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#53481 12/14/2005 6:17 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 | Can I use a 57 1/2 ton bell housing in a 53 1/2 ton?If not ,can it be adapted?Thanks guys | | |
#53482 12/14/2005 8:18 AM | Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,571 | | | |
#53483 12/14/2005 1:48 PM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 212 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 212 | If both engines are 6 cylinder 216 or 235 motors I think the bell housing will bolt right on the motor with no problems, but you might have a problem with the motor mounts. I'm not certain. I have a 53 2 ton and recently changed the motor with a later model.
Everything worked fine, except for the motor mounts. The part of the bell housing where the mount bolts on changed in 54. I beleive 54 is the correct year for the change. I was forced to put the 53 bell housing on the later model motor to get it to bolt to the frame.
The corss member the mounts sit on is slanted. The mounts I bought were just a little too wide and sat up about a quarter inch on the slanted section. I put a piece of quarter inch thick metal under them and everything worked out ok.
Hope this helps. Allen | | |
#53484 12/14/2005 5:41 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 | Yes both are 6 banger bell housings. | | |
#53485 12/14/2005 5:56 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | Allen hit it on the head
The problem lies in the fact that GM changed the shape of the cross member under the bellhouse AFTER the 53 model year,They were sorta flat.
Beginning in 54 the crossmember dropped down,then flat,and then back up sorta looking like the bottom half of a stopsign.
The I6 bells have the same bolt patterns for the block and trans thru 1962 the only change being at the trans mount.
53 and older the mounts bolted to the sideof the bell
54 and newer the mounts bolted IN BETWEEN the bell and crossmember like a pad and a bolt ran up thru a lower half,the crossmember and threaded into the bell | | |
#53486 12/14/2005 6:05 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | KK
do you have any other parts from the 57 other than the bell?
specifically the crossmember or the frame section at the 2nd crossmember. | | |
#53487 12/15/2005 5:40 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 | | | |
#53488 12/15/2005 8:43 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | Can't you find a 1948-53 truck bellhousing?
I have a pile of them if you can't find one locally.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
#53489 12/18/2005 6:29 AM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 637 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 637 | The only difference in the bellhousings between '53 and '54 is that in '54 Chev. went to side engine mounts and trans mount for 3 point mounting, in '53 they had mounts on front engine plate and on bell housing as well as rear transmission for a 5 point mount. I don't think either is better, only different. If you use a s'54 or later (up to '62) engine in a '53 or earlier you have to use the '53 bell housing to have the side mounts on the bell. | | |
#53490 12/20/2005 6:25 AM | Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 346 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 346 | You can also use the '54 cross member in the '47 to '53 frame. You'll need to drill a couple of new holes in the frame on each side but it works.
That's the method I used when putting putting a 350 V8 in my '49. Hardest part was drilling out all of the rivets to get the old cross member out.
'38 Chevy 1-1/2 ton
'49 Chevy 1/2 ton
'54 Chevy 6400 2 ton
'55.2 GMC 3/4 ton
'56 GMC 1-ton
No Room Left in Shop
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#53491 12/20/2005 5:17 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | Olblue thats why I asked if he had the x member from the 57 | | |
#53492 12/20/2005 8:39 PM | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 254 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 254 | thats the bit of trouble i had with switching my 70 from auto to manual (i knew i had to change something) but getting the 4 speed crossmember (bellhousing mount) out of the 67 3/4 ton was a pain used an angle grinder to get the rivets out but couldn't get two of them so the guy i got the parts from used his torch
Nate | | |
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