The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop adapting a t-5 to 56-62 truck bellhousing

I've got my t-5 finally. I'll have my sm420 up for sale if anyone needs one for parts..

anyway, after looking at what I had to do to get the trans out of the truck, I was questioning if the bellhousing I have is standard for all trucks. The top two transmission mount holes in the bellhousing are threaded. The bottom two are not for the bolts go in thru the bellhousing and thread into the tranny case..

So I'd like to install my 5 speed on there but I'm not sure if I should tap the lower holes on the t-5 case to the same pitch and thread that was in the sm420 case? I'd really like to be able to remove the tranny without having to pull the cover on the bellhousing to get access to the bolts.

Is there a different bellhousing that had threaded holes on the top AND bottom? that would make mounting the tranny way easier and way less dinking around. Maybe I could just thread the holes in the bellhousing to the next size up and open up the holes in the tranny case even larger than usual?

any help here would be great!

also, this is the first time I've ever pulled a clutch on one of these. I had to pull the pressure plate then the clutch disc just to get at the flywheel. I then had to remove the flywheel before I could take the bellhousing off. Is this the correct procedure?

If you're doing anything other than removing the transmission, you'll need to pull the dust cover, so whether or not the holes are threaded is a moot point. You could epoxy some nuts to the inside of the bellhousing, I suppose, if you want all the bolts to go in from the rear. Be sure there's no interference between the nuts and bolts and the flywheel/clutch assembly. The thread size is 1/2" X 13, standard-thread 1/2" bolts. I don't think there's enough metal in the T-5 case to cut 1/2" threads unless you install Heli-Coils in the case. If you want threads in the bellhousing, just use 1/2"X13 HeliCoils in the bellhousing. The thread inserts will hold better in the cast iron bellhousing holes than they will in the aluminum T-5 case.

Yes, it's necessary to pull the pressure plate, clutch, and flywheel, in that order to get to the bolts that hold the bellhousing on.
Jerry

On truck bellhousings the top holes are threaded in the bellhousing. The lower bolts are installed from inside the belhousing into the threads in the transmission. If you are installing a car transmission you just need longer bolts with nuts for the 2 lower mount holes.
Fred

4 bolt holes on the dust cover. 2 need to come out completely, 2 just need to be loosened. I don't see what the big deal is, takes about a minute to get on and off with a 7/16 socket and extension, or even a box wrench.

transmission is pulled, bellhousing is off the motor. It took about two hours to get it all off but I didn't need an impact until I got to the flywheel bolts.

After looking at a few different bellhousings, I found that it's probly best if I stick with what I already have. so, I picked up a pair of cast threadserts (heavy duti heli-coils) for the bell housing holes and i'm currently doing my shopping for clutch parts. I have an 11" disc stock, so I'm looking at the ~'88 astro 4.3L disc. it's 14 spline and 11" so I think I may order one up and see if it'll work with my pressure plate. I see many people have gone to a different throw out bearing as well but they also went with a different pressure plate too, so I'm expecting that would be the difference.

and for the record, not all of my dust cover bolts were the same. this truck has been around the block a few times

Which T-5 are you using? I'm trying to help my son find one for his '66 Chevy 1/2 ton restomod, stock appearance but mild performance oriented sbc 350.

My preliminary research indicated the "World Class" versions are improvements over earlier versions of the T-5 but a tailhousing and top cover from an S-10 T-5 are required for correct shifter location in a bench seat truck.

What worked out for you?

Thanks!

That's how I did it with mine when I installed the 0verdrive 3 speed, which originally was in a station wagon. No real big deal.

"Which T-5 are you using? I'm trying to help my son find one for his '66 Chevy 1/2 ton restomod, stock appearance but mild performance oriented sbc 350."

Chevy never put a T5 behind a motor bigger than 307 cubic inches. You might try researching other more dependable transmissions for a SBC powered vehicle. On the expensive side is the tremec transmission. For mor reasonable money you can get an my6/A833 4 speed with overdrive. The MY6 was a Dodge New Process transmission that found it's way into some chevy trucks. It will easily hold up to 400 hp/ 400 lbs torque. The same can not be said about a T5 transmission.