The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Foot starter mounting to bell housing?

Hi All
My 1st project... 57 3100 panel came with a seemingly rebuilt 55 Chevy passenger car 235. The bell housing on the engine does not have a place to mount the foot starter which i want to use i have the linkage and correct starter . What bell housing should I be looking for ? Any body have one for sale?
it is a standard stock 3 speed tranny.
Thanks!

The bellhousing for a Chevy 6 cylinder pickup from 1954 to around 1960 or so will have the bolt holes necessary to mount the foot start linkage. However- - - -there's a work-around that can be made to look almost original from inside the cab while using your present solenoid-operated starter. Mount an electric foot start switch for a Ford 9N tractor under the floorboard, using the hole the foot pedal goes through, and use that switch to energize the solenoid on the passenger car starter. It's possible to use the original style pedal cap, a bolt, and a pipe cap with a setscrew in it to make a pedal that closely resembles the original setup, especially if the rubber accordion boot is used to hide the adapter. Here's the switch:

https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Switch-Tractor-86531629-9N11450B/dp/B00ET8TCKI

Jerry

Thanks good to know

GA, I am so jealous!! The foot starter option is way too cool! My '57 panel is missing those parts, though.

Yes I have a 29 speedster with one. adds a little fun to it. Have you posted any pics of your 57? Can’t wait to get mine on the road. Someday

I have a cou0le of bell housings listed here in the parts section. Let me know if either is what your after. The blue one is sold. Still have the other two. And both have the provision for foot starters

Not to hijack the thread, but my grandparents had one of those tractors, and I totally forgot it started that way! I always pushed it with my hand though, not my foot, lol.

I also never would have imagined that they required a different starter design. I totally love learning new stuff like this.

Mine is in the panels and burbs section of this site.

Thanks Glen
I am new to Chevy engines but one of them might be it. I will look at numbers. Again a 55 235 out of a passenger car with 3 spd.

I went with the route that Hotrod Lincoln described (except not the extra stuff to make it look like the factory switch) - just the electric switch in the floor... works well, added security for those that don't know about foot starters, and really didn't have to change much otherwise when I upgraded to my 292

Can you post pics?

Does this mean then that you guys have a key in the dash, just no solenoid wire hooked to the ignition switch?

Yes, the key simply turns the ignition on and off. The foot switch is generally powered by the ignition switch, so the engine can only be cranked with the switch in the "engine run" position. Turn the switch to "run" and step on the start button, just like the mechanical-linkage starter works.
Jerry