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After searching for the better part of an year, I finally managed to snag a big bellhousing for a not retarded price. As a bonus, they had a flywheel as well for cheaps.
Now I need a clutch, pressure plate, pilot & throw out bearing.
Taking a 79 4wd automatic 1/2 ton with a 351m. Swapping in a Np435 with a Np205 & keeping the same 351m. I've got all the rest of the fiddly bits now, but the clutch.
That is marked 351 W, an M would be different. I thought all 335 and 385 series bellhousings were aluminum, but maybe not.
Check your flex plate for balance, if it's not neutral balance you're going to have to deal with that. not sure about this but it matters.
Any clutch will hold a 351 , but the steel bellhousings can have clearance issues with a diaphragm. I used a Ram brand long finger on my 428 and it works nice.
All the 351m/400 bells are cast; at least for dents.
I used one from a 351m to mate up to an 86 460. Used a 12" diaphragm clutch. Had to relief grind the 4 bolt bosses but have no issues.
My bell housing is not aluminum, 1979 T18 mated to a 351M. It looks the same as what you have.
The casting# on the flywheel pictured above indicates it's for 351M/400 and is drilled for the 12" clutch.
I haven't installed it yet, but I picked up a LuK clutch either at Bronco Graveyard or Summit. I seems to have good reviews and wasn't hard on the budget like the performance options available.
