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1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

Bellhousing help.

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Old Dec 17, 2015 | 08:22 PM
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Bellhousing help.

Hey all, im putting together a 390 based FE and toploader combo together for my '65 F100.
Engine is a 445 stroker with parts from Survival.
Trans is a Toploader with the tag HEH CC which denotes to '65-'66 Galaxie from my research. HOWEVER...this trans has the shorter 1-3/8 input shaft. I would assume it was converted at a later date.

My issue is what bellhousing to use. I have a bunch of c5ta 7505b bellhousings laying around, and an Ansen unit with RA AFR 5010-t stamped on it.

Will any of these work, or am I still on the hunt?
Ive really hit a dead end here and any help is appreciated.

Thanks guys.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2015 | 10:03 PM
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My second thought is modifying the transmission back to a 1-1/16 shaft.

I have a 3.03 trans sitting, and Im really tempted to find out if i can rob the input shaft off it for this toploader. The 3.03 was the original transmission for the truck, and i have all the supporting pieces for it (clutches bellhousings etc)

Thoughts?
 
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Old Dec 18, 2015 | 04:02 AM
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Bro, my understanding the bell mates a tranny to an engine while encompassing a flywheel & clutch. One side has to fit to the engine while the other to the tranny. The tranny input is directly behind the engine crank and is turned by the pressure plate.

I have never tried what you are, but you should be able to fit the bell to the tranny and work it from there. IMHO


John
 
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Old Dec 18, 2015 | 06:52 AM
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I really doubt that the input shafts can be swapped between the 3.03 and the top loader 4 speed. If the input shaft on the 4 speed is shorter then the 3.03 you can probably use a passenger car bell housing..
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by jowilker
Bro, my understanding the bell mates a tranny to an engine while encompassing a flywheel & clutch. One side has to fit to the engine while the other to the tranny. The tranny input is directly behind the engine crank and is turned by the pressure plate.

I have never tried what you are, but you should be able to fit the bell to the tranny and work it from there. IMHO

John
Everything you said is correct, my issue is that the bellhousing is slightly too long, by about half an inch or so.
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by hiball3985
I really doubt that the input shafts can be swapped between the 3.03 and the top loader 4 speed. If the input shaft on the 4 speed is shorter then the 3.03 you can probably use a passenger car bell housing..
Thats my first choice option.
My issue in thisbis finding one.


It turns out I have about 2/3 engagement on the clutch spline when everything is seated.
Do i live with it, or find a way to close the gap? Maybe build a small spacer for the flywheel?
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Fellenz
Thats my first choice option.
My issue in thisbis finding one.


It turns out I have about 2/3 engagement on the clutch spline when everything is seated.
Do i live with it, or find a way to close the gap? Maybe build a small spacer for the flywheel?
The FE passenger car bell housings are getting hard to find, I've been holding on to one for years just for that reason.

You have more then a 2/3 spine engagement problem more then likely. Using the truck bell housing with the shorter trans input also means it isn't reaching the pilot bushing in the crank end..
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 03:53 PM
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If you have a passenger car trans, should you not use passenger car bell?

And if they are getting to be rare & expensive, then that gives you an excuse to order up a Lakewood, McLeod, Quicktimes, etc scattershield, which will solve the issue with the input, and will allow you to keep your feet should you have the misfortune of "grenading" a clutch.........
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by hiball3985
The FE passenger car bell housings are getting hard to find, I've been holding on to one for years just for that reason.

You have more then a 2/3 spine engagement problem more then likely. Using the truck bell housing with the shorter trans input also means it isn't reaching the pilot bushing in the crank end..
I was waiting for someone to bring that up, I had a new pilot bushing machined for this application. Fully seats now.
 
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Old Dec 19, 2015 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by James_Western_Canada
If you have a passenger car trans, should you not use passenger car bell?

And if they are getting to be rare & expensive, then that gives you an excuse to order up a Lakewood, McLeod, Quicktimes, etc scattershield, which will solve the issue with the input, and will allow you to keep your feet should you have the misfortune of "grenading" a clutch.........
A very good point. What im not sure on is the different bellhousings there are. I can easily find one for a FE/toploader combo....but is that the small shaft or big shaft style toploader.

Im scared to drop that dough on a bellhousing that doesnt fix my problem.

Maybe someone smarter than i can point me in the right direction?
 
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Old Dec 20, 2015 | 12:31 AM
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I would expect that all the Mfgr's would have Tech Lines, and so do many of the bigger speed parts vendors, a phone call or email should get things cleared up with a higher degree of certainty than listening to all us internet experts
 
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Old Dec 20, 2015 | 10:28 AM
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You also need the correct clutch fork to match the larger diameter input shaft. The one for the 3.03 trans will not work, the arms will hit the front bearing retainer.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2015 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Putt
You also need the correct clutch fork to match the larger diameter input shaft. The one for the 3.03 trans will not work, the arms will hit the front bearing retainer.
Good point. I'm not sure what size clutch discs are available for the large input shaft trans, so this may require a different pressure plate and flywheel also?
 
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Old Dec 20, 2015 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Putt
You also need the correct clutch fork to match the larger diameter input shaft. The one for the 3.03 trans will not work, the arms will hit the front bearing retainer.

I found a clutch fork that will work.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2015 | 04:55 PM
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I want to clarify with everyone speculating. While I appreciate yhe concerns and ideas, I have everything to make this combo work, other than the fact i dont have full spline engagement. I mated the engine and trans last night to find any other possible issues, and so far its just the engagement.
 
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