I am in need of a bellhousing asap so I can swap in my engine. I have a guy who can sell me a 68 cast iron bellhousing with the cast fork. Only a few problems I know of. 1st, will the 420 bolt up to it? (The aluminum bell I have now wont fit because the middle shift rail sticks out to far and hits the bellhousing) I would need to make a retaining ring to adapt it down to the 4 -11/16" of the sm420 right? Second, my starter currently bolts to the block and the guy said it would have to bolt to the bellhousing. Is there a way around this? He said I can just switch the nose cone to a cast one and it would work. Is this true? What about grinding so I can keep it bolted to the block? Third, would I run into any problems doing a hydro linkage with this bellhousing? Any thing else I need to know about it? I have read over tons of posts about this stuff but am still a little :confused: and I dont want to waste money on stuff that wont work. Thanks.

As for an indexing ring- you really should run one if the bell index hole is larger than the trans. People get away without, but why risk it? As for starters, I run a cast bell (correct index for trans) with a block mounted starter. I have seen a few bells fail in the third bolt hole for the starter. All you need to do is cut off the third bolt hole and then grind the bell for clearance on the starter. You have to remove a fair amount but it doesn't affect it strength wise. Clutch questions directly relate to what disc, pp, master and slave you run, but a cast bell, cast fork and hydraulics work fine, but you will likely have to buy or make a custom slave holding bracket. HTH

Thanks aggro. That was helpful. I will make an index ring because I know the hole is bigger. Does anyone have a pic of clearencing the bell for the block starter? Sounds like the 68 housing will work with an index ring and some grinding. Just need to know if the middle shift rail protrusion will clear the bell also? (Like I said earlier I had problems with this already with a different housing I already have). I guess I could grind the bellhousing if it doesnt right? Lastly does anyone know if the bell housing will clear a 168 tooth 14" (od of teeth) flywheel and an 11"ish clutch? Thanks.

I'm running a '70/'72 cast iron bellhousing with my 465/205. Mine has the 2 lower trans bolts that come from the inside of the bellhousing and thread into the lower 2 hole on the trans. These holes are threaded on my SM465. And my strater bolts into the bellhousing. My setup also has a 12" clutch so your 11" clutch should work. Are the lower 2 mounting holes threaded on your 420? If not that might be another problem with this bellhousing.

Originally posted by 70~K5
Are the lower 2 mounting holes threaded on your 420?

Yes. Does anyone have a pic of the 68'ish bell?

BTT

btt