bolts that hold the bell housing to the motor.
here is a pic of a truck 235 bell housing

[bloody hammer]

Jon - I guess I'm even more confused than I thought. I'm not sure what you mean by "the bottom". Here are photos of what I'm working on.









I cannot get the clutch to slide down past the flywheel.

[jonzcustomshop]

maybe someone with more experience with one of these will chime in, I know how frustrating it can be laying under there trying to figure it out!

my only thought w/ looking at the pics, is unbolt the motor mounts for clearance? to get the clutch /pressure plate through there?

I have one of these that I need to do, but haven't done it yet....


*** looking at the pics again, I really think it is hanging on your motor mounts, looks like the unit has cleared the bellhousing***

[Mack B]

I ran into (what looks like) the same issue changing my clutch behind a small block in my 63. The clutch would wedge between the rear mother mount and flywheel. I "got rough" with it and it slid past, if that wont work I agree with Jonz suggestion of unbolting the motor. New clutch was thinner and went right in place, hope my rambling helped in some way.

[bloody hammer]

Thanks, Mack. I'll be back under it today and will see about getting a little rougher with it. I started to yesterday but I was worried about messing something up.

[bloody hammer]

I just spent the last hour twisting, pulling, and prying on it... everything short of beating it with a hammer. It just isn't going to come out. It's jamming up against the cross brace.

Is my mistake in trying to get out as an assembly? Does the cover have to come off first... and then the clutch and pressure plate? Does it come out piece by piece?

[jtrichard]

take an allen wrench and back off the ball stud for the clutch fork you may have to remove the fork its been a long time since i have done one but get the fork out of the way and it should fall out you might have to hold the disc up as you remove the pressure plate

[bloody hammer]

The fork doesn't seem to be getting in the way but I will pull it off anyhow. Hopefully I have an allen wrench big enough,

[jtrichard]

hold the disc up as you drop the pressure plate ......you can try to just pop the fork off and get it out

[powerdriver 1958]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

hold the disc up as you drop the pressure plate ......you can try to just pop the fork off and get it out

hold the disc up as you drop the pressure plate

That's the trick , The clutch disc stays up in the housing dropping out the pressure plate by it's self

[bloody hammer]

Finally got it out!

Yep, my mistake was in trying to get it out in one piece. Once I unbolted the pressure plate all i had to do was push the clutch in to hold it in place and the plate dropped right out.

Thanks everyone!