The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline T5 bellhousing

Can I ask just a general question.

I have a 1950 chev ute australian built on the knock down chassis kits canada use to sell, pretty sure the eng trans diff as well as chassis is from the 1950 business coupe. It has a 216 stovebolt motor and 3 spd manual box, no idea type or brand of box but it is original to car

I have been offered a t5 muncie / saginaw bellhousing that will bolt up to my engine, is this a factory bell housing from later model cars or are these the truck bell housings.

Thanks

Steve

Looks like a '54 and later truck bellhousing judging from the angled areas where the motor mounts attach.
It has a Saginaw pattern which a T-5 will bolt to if you drill the holes in the T-5 to 1/2 inch (the holes in the T-5 are metric and slightly smaller than 1/2 inch).
What bellhousing is currently on the engine?

Simso, Can you clean up the casting number and post that info? Its the 7 digit number near the lower right transmission mount bolt hole. We might be able to ID what it is from that number.

Yeh i dont have it yet, just negotiating with the seller at the momment, will try and zoom in on the numbers, best i can see so far is it ends in 442

The box fitted to mine is a 3spd column shift connected to a torque tube rear, i genuinely have no idea what it is but everything on my ute is still pretty factory, still got its original 216 plodding along

That appears to be a 235 bellhousing for a 60-62 Chevy truck. The only years that used a hydraulic clutch with the
throughout arm on the right side.
Fred

Just for a little clarity, the bellhousing for down under Chevy Ute’s and trucks as far as I know are “right hand” drive and have the clutch release linkage on the right side of the housing.

I haven’t been able to find any related information from just the last few digits of that casting number. Being the Ute was Australian built on a GM of Canada chassis, the part info may only exist in a GM of Canada parts book.

It hasn’t been stated or asked.
Does that bell have a 4 + 11/16” center bore. If it’s bigger than that you will need a spacer ring to downsize the hole to 4 + 11/16”.
Does the intended T5 have a SaginawMuncie bolt pattern?
In the USA, a Ford bolt pattern was used in the T5:
1993 and newer Camaro/Firebirds
1994 and newer S10/Sonomas
and of course in all Ford Mustangs.
Video explaining some of this. VIDEO LINK

Awesome replys and big thanks to all

Also thanks for clarifying which t5 I need to get

Last but not least, the 235 housing will bolt straight on to my 216. Feom what i understand the 235 is a slightly taller block

Steve

Steve, In looking through a US Chevrolet Master Parts Book (1929-53), bellhousings are listed as different for passenger cars VS trucks. No difference between 216 and 235 engines. That being said, if the main center bore of your existing 216 housing matches the size Lugnutz noted, and the T5 you have has the standard Saginaw/Muncie bolt pattern, you should be able to use it to mount the T5 to your 216.

There are other things in play concerning the length of the T5 input shaft then, but you can read up on those and how to resolve them in Lugnutz T5 Info Page as well as lots of conversation in the Driveline forum.

Thanks,

one of the issues I have come across with the t5 transmissions's here in australia, are they all appear not to be mid mount shifters, the shifters sit right at the end of the extension housing, so that is something I also have to consider when finding a transmission as I have a bench seat

Not all t-5s are alike. Mine is out of a Nova and it fits fine in my 54. I think maybe they were in Mustangs and they sit further back.

The best T5 for our needs are from early Chevrolet S10 trucks due to their mechanical drive speedometers, I do believe all S10 shifters are near the transmission case and clear stock bench seats. Not the case with Camaro T5s. Best gear ratios depend, engine, tire size, final drive ratio...all factor into determining the best T5 for a given application. From my thin T5 understanding they were used in many applications, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaro, Jeeps, Jaguars, Isuzus, Nissans and others in the world market. One commonly referenced ID chart is here. Some do say it's not 100 percent accurate.

All the above said, my best suggestion is visit Stovebolt member Lugnutz site and you'll likely find answers to any T5 questions as well as great how-to info. Also the 'Bolt has T5 info in the Tech Tips section and tons of reading via the search function.

Good Luck,

RonR