HEMI Tech- Transmission adapters, flywheels, starters

325 Dodge to Tremec 5-speed: Hot Heads adapter plate, Dodge to GM. QuarterterMaster bellhousing with GM bolt pattern, Tremec bolts up. Drill the crank and machine a plug to accept the pilot bushing. I used a QuarterMaster 7 1/4" clutch and flywheel with their "organic" lining, which is the clutch lining QM recommends for street applications. The QM bellhousing has a right side starter mounted facing rearwards, allowing pedal room on the drivers side. Haven't driven it yet but it all looks like it will work fine.

 

I am ready to purchase an adaptor for my 241 hemi. I looked at Hot Heads Its only $395.00 Is this a wilcap unit? I am useing a powerglide.

 

I bought my kit from Hot Heads and it is a Wilcap setup. I am very impressed with the kit. I am sure that I will get it sorted out and it will work very well. Billk

 

I talked to Wilcap and he was very helpful. The suggested solution was to get an adjustable fork pivot stud. Summitt had it isn stock. A Mcleod 16909 part. I should have it late next week due to the holiday mess. From looking at the picture it should do the job.

The bellhousing length looks right and I have in fact bolted the setup to the motor, all except the throwout fork and bearing. I had to trim the pilot bearing holder a little bit and cut 1/8 inch from the tip of the input shaft. I had heard about that before and it was not a surprise.

The fork and throwout are supposed to be mustang parts. Billk
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Wow... lotsa ways to Adapt a trans & Spen Lotsa $$$$$

I did it the Old way,

I Used a '55 Dodge Truck bell housing with the intrigle T/O Bearing shaft... T/O Bearing is the same as the old BIG Ford bearing still available.

Machined the back of the Bell housing square, then made a steel plate & machined the face to accept a MoPar A~833 4spd, All the face machining is to keep the distance correct for the input shaft.

The plate bolts to the back of the bell with 4 grade 8 bolts & then drilled for the trans... So in the end the plate is held by 6 bolts.

Used an old Scheifer Aluminum flywheel & an off the shelf 440 Chrysler McCloud Long style 3 finger clutch.

Clutch linkage linked right up to my '48 Ford F~1 pedal assy with ease.

 

Great input man! By any chance do you have pics to show these guys?? Nothin' better than doin' it the 'ol school way!!

 

Scooter .... I know your askin this for the TECH...

But i havent a clue as to why people do this switch

I have 11.5~1 compression in my DeSoto, And fire it off with a Vertex Magneto.

I run the 6volt starter and it spins the Engine over just fine, Although i dont think there is a different starter for the Long bell... Whatever is used later should work for the early block also.

*** Sorry men, No pics of my Adapter........ I like to BUILD stuff with my Friends .... Not makin a picture book

 

i used a wilcap on my tub ....i bought the adapter back in 01...the only complant i had with it was the starter....i had to grind the hell out of the adapter to fit...and even ground on the nose of the starter ...used a later style small gear drive setup....after it was all together , it worked sweet...seems like the pictures someone posted that the adapter has been changed some..... it saved a lot of time ....thanks brandon

 

Did you switch to 12-volt or are you running 6-volt in your S-coupe??

Pat from Wilcap has a solution to the starters for long bell blocks, but we have been playing phone tag. I believe there is a difference. I don't have anything to compare to though.

Yep... just for the tech! Just want to help anyone and everyone out the best possible with these threads.

 

Which Hemi are you running??

 

I run a 6volt starter on a 12volt system....

Spins it over twice as fast & dosent sound like a Shitty Ass gear reduction starter.

Any Early VW owners know what im talking about

 

Good to know! Thanks man!!

 

354....with a 727....i bought the adapter from hot heads...a friend and i threw a car together and needed the adapter to see if the motor was going to run... sweet little sewing machine...it purred like a kitten... brandon

 

A Hemi "purring"!! UH OH!! Something isn't RIGHT!! Shouldn't it be snarling and shooting fire!

 

this thing was a purchase that almost got me in trouble.....especially when the guy that delivered it ...shows up a couple months later with the guy that "supposedly " owned it...needless to say ...i had cops involved , and car load of guys with the other 2.....turns out that the one and another guy were involved in a truck being stolen , stripped, and rolled over a hill....the owner was really trying to find the 454 out of the truck...didn't have anything to do with that...when i bought it , it was supposed to be bail money ....turns out...the guy skipped with the other guys bail money and left him in jail... learned pretty quick to watch out for the need bail types.... still have the hemi though.....and a interesting story... brandon

 

WOW! Now that's a story! When you get a chance, post some pics with the story in the "examples" section of the HEMI Tech. Show it off!

