The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Any Machinists On the Forum

I could use some help making a 1954 3100 automatic bellhousing work with shift linkage. My bellhousing, probably from a car with automatic doesn't have the shift linkage shaft like a normal truck bell housing. I was hoping to find someone who could make me one or two. I seem to purchase the wrong bellhousing every time I buy on line from marketplace or elsewhere. I didn't look close enough at the pictures and just assumed they were all the same. Not so much as I now have two I can't use because they don't have the shaft for the linkage. Any help appreciated. I considered making one my self but the hole for the shaft is smooth and the shaft was undoubtedly a press fit. I don't think trying to thread the cast housing would be easy but could probably be done. Anyway if you know of a solution let me know. THANKS

Craig

I don't understand. The 54 3100 would have been the hydra-matic but there is nothing on the bellhousing that linkage attaches to. The engine block has two different places for a pivot pin to screw into and the manual transmission pivot uses one location and the H-M uses the other. The pins are different between the two applications. Can you find a picture in the assembly manual that shows what you are trying to replicate?

Which transmission are you trying to use? Can you post pictures of the area you're referring to, and the hole for the linkage pivot you're talking about? Cast iron is easy to thread- - - - -just don't try to use a SAE (fine) thread for any particular size bolt. Coarse (UNC) threads work best in cast iron applications.
Jerry

I might be wrong, but I don't think any HydraMatic linkage attaches to the bellhousing. I know it didn't in 55.2.

Below is from 1954 GMC Master Parts Catalog.

I know what your talking about. The piviot point for the 3 speed column shift linkage. My GMC has it. I made a simple plate that bolted to the bellhousing bolts and welded the piviot point to it. I’ll see if I can find a pic. I have a LS in mine with a factory column shifted 3 speed so I used a open bottom big block truck steel bellhousing and I needed the piviot point.

FYI, Coarse threads are designated UNC - for Unified National Coarse) not UNF. SAE threads are measured in inches as opposed to metric, and include fine and coarse patterns. Fine SAE threads are designated UNF.
But Jerry is correct that coarse threads should be used in cast iron.

I’ll try and get a picture posted tomorrow if everything goes OK. I don’t know anything about the Hydra Matic bracket. I’m just talking about the little shaft that sticks out of the bell housing on the left side that has the pivot for the shift linkage now that Jerry has indicated that tapping the cast-iron is doable with coarse thread. I might try just making my own. I could use a large bolt, cut the head off, thread, the hole and that would probably work.

Here is 54 3100 linkage. None of it attaches to the bellhousing. Just added a picture of engine and transmission out of the truck showing no place for linkage on bellhousing. You can see on the side of the block though both pivot stud mounting places. The front one is more centered and is used for manual transmission carb linkage. The rear one (where the stud is in picture0, is where the carb and throttle pressure linkage attach.

Hi Greg, et al, you are correct on the linkages. I need to clarify. My engine is a 54 with bellhousing cast number 3835201. I am trying to install in a 49 panel with 3 on tree. The pivot point/shaft I am trying to duplicate is as shown in the photos. It is the one that hold the bellcrank for the shift linkage.

Gotcha. I read automatic transmission and it all went the wrong direction for me. On the bellhousing for manual transmission, others will jump in with more help but in 54 the bellhousing was angled at the bottom in somewhat of a V shape and had different motor mounts because of it. The earlier years, the bellhousing was straight across and used a style of motor mounts to match that design.Putting a 54 bellhousing in your 49 may be trickier than you planned for. Surely someone here will have an eariier bellhousing with the 3 speed stud. So sorry for the guided tour of "left field"

NO Pro blem o, I learn stuff here everyday. Thanks for chiming in and adding to the discussion. you are correct again I should probably just look for a more correct bell housing.

UPDATE - being a senior citizen with fading mental capability I have determined that the delema I thought I had was simply not recognizing that the bellhousing is for a top loader transmission and not my three speed /three on the tree. Problem solved. I'll get the right bellhousing soon.

I've got a bunch of the bell housings you need, but shipping from Tennessee might make your checkbook need CPR. Send me a private message before the PC Patrol gives me 40 lashes with a wet noodle for offering something for sale!
Jerry

This is what mine consists of.
Its just a flat piece of bar stock with a round rod welded on with circlip groove cut in. Very crude but worked perfectly. I use longer bolts on bellhousing with some sleeve spacers under it to get it to sit flat and not hit the bellhousing.

Looks like it works. Might try that when I get around to putting the bellhousing together. Thanks