What bellhousing can I use? What will connect a 1964 narrow bolt pattern Top loader 4 speed to a 6 bolt block, 1972 SBF 302? It looks like the narrow bolt pattern top loader bell housings are for the 5 bolt block SBF.
Yes, Ford changed transmission and bell housing bolt patterns about the same time. However, old to new can be done. Back in the bad old days, when I was poor and heli-arc work was expensive, I installed the later, larger front bearing retainer you'll need to line up on the center hole of the 6-bolt bell housing. I then transfer punched the narrow bolt pattern onto the 6-bolt bell, drilled the holes and bolted the ****** to the bell with bolts and nuts. Of course, this means the bell and the ****** have to be installed/removed as a unit, but it's a dirt-cheap-cheat. Today, I'd just have aluminum plates heli-arc welded inside the 6-bolt bell, drill and tap them for regular ****** bolts. jack vines
I have early 6 bolt SBF bellhousing laying here . Can you get me , measurement on bolt pattern you are in need of ?
There's more than one choice to do this, but you're talking some rare and/or expensive parts. I'll start with the bellhousing choices. Lakewood still makes a ****tershield for the SBF that has both patterns on it, and if you buy new even comes with an adaptor ring for the smaller input bearing cover. That will be a bolt-together deal. Downside, not cheap anymore... $700+ for new, but these do turn up used once in a while for less. Ford did make a limited number of dual-pattern bells for the six bolt motor, but it was a service replacement part and rare. You will need the larger input cover on the trans for this one. This was primarily so if Ford had to replace a five bolt motor under warranty, they could still use the existing trans. Haven't seen one for sale in a long time, may be big $$$ if you do. Next up is the truck bell that Ford cast in iron for these. Designed to allow an 11" clutch, these have more meat in them than the aluminum versions and this is the one I'd redrill. Alas, another rare part as the SB wasn't a popular choice in the trucks but generally not overly expensive as few want the weight penalty. Last is modding the standard aluminum bell, but I'd be hesitant to do this as there's little extra material in these. Again, you'll need the bigger input cover. Pretty thin in the places the new bolts would go. Welding some reinforcing inside the bell would be prudent IMO. You're not out of the woods yet. Check your input shaft; if its only 6" long overall (as measured from the front of the case), that's a FE input and the pilot bearing shaft doesn't go far enough into the pilot bushing on the small block. Standard length for everything else is 6.5". If it's short, use a steel bearing instead of the bronze bushing. One last possibility; swapping trans cases. The Ford 3+1 OD trans came in two versions. The SROD is a light-duty, all-aluminum case and can't be easily reconfigured into the straight four speed. The SMOD is iron-cased, and looks almost identical to the four speed. I've been told that the guts swap, this might be a viable alternative as these can occasionally be found cheaply if they need a rebuild and they usually do.
That's a '62-64 five bolt bell. It has the right trans pattern but won't fit his '72 motor. Ford only made a small number of what he needs as noted above.
I purchased this top loader 4 speed because it was rebuilt and has the Jeep T176 top cover shifter installed. I did not know there was a difference in the bolt pattern between the before 1965 and after top loaders. The pervious owner said it was used on a 351 and the input shaft was the smaller diameter. I do not know what the difference a smaller diameter input shaft means. Its a close ratio. The input shaft is 6.5 inches long. The outside diameter of the input cover is 4.5 inches. Will this work with my 1972, 302 SBF 6 bolt block? Sounds like the easiest to resolve this is a Lakewood ****tershield. What is better a steel bearing or a bronze bushing? Thank you to everyone for your help.
The small input is 1-1/16" splines, the big input is 1-3/8". Both are 10 spline count. The 6.5" is the small block length, with 1-1/4" long pilot. FE/big blocks had a 3/4" pilot, and 427/428/429 had the bigger splines.
Something else to consider when using a Lakewood bell housing is the vehicle it’s going in. There can be clearance problems where the floor meets the firewall.
Might be better off with a new Quick Time. They also make some real nice ones not SFI rated about $100 less. I’ve bought and used one. A nice piece. I drill new alignment pins anyway.
The later top loader cases were drilled for both the narrow and wide Ford patterns (as were some T-10's). Don't know if the cases are interchangeable but might be an option.
You have the SBF version with the longer input. You can use either the bronze bushing or a bearing, the bearing will last longer. That used Lakewood bell will solve most of your problems, although if the adaptor ring for the early small input cover is missing it may be just as cheap to buy the later cover. These are commonly available from multiple vendors. The later cover is 4 13/16" diameter, it's very important that the right cover be used to properly index the transmission to the bell. Don't count on the mounting bolts to do this. The Lakewood bell does need a bit more attention to install. As Marty Strode pointed out, it is bulkier than the stock units so may need some firewall bashing and/or mods. The other main thing is the early ones were notorious for needing offset dowl pins to ensure that the trans input shaft and crankshaft are in line with each other. There are tutorials on the web on how to do this. Too much misalignment and shortened input bearing life and poor shifting can result. The narrow-pattern Toploaders were a one-year-only deal, '64 only. Ford planned on fully replacing the T10 with these but due to difficulties in getting the new production line up to speed and unanticipated demand they were forced to use the T10 for some SB models as the big blocks had priority usage of the Toploader, making the SB versions a bit rare. Ford didn't fully phase out the T10 until late 1967. Ford changed the pattern as they found with the increasingly powerful motors that the narrow pattern was weaker and finding one of these with a missing mounting tab is common. But in spite of this, it's a testament to their strength and durability as to how many still survive almost 60 years later.
I have this one that has been modified, by building up the inside with weld and re-drilling and tapping the holes. Funny they tapped this for 3/8 bolts.
Wow, Do I have the early cover or the later one? Would the Quick Time bellhousing be a better fit than the Lakewood? You have been a wealth of information. I was a bit lost on what to do. Thank You
That's the early small cover, there's 1/8" difference between them. As to the Lakewood vs the QuickTime, the Lakewood is an actual ****tershield while the QuickTime is just a bellhousing. Both really should be dialed in, but the QuickTime is known for better dimensional control and is less bulky. There is the price difference however.... $415 for the used Lakewood vs $900 for the Quicktime...
I'm thinking was the same trans setup that had been behind my 8BA when it was in the Jeep wagon I pulled it out of the jeep, The trans was in pieces in the back. I've got a Ford T 10 in pieces in the shed that I drug home 20 years ago but don't know what case it has. I always thought that it was that same early case.
This is one of the bellhousings I have . It has bosses that are not drilled and tapped for dual pattern . It looks at it was a truck housing , it’s cast iron and heavy . But I think if you drill and tap it will fix you up fat .
Learn something here every day. Been foolin' with TopLoaders for fifty years and didn't know there was a Jeep top shifter option. jack vines
That's the truck bell. It's hard to see, but the third character after the D1 should be a 'T' for truck. Those will also accept a 11" clutch, the only OEM SBF bell that will. You will still need the larger input cover.
You are correct it is from a truck . I think the bosses are cast , just not drilled and tapped for narrow pattern
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