Ok, I been searching and I know this subject has been played out but I'm looking for someone who has done a bellhousing swap on a 216 to a 55-57 chevy 235 car bellhousing. I know from what I have read that it should bolt up no problem.. And I dont want a t-5 because I would like to keep the 3 on the tree so I plan to use a late 60's full sync 3 spd and 57' rear end. Now aside from a drive shaft... Will the stock 53' clutch and fork and throwing bearing work or do I need the 55-57 clutch fork and throwing? I know my flywheel should be fine. Any help would be great! Thanks.
id also like to know but i not sure if i can find a 57 rear so chould i use a later gbodie rear???? TIA
hey guy's... any info on swapping out the stock 53' 235 bellhousing in favor of a 55 or up 235 bellhousing... I'd like to keep the stock pedals and everything but use a newer 3 spd that is full sync... I'd read that the back of the chevy 6's are all the same 37-62... but am i missing something?? thanks.
At the risk of sounding cranky, which I am fairly good at since I am over 70 and had a lot of practice, I will say this has been hashed out many times on here. A proper search will give you all the details. But, ... the 53 throwout bearing & arm should work. The 216, 235 & 261 ('37 - '62) bell housings all have the same pattern on the engine side, they have different mounting arrangements on the outside corners for mounting the rear of the engine as well as various transmission bolt patterns. GM Leaf spring rear ends through '57 seem to be a good width on the spring perches. There are probably more modern ones that will work. You have to account for approx 1-1/2" center distance lengthways because of the mounting method. There used to be blocks available for this, I don't know if they still are out there. Adding spring perches to any rear end or moving them on a rear that has them is not a big deal. Tractor Supply has spring perches in their trailer section.
I have posted this before and again I will say that I don't understand why everyone says do a search. The search on this forum is not as good as everyone thinks. There is so much info you have to spend and hour sifting through it. This is a car forum to speak about stories, things we need, ect ect. I know it has been posted before but with not such good clarity. Thanks for your reply by the way. It was helpfull. Remember please don't be a (Do a search Nazi). The forum is to teach and learn. Even for people that don't search.
Yes The fork it specific the this pull type clutch linkage. I used a 62 truck bellhousing and the original clutch, throwout worked on the t5. I had to change discs, but you won't.The only thing I would watch out for, is that the starter and flywheel need to be a match set. 49~54 are the same, 55-late are different tooth count. It's really simple once you get in there.
Thanks for all the input! I know this subject gets played but like I mentioned in the beginning I'm not looking for t-5 swap with a hydraulic slave, I'm talking low buck get it done asap stuff. I got a 57' 235 bellhousing for $25 and a complete 55' rear with 336 for $120 and that's with good brakes and all new lines. So for the price of an adapter I got a complete swap(minus driveshaft) for the price of an adapter. My flywheel and starter are matched 53' stuff so it will stay. I want to run a full syncro 3speed so it's a little more (wife) friendly and can maintain the column shift. Thanks again guys! Jason
Hey Sledbuilder: More power to you. Way off your topic but I setup a '61 Comet with a late 60's full-synchro 3 speed Toploader to keep the 3 OTT . Took some linkage "forming" - worked great. I also run a Stovebolt babbit beater '50 216/3OTT so I'm real interested in your project.
Cool I update you as I go. I should be starting on it in a week or so. Should be a fun project. Thanks Jason.
I've posted on this subject many times... By using the later bellhousing, the fork angle is wrong, and the '49-54 linkage will not work correctly. If you reuse the '49-54 fork and the part of the linkage that bolts to it, then I have a solution for sale for the rest of the linkage. Stock column shift linkage will not work, but you could modify/fabricate some linkage so that it could work. '55-64 car rearends are the same except that the '58-64 are coil spring, so cutting off a couple brackets and welding on some spring perches would be necessary should you want to use one of those years instead of a '55-57.
ok, frustration is setting in... will the stock 3 speed hold up behind a slightly built 235 or 261.. the car has a 235 now but I may at some point switch to the 261.. I spoke to Patrick's yesterday and he strongly suggested I stick to the stock trans and use a powerglide carrier with 3:54 gears.. I have one of these to boot but was worried about the stock trans/rear being problematic with more than 108 hp... I mean I'm thinking 150-200 hp tops! and being column shift I'm really not going racing anyways. Anyone out there rocking the stock 3 speed?
stock as in a stock 1953 3 speed? I wouldn't hammer on it. stock late saginaw 3 speed? they use them in circle track cars, so yeah. the original trans in my car hung up in gear, I had to leave the cover off so I could hammer it out of 3rd or reverse. I replaced mine with a t5. It was worth every penny. quick off the line, smooth shifts, and cruising at 70+ i got 23 mpg to the leadsled spectacular and back.
I have posted this before and again I will say that I don't understand why everyone says do a search. The search on this forum is not as good as everyone thinks. There is so much info you have to spend and hour sifting through it. This is a car forum to speak about stories, things we need, ect ect. I know it has been posted before but with not such good clarity. Amen to that !
yes stock 3 speed and swap gears to the powerglide 3:54's.. see i wanna build a late 50's period correct hot rod.. so I know that a T-5 is a much better trans and disc brakes are better but thats not what I'm going for. I was gonna give in to a 60's full sync 3 speed and hook up the column shift so it appeared stock... but I think for what i want I'm just gonna swap the gears.. no headaches with this beelhousing,that clutch, this rearend ect.. all stock running gear. I mean the thing runs great now I just want to lower the "r's" on the hi-way. Because this will be a driver. I know this may sound a little hard headed, but hey I can always switch it out later.. I really appreciate all the knowledge this forum has to offer. Sorry for frustrating some of you with this topic, but like i mentioned before i have search a ton on here and I couldn't find anything that was specific to my needs. If there was a bellhousing that used all my stock 53' components and I only physically switch the bellhousing and wahla! I could put a modern trans to it.. well then I would but it seems that everything needs to be tweeked to work.. thanks again.. jason
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