The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Torque tube bell collar adjustment.

I must be missing somthing. I have replace the okie bushing and am about to install the trans./engine assy. I came here yesterday and found a link to the shop manual for proper adjustment of the ball collar. I made the adjustment as outlined in that artical and am down to 1 shim/gasket but still have 1/8 inch in and out movement. The collar just flops around. I amd sure that if I install the cork seal that it will tighten up but the info from the manuel say's make the adjustment with the cork seal removed and that the collar should be snug and not binding.
HELP!!!!!!

It sounds like the back of your transmission has a lot of wear.
There was a brass insert made by National that fit in the back of the trans where the bell wears to fix this problem. I see these on ebay from time to time, or you will need to replace your case.

Boy i was not wanting to hear that. Surly there is some duck butter or something else that will shrink the cast steel? LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190268494809&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:MOTORS:1123

Dave,

That Universal Joint Ball Housing Seat on eBay has 5 holes and it is for a 29-50 Chev/GMC and 33-36 Pontiac. Is the 5th hole for a Pontiac? Four of the holes look OK for GMC/Chev. Also, if it works for 29-50 Chev/GMC, shouldn't it should work for 29-54 (except Powerglide and Hydra-Matic).

It looks nice in brass. Is that item the repair-piece that goes inside the rear of the transmission (probably a stupid question)?

Thanks,

Tim

If this is the case don’t be shy about machining .060” - .090” off the back of the case and belt sanding 1/32” off the collar to get back to tolerance. If the case is worn then the ball is likely tired too. A new or different ball might make this all go away so I would start there. Nice pc. Dave. Good to know that’s out there.

Hummmm!? To shim or not to shim that is the question. The transmission is not the origional and looks to have been replaced not long ago with a reman. transmission. Still has the reman lable stuck to the transmission. Wonder if they check for excess wear in the reman process. I can see how that could be overlooked. This also would explain the silicone gasket that was there when i removed the bell. I think first i will check the collar for warpage at the bolt holes and then maybe do the mill process for both collar and transmission.
I ran into a similar problem with a VW swing arm transaxle one time. The collar had been installed and torqued down with out any gaskets and that bent the collar.
Thanks for the link to e-bay. I will look into that if I don't find any bent parts. Looks like a good fix.

tclederman, The 5th hole is for 1940 Chev pass which had a offset bolt pattern so the vacuum shift bracket could not be put on in the wrong position. And yes it will work up to 1954, except 40.

Yes it fits in the back of trans so the bell has a new seat.