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Re: Bellhousings...

To: "Rich Atherton" <gumby@connectexpress.com>
Subject: Re: Bellhousings...
From: David Kernberger <dkern@napanet.net>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 17:53:54 -0700
10/22/99

Rich.

        These bellhousings are fairly rare, but not because they have the
bolt pattern for the 4- and 5-speed transmissions.  The rarity is simply
that not very many Buick Specials or Olds F-85s were sold with manual
transmissions.  The earliest bellhousings from 1961 production had only the
bolt pattern for the Warner T-86 3-speed transmission then being offered.
In late 1961 production, when the 4-speed was offered as an option, the
housings were modified with new bosses and drillings for the classic
Chevrolet 3- and 4-speeds.  This same bolt pattern has apparently been used
for ALL chevrolet manual transmissions since sometime in the 1930s, I
believe.  From then on, all the housings  had both drillings to the best of
my knowledge.

         I bought a very early production 1961 Olds F-85 in late 1960 which
had the column-shift 3-speed transmission in it.  The only new car I have
ever owned, and I am 58 now years old.  At any rate I eventurlly did some
mild souping on that engine and adapted a Packard 3-speed overdrive
transmission to it, using an adaptor made for a Chevrolet engine.  Very
easy thing to do.  That housing had only the 3-speed drilling.  All the
housings I have encountered since then (4) have had both drillings.

        There, now I have put in my 2 cents worth.

Cheers,
Dave Kernberger






*****************************************************
>OK..I have been quiet for a long time on here because I'm not currently
>doing anything, but I'm still building my database of info for my brain...
>
>I have the what I believe to be the fairly rare GM 4 speed bellhousing off
>of the 63 Buick Special, and my block is the same and was the 4bbl version.
>So that's what I have...Now...I know it has two seperate bolt paterns for
>the tranny.  one for the 3 spd, and one for the 4spd's
>
>NOW here is what I'm looking for... Can some type up a list of what
>Transmissions will bolt up.  Not really interested in the 3spd's so you can
>skip those..   So the ones I'm interested in are the 4, 5, and if any of the
>GM (or other) 6 spd's will bolt up, include thoe too.
>
>In addition, if you could mention which car/engine combination they come out
>of that would be helpful when Bone-Yarding for the parts....Strength is
>concern of course, and I'm also interested in wheather the cases are Iron or
>Aluminum.  I would like an All Aluminum drive live.  Just becasue I think it
>would be cool...Plus it woul dbe light in wieght.
>
>Anyway, there it is...See what you can come up with.  Oh One more Question.
>Will this bellhousing fit the British Blocks? and if so, All of them or just
>some.  I have though of abandoning the use of this block for the updated
>british block which is stronger and has the EFI heads..
>
>Thanks in advance!...
>Rich



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