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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 06:41 PM
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bellhousing

i was told that the bellhousing for a 6.9 diesel and a 460 were the same pattern but the way the starter mounted is different. if this is true can you adapt the starter to work. thanks.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 07:46 PM
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NOPE!

Not even close!

There are 3 basic "old school, not ancient school" gas bell housing patterns.

Early Small block Windsor = 221, 255, 260, 289.

Late Small block Windsor = 289, 302, Boss 302, 351W.

FE series = 332, 352, 360, 361, 410, 427, 428.

Big block 385 series = 370, 429, 460 and 514 and that pattern also included the Cleveland series 351, Boss 351, 400M, 351M.

And then came the Diesels = 6.9 and 7.3 that used an adapter on the back of the block so there was no reason they could not make it match the 385 series other than making sure they were not accidentally swapped as they were programed differently internally.

That does not even account for the modular V8 bolt pattern, or patterns that I have no idea about as well as the power stroke Diesels.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 08:23 PM
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Here is a more complete list and some patterns overlap.

* 1 Ford Flathead engine pattern
* 2 Lincoln Y-block pattern
* 3 Ford Y-block pattern
* 4 Early MEL pattern (1958-1960, Same as FE)
* 5 Late MEL pattern (1961-1968)
* 6 FE Gen 1 and Gen 2 pattern
* 7 Early Windsor V8 pattern
* 8 Later Windsor V8 pattern
* 9 Ford Lima/385 V8 pattern
* 10 400M/351M V8 pattern
* 11 Taunus pattern
* 12 Falcon Six pattern
* 13 Early OHV Six pattern
* 14 UK Essex pattern
* 15 Pinto EAO I4 pattern
* 16 Pinto OHC RWD pattern
* 17 Vulcan V6 pattern
* 18 Duratec pattern
* 19 Modular V8 pattern
 
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Old Oct 25, 2009 | 08:37 PM
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Corrections, sorry:

221/260/early 289 is one pattern,
later 289/302/351W AND 351C are their own pattern

351M/400 has same bell pattern as 385 series (370/429/460)

There's got to be more.....
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 02:21 AM
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Were any of these cast iron?
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Ken Blythen
Were any of these cast iron?
Not that I have seen, but there might be some "antique" bell housings out there that were cast iron.

Now that I think of it, I do believe the 351 Cleveland probably used the small block bolt pattern.

What I need is a C4 bell housing that will bolt up to an Aluminum Buick 215 V8 engine!

I have thought up various ways to fabricate one.

Make a face plate to match the C4 side of the bell housing.
Make a plate that bolts onto the engine.
Then have a shaft bolted in the mains extending out and have the face plate mounted and centered to it at the proper distance.
Then either weld some lateral curved plates that are far enough out as to clear the torque converter, or use some curved vertical mini I or H beams in place.

Now that I'm taking a CAD class I can take some measurements and build it virtually before I do anything!

Another option would be make it all out of casting wax with some extra for machining the faces and drilling the bolt holes, and have someone cast it out of aluminum.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 12:40 PM
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You may have to cast your own. You may be money ahead to use a GM trans and adapt the trans to the next item, be it driveshaft or TC.

I can't even get close to finding your stuff here:

Transmission to Engine Adapter | Engine & Transmission Conversion Adapters - Advance Adapters

You might talk to them, this may be an old item that the don't list on line...
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 12:48 PM
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The only adapters I have found were for the Audi 5000, the Powerglide and the Chevy Turbo 350/400.

KEP (http://www.kennedyeng.com/other.htm) has a wide assortment of adapters!

I have a long list of companies offering adapters, and none offer what I want.

There is one place in Australia, but the cost and distance involved make a barrier I am unwilling to cross.

The powerglide is a possibility, but I would prefer a directly bolted up C4.
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 01:06 PM
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If it will take a TH350, why not a 700R?

A Powerglide with a Gearvendors.....
 
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
If it will take a TH350, why not a 700R?
I don't rebuild them.

Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
A Powerglide with a Gearvendors.....
Well, a Gear Vendor would cost anywhere from a minimum of $2600 to a potential of $5000!

Not my idea of affordable!
 
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