The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop bellhousing removal while in truck...

Has anyone ever attempted this? I have tried to search for this, but all the info was with the engine out of the vehicle. I know that the engine will have to be safely supported while this is going on. Yup, I am doing the T5 thing also and am still debating whether to go the bellhousing exchange route or adapter plate.

Thanks, Brian

It can be removed with the engine in the truck. Pull the trans. & clutch first. What year are you working on? The T-5 fits most bell housings.

I have'nt taken a real close look at this endeavor yet. Still in process of gathering necessary parts. The truck, [1940 1/2 ton] is located out of town. I know the old saying, anything can be done with enough time and [money].

Thanks again, Brian

Forgot to mention that the bellhousing has to be changed up to a '48-'54 and the pedal mount has to be fabricated onto the housing. '47 and prior housings don't have the correct size hole and transmission mounting holes are in a different location.

Brian

I might be slow, but whats a T5?

A t5 is a transmission with overdrive.Lots of information on this site about them.try these links.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny.htm

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/tranny/sandoval/index.html

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/t5tranny2.htm

Brian,
It must be eazier to use an adapter plate on your bellhousing and retain the pedal mounts. The t-5 has a longer input shaft which makes extra work in trying to adapt it without an adapter plate. Cavebull and Steppinwood both have excellent photo documentation of this conversion.

I also have a 1940 (GMC) I had an adapter plate made for me out of 6066 aluminum at a local machine shop. It is a relatively simple job. I will be using a NV4500 transmission instead of a t-5. In hind sight the T-5 seems like a more appropriate swap. The NV4500 is much bigger and wider than the stock transmission and the t-5. I still might have to come up with a system for mounting the clutch and brake pedals.

The advantages of the NV4500 are it is stronger, it has the same splines as a stock transmission, it was new, it has both a granny low gear and an overdrive. Disadvantages include the size and the cost.

As stated, this adaptor is the only sane way to go with your year truck. Moves the T-5 back just enough as to not interfere with clutch disc, plus you need the master cyl mount of the original bell housing. Check with Buffalo Ent, runs an ad on inliners.org.

Brian -

I just completed the installation of a T-5 in my 37 pickup.

I would highly suggest you go the adapter plate route. It is much easier - you won't have to shorten the transmission input shaft and you won't have to lengthen the splines on the input shaft. Mine worked out great! The one thing I don't like about the later bell housing is the fact that the mounts have to be welded on for the brake-clutch pedal and master cylinder bracket. I have never been comfortable with welding cast iron, especialy steel to cast iron and when it comes to the brakes and clutch, I would try to avoid this sort of welding activity. I think you are much, much better off with the original bell housing and the use of an adapter plate.

Of all the advantages, the biggest is that you wouldn't have to pull the bell housing from your truck, a job that I see as a pretty good size chore. Probably the easiest way to pull the bell housing would be to pull the engine, which to me means pulling the front sheet metal. Allot of work to avoid a safe and sensible transmission adapter plate.

Just my 2 sense!

Good luck,

Joe

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I will go with an adapter even though I do have a bellhousing rounded up. I do not want to create anymore work for myself than I need to. I had been following Steppenwood's, cavebull's and your conversion, Joe and it sure does look to be the cleaner and more sane way of doing this. Excellent workmanship you guys. I will look into ordering an adapter or taking my own measurments and try to get one made up here.

Thanks again, Brian

I'm toying with the idea of changing the trans and rear end in my '40 GMC also. If an adapter plate is used with a T-5 conversion, is the stock pilot bushing used or do you need an extended bushing? I just put a rebuilt 235 in my truck last year and installed a new pilot bushing, so I'd rather not have to change it in the truck if I don't have to.

Thanks,
Steve

I didn't install a new pilot bearing in my 37. I had also installed a new one not too long ago and found that the input shaft "snoot" was exactly the same diameter dimension on the T-5 as the input shaft "snoot" on the stock transmission. The "snoot" was longer on the T-5 and that was exactly what I needed to make the installation work correctly with a 1/2" thick adapter plate. I would think the GMC would be the same.

Joe

Thanks Joe. I've read the tech articles, but I'm sure I'll have more questions if I decide to go this route.
Thanks,
Steve