56 F-350 Bellhousing
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Augusta, Georgia
56 F-350 Bellhousing
After posting on several of the engine forums, it seems to be that my original request should have been different. I know that the 272 in my 56 F-350 is tired and worn, and I need to know what would need to be done in order to keep the original 4-speed transmission in the truck, if I change to a later model engine. The truck will eventually be a wrecker, with a Stringfellow Mustang body and crane, powered by the PTO. Mudslinger Mike mentioned that, rather than trying to mate my bellhousing to a different motor, that I need to find a bellhousing that will bolt to a later-model engine, but will still fit my transmission. The truck is all original, but I don't know the actual name/number/series of the transmission. So, all you gurus, any suggestions on what, if any bellhousings would work, to use a 289-family engine or an FE-series engine. Again, thanks in advance for y'all's help!
Johnny
Johnny
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Huntington USA
56 F-350 Bellhousing
G. L. Perry
Huntington, IN 46750
I am putting a 360 FE in a 55 F-600. I used the bellhousing and front mount off an FT engine from newer bigger F-600's from 64 up. They have the mount ears in same place and can use your old pads even. The front mount will fit the 360 with spacers on three bolts. It comes out right dimensions to drop right on frame mounts. Concern is that I have an aluminum timing cover and it may not take stess of mount. Most manual trans' will fit these truck housings as they have two bolt patterns on them for diff brands trans. Your old Y-block housing looks like new ones, but won't bolt to newer engine. You will need the larger clutch from big truck depending on what size trans shaft you have and t-out bearing size. If you can put a mount on rear of your trans and an x-over for it you can use aftermarket side mounts for engine and then the tail trans mount. Can put anything in with that. May hve to remove the x-over from bellhouse mounts to clear new trans/clutch housing, not sureif you should beef-up frame in that area again or not. It IS a big important x-over stock.
Huntington, IN 46750
I am putting a 360 FE in a 55 F-600. I used the bellhousing and front mount off an FT engine from newer bigger F-600's from 64 up. They have the mount ears in same place and can use your old pads even. The front mount will fit the 360 with spacers on three bolts. It comes out right dimensions to drop right on frame mounts. Concern is that I have an aluminum timing cover and it may not take stess of mount. Most manual trans' will fit these truck housings as they have two bolt patterns on them for diff brands trans. Your old Y-block housing looks like new ones, but won't bolt to newer engine. You will need the larger clutch from big truck depending on what size trans shaft you have and t-out bearing size. If you can put a mount on rear of your trans and an x-over for it you can use aftermarket side mounts for engine and then the tail trans mount. Can put anything in with that. May hve to remove the x-over from bellhouse mounts to clear new trans/clutch housing, not sureif you should beef-up frame in that area again or not. It IS a big important x-over stock.
