bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Bryan, here's the whole truth and nothing but the truth! I was correct (almost). Our terminology was a bit off (according to the book) but it gets us to the same place.

To use what you have, YOU NEED A SPACER PLATE! The adaptor plate (which we have been calling the bell housing) which has the exhuast return ports on it, is the same for both Ford and Chevy in the latter year ranges. So is the drive shaft. The Chevy does not use a 'spacer plate', the Ford does. The Ford block bell housing mounting profile surface has a different depth relationship to the flywheel (shorter) than the Chevy does. That is why they use the same length drive shaft even though the Ford uses the 1'+/- 'spacer plate'.

My source did not have a spacer plate but he gave me a number to call. Unfortunately they are only open Tues. thru Fri, 9-5pm.

They are Island Marine Salvage in Deer Island Oregon. Their number is 503 366 0823. Give them a call tomorrow. My source was sure they were likely to have one. (price unknown)

Let me know what you come up with. It is my recollection that the 'spacer plate' has any necessary studs on it where through bolts are not used.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

in relation to the flywheel? what?

now if the "bellhousing" is the same, and the ford starter mounts to the "bellhousing" I am confused on how or why this would need a spacer or adapter.

Previous owner swap out and not have this? i dunno

Im having a hard time, knowing that 1 inch spacer barely puts me on the shaft.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

hmmm the picture just came up, lemme study that for a bit.

brb

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Bryan, recheck my previous post. I added to it.

The chevy flywheel, thus the coupler, sits further recessed (deeper) back inside it's bellhousing mounting surface than the ford does. Correspondingly, the ford flywheel sticks further out toward the rear of it's bell housing mounting surface. That is why, even with the added depth (thickness) of the 'spacer plate' the same length drive shafts work on both.

The starter does not bolt to the adaptor housing, it bolts onto the corresponding opening (front face) in the spacer plate. And again, the spacer plate bolts on to the motor and literally blocks acess to the flywheel and coupler. There is just a relatively small hole in the middle where the drive shaft goes thru.

EDIT: I think that it is also the bottom half of the 'spacer' plate that blocks off the lower opening of the 'adaptor' housing (that faces the rear of the oilpan) that would otherwize be open to the air. In the merc, there is a halfmoon piece of tinware that serves this function, more akin to automotive style.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

hmmm the picture just came up, lemme study that for a bit.

brb

Mine is a '75 electric shift intermediate housing, running the later hydro-mechanical drive like yours, '78-80. As such, the visible exhaust return port is of smaller diameter than yours. They used a cast iron reducing bell in the hose from the exhaust mani, on that side to reduce it down to fit that small port. Otherwize they should look pretty similar.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

I've contacted the person i purchased this from, and directed him to this post.

hopefully i will get this figured out soon

/me bites his finger nails

Bryan S

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

I've contacted the person i purchased this from, and directed him to this post.

hopefully i will get this figured out soon

/me bites his finger nails

Bryan S

I'd speculate why you did not get a 'spacer plate' when you ordered up the intermediate housing was because when the IH is unbolted from the engine the 1"+/- 'spacer plate stays on the engine. Unless someone was aware of it's necessety, they might not give it a second thought. Then again, if the assy came off of a Chevy engine, there would have never been a spacer plate to begin with.

I am, however, flummoxed that you apparently have the original engine and do not seem to have the 'spacer' plate. I am also sure that if you even held your starter up to the starter hump in the 'adaptor' housing, you would plainly see that there was no way to attach it. Chevys do not bolt there either. They bolt to the block.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

ok I've called the deer island marine wreckers, and with a lil measurin here and there, we discovered that the drive shaft length does NOT require me to have a spacer.

These guys told me, if the shaft coming out of the housing is 2 7/8's inch. it is not the long shaft requiring the spacer plate.

this sound right?

im about to head off to the machine shop to get this sucker drilled

stop me if this is wrong!

~Bryan S

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

and the starter bolts holes are there, on the housing, just not tapped.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

I assume then that your 'adaptor' housing looked different than mine, especially around the starter nose protrusion, plus having more depth where it bells out to meet the block?

I can't say anymore Bryan. I've stated what I have from both personal example and with some verification of a long time OMC dealer. If there are other variations I can only apologize for leading you on a wild goose chase. I'm really surprised that others with Ford/OMC stringers have not chimed in. It would be easy enough for them to look at their setups to determine which way it is. This post has certainly spent enough time at the top of the heap to get their attention.

Good luck and do keep me posted here.

ps, it would have been good to see a picture of your intermediate housing.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

well i tell ya, after further phone calls, ive decided to hold off on gettin it drilled.

this is getting to be a huge pain in my ***, as it is the only step preventing me from installing my engine.

this is trying my patience.

~Bryan S

ill try to get some pics up in a few.

thanks again

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

oops

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Here is the reply from the person i bought it from.

they are talking about an older version of what you have. the adapter plate they are referring to is aluminum and about an inch thick.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Post some good pics of what you have. I want to see a side profile, from the starter side and into the face of the bell housing. (we're back to bell housing now)

I just got back from the dealer and saw some of the later model (hydro and mechanical intermediate assy's. No way will a ford starter bolt onto what I saw, sans spacer/adaptor plate and as I mention, chevy starters do not either as they bolt up to the engine block.

Don't you still have the original corroded bell housing w/intermediate attached? What does it's profile look like compared to your new one? What was the state of assembly of everything when you took possesion of it? What happens when you try to mate your new assembly to the 351w block, can you actually push it together and have the surfaces of the bell housing and block touch?

Yer not helping much with out answering these questions I've been asking and by not posting pictures of old and new.

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

ok I am almost ready to take side by side pictures.

I am have an issue with the tru-course steering, as far as removing it from the intermediate.

If someone could tell me if I'm on the right track i would appreciate it.

ok it seems the is a screw underside the protective plastic shield on the IH end. When i remove the pin, pull the plastic cover back, there is a standard flat head screw, I am assuming this is the set screw....., and of course its chewed up so bad i cannot get a grip on it. Right screw i hope.

anyways ima head on down to the auto parts store and find something to extract this sucker, and hopefully pull it out, then finally ill be able to get ya the pics u requested.

Thank you

~Bryan S

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Yeah, you are in the right place. Just crank the steering until the access hole comes up over the set screw. It is std rotation. While you have that out I've got some great cable lubrication tips for you. This will be the time to do it. When you go to reinstall the drum and screw, be sure to use some anti sieze compound on the new screw and get a stainless one as well.

Oh, and be sure to keep track of the spacers, washers, and bushings that fall out as you pull the shaft out the back of the IH. There is also a little nylon cup bushing, in the forward shaft support hole. You'll want to pick that out and inspect it and replace it if it is chewed up.

Since this has been out before, I wonder if it is even still there.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

When you go to reinstall the drum and screw, be sure to use some anti sieze compound on the new screw and get a stainless one as well.

just remember you are tightening it into aluminum... easily stripped while tightening with a regular ol`screwdriver- especially with lubricant

 

[WizeOne]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

just remember you are tightening it into aluminum... easily stripped while tightening with a regular ol`screwdriver- especially with lubricant

Do you have any input on the main point of this post, Howard?

 

[Bryan_S]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

k got that suckin steerin off, what a pain in the *** that was..... the genius who put it on or took it off really hammered the head of the retainer screw...... thinkin i might be needin a new one of those.


and while looking at them, the look identical, infact the old one(ford) has holes that arent drilled all the way through as well, but are drilled out on the new one (chevy)
pics coming soon....

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: bellhousing for my 351w is for a chevy!!!

Do you have any input on the main point of this post, Howard?

not really... just waiting for pics.