 

Got lucky on ebay last week and won a mint condition Offy 401 adapter for $150. That's the one that goes from hemi to early Ford, and is used with the Offy 3640 adapter to run a Cad-LaSalle trans. The guy listed it as a Chevy to early Ford adapter so it went unnoticed by the usual crowd. Best deal I've had in a long time.

 

ah so your the guy that outid me at the last second! it was a pretty good deal.

 

Hi I would like to point out on my stock 1958 392 HEMI motor bellhouse I used stock what wazs there and just changed the CLUTCH DISK to match spine on 1970 A-833 4-speed modern stick shift with no adapter plate or other gee-haws! Stock parts is the way for me to build these cars and they have never let me down, just know your subject matter really well. Sorry for soap box. Have a Hemi Day. Inspector Mopar

 

Hi again on my 392 I run what was there.......a 392 starter rebuilt, my motor is tuned and starts on 1 full revolution. Had no problems. This motor is balanced from factory, it sets a still as a comatosed wooden indian in front of the tobacco shop. I used stock glass bowl fuel pump. I have red #1 boot on 1958 spark plug wires. Runs great.

 

Okay, I want to add a bit of information about early 331 (extended bell) starters.

We've been trying to figure out what options are available for long bell guys. What I learned today was not as good of news as I would have liked, but the truth is the truth.

Sounds like the 6-cylinder starters will also work for that time frame since they essentially run the same 146 tooth flywheel, which by the way is important. In fact, it sounds like any early Mopar with a 146 tooth (except for plymouth because of the hole pattern) will work.

It sounds like Hot Hemi Heads also offers a mini starter and flywheel combination that will work, if you need something not so bulky and are running some serious compression.

Unfotunately I didn't get any information like "any Mopar starter as long as it's dirty and electrical like" will work. So, I guess if you need a starter for your 51-53 Chrysler 331 you have the option of using 6-cylinder stuff.

No off the shelf 12-volt direct replacement options for later Mopars. Sorry guys. So if you're going to run a 12-volt system, you are stuck with a rewind or just juicing up your 6-volt with some extra power. Just be careful not to bake it with a hard starting engine.

If anyone has clarrifications or facts to add to that, PLEASE do! If Pat is reading, maybe he can further expand as well. (Thanks Pat!!)

 

FWIW, I've been using a six volt starter since I got mine running some six years ago. What has died on mine is the solenoid.

 

Yeah, the word seems to be that it's not too big of a deal as long as the starter is in good shape and the motor doesn't have to be cranked forever to get it going. I would think there might be some worries with high compression engines with the added load, but maybe not.

 

Hey Scooter, basically, the 51-53 engine requires the 51-53 starter, not only to match up to the ring gear count but also the 'wheel diameter. Between 51 & 58 Chrysler made numerous changes in the starter/ring gear department; different tooth count on starters and 'wheels, different diameters on pinion gears and 'wheels, and even changed the starter locations ever-so-slightly between years for a real 'hit-or-miss' installation. The wrong pile of parts can be a nightmare.

gary

 

YES! Sorry! Forgot to mention diameter! The starter location would have obviously been determined by diameter.

Nothing to add... great explanation!

Where have you been!?? Jeesh! Anything else you want to add! Feel free to go crazy on all subject! HAHA!

 

Nobody has mentioned a JW Ultrabell yet. I'm seriously thinking of going this route because of SFI. HemiRambler had some issues as shown in the following thread but I plan on using a stock starter.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209698&highlight=hemi+ultrabell

Has anyone else tried an ultrabell?

 

Sorry for the Hi Jack Scooter.........

But i wanna know if anyone out there has an Adapter set up or info on an adapter setup to run a Hydra~Matic on the back of an Early Hemi. DeSoto is what i have.

Just picked up a Slant Pan Olds out of the "OL YELLER" Race Car & am playing with the thought of running it in my '54 Ford Straight Axle car.

 

Here's a nice little discussion about adapters and extended bell Chrysler blocks. You will also find some information from 73RR on MAKING an adapter!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326725

Since I'm bumping this up, can anyone answer DE SOTO's questions above? We need more Desoto Hemi information here! Please step up and help us out if you have knowledge of Desotos or Dodge Hemis, for that matter.

 

Working on my 291...
I'm going to run a 700r behind it
Made the transmission adapter from a blueprint of the Wilcap and am moving the starter to the Pass. side.
Uses stock starter from Chrysler from 66-96. Picked one up for 49.00 from my local O'Reily
Made the FlyWheel and center hub as well, also patterns from Earlier Hemi conversions.
Question...What Oil filter adapter to use? 90 degree(Wilcap unit) is on back order from HH. Not sure if there is enough clearance to use the vertical and not sure if a 30 degree will clear the lakes headers..

 

Wow....I dont want to loose this thread; great info!

Heading to the GNRS, will post later.