The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Bell Housing Question

My truck (1955.1 GMC) is missing a bell housing behind the 248. I bought a T5 (86 model from a S-10). The owner of the S-10 gave me two bell housings. I think he was using the sell to clean his parts pile. Anyway, one is from a 70's model camper truck with a straight 6 and a 3 on the tree. Is that what I need here? How can I tell for sure?

Only a 1954-62 Chev or GMC truck bellhousing will work. They have the correct bolt pattern for the T5 and angle bellhousing mounts
Not sure when GMC went to V6 but the GMC bellhousing needs to be from a straight 6.

What changed in 63?

Hy Joseph_Y, that is a question that would require a lot of typing to answer, but for the purpose of this discussion, a new six cylinder engine design was introduced, this engine design used the same bellhousing pattern as the V8 engines. So as Pre '68 Dave said you'll need a 54-62 Chevy or GMC six cylinder bellhousing, hope that helps.

Thanks. I will start hunting for that bell housing.

To be like stock, 1959 will be the last year for gmc. Aren't 60-62 chevy bellhousings hydraulic clutch? Anyway there are plentu of 54-59 chevy and gmc bells that will work. See if you can get the throwout arm and linkages with the bellhousing.

I woke up in this morning remembering that 1960-62 use hydraulic clutches. So as bigbadswingdaddy says,1954-59.

Hy bigbadswingdaddy, you are indeed correct, V6s in GMC began in 1960 (totally different bellhousing pattern from either the Chev sixes and V8s, or the older GMC inline sixes). I also forgot about the hydraulic clutches in Chevies 1960-62 which had the throwout arm on the right side of the bellhousing. So as you correctly pointed out Joseph_Y should be looking for a bellhousing from a 1954 through 59 Chev or GMC with an inline six engine. Sorry for the misinformation!

Since I have none of the manual transmission related parts, I assume I can go either hydraulic or manual clutch. What should I do?

Converting to hydraulic clutch would also require mounting a clutch master cylinder. I would recommend staying mechanical.

Did something change in 54 that would prevent me from using a bell housing from a 51 donor truck?

The 1954 was a complete design change. It will not retrofit without the crossmember coming with it.
Here is the 54' housing/crossmember in my truck so you can see the difference. It has a large 2-piece mount on each side with a bolt going through the crossmember into the bell housing to hold them together. I can tell you this it has much less vibration than the old style mounts as found on the 51'.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129071781/in/set-72157631867396207

Oh. I did not know that. Thanks for providing the picture. Hopefully someone will post up a pre-54 crossmember so I can compare.

Here is a pretty good shot of the 47-53 version.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129099274/in/set-72157631867396207
Here is one of the 54-55 1st Series.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/14452400321/in/set-72157631868452754

Thanks.