Hey guys. I just picked up a Z'd, stepped, and narrowed Model T frame for next to nothing and it's telling me it wants to be a single seat boat-tailed racer when it grows up. With so many other irons in the fire this is a long way out but I have a lot of the stuff I need to get started on it so I might as well give some thought to the drivetrain. I have a 1937 Ford V8 transmission that is raring to go. What bellhousing do I need to connect this to an 8RT flathead that currently has a 4spd truck trans hooked up to it? Someone told me the 8RT bellhousing is the one I need but that doesn't look right... Here's the frame...
Theres an adapter for that.Theres one right now on e bay for 259 bucks if you want to see one. 32-48 to 49-53 transmission adapter.
Generally, an 8RT (Ford truck) bellhousing is correct, as the later Ford trucks had a three speed transmission very similar to the early Ford p***enger car transmissions. The difference is that the later trucks have an open drive shaft while the early cars have a closed drive. An '49-early '51 Mercury bellhousing will also work. The main difference i that the truck bellhousing is cast iron and will accommodate an 11" clutch, while the Merc unit is restricted to a 10" clutch and is pressed steel. The usual solution is to use an early '50's Merc clutch. The four speed truck transmission uses what is called a "hogs head" which is very useful for other things (including mounting a T5 transmission). Don't let it get away.
It has been a long time (over a year) since the engine and transmission were in the same place so I was going off memory. It has been a long time since I looked at it closely and I won't be able to put eyes on it again for another couple of weeks, but I remember thinking the bolt patterns were different between the 37 trans and the 8RT bellhousing. Next time I am out there I will bring the transmission with me to compare fresh. I am just bench racing right now and wanted to start laying things out in my head.
Keep in mind, there's kinda two pieces of bellhousing on the big truck transmission, there's a ring that's maybe 4" deep (that's the piece you're going to use) and then there's a little "hogs head" piece with the clutch fork rod running through it, which unbolts separately from the transmission. You won't use that hogs head piece, but be sure to keep it, as some guys redrill those for use with other transmissions and they have some resale value.
One last thing. The early fifties Fords and Merc bellhousings all have a companion piece called a "starter plate", used for (guess what?) mounting the starter. These are not interchangeable between the different bellhousings, so make sure that you get the starter plate with the bellhousing. People usually save the bellhousing when s****ping a car, but for some reason are prone to throwing the starter plates.
trevorsworth: I installed an 8RT in my 40 Ford years ago. Read every word in every link of this thread. 8BA is the same install procedure as installing an 8BA as the blocks are the same. PS: I have an 8RT rear sump oil pan for sale if you need one. Technical - Need HELP, 8BA in 40 coupe | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com) Also, GOOGLE: How to install and 8BA in a 1936 Ford. The biggest problem is fan clearance. Look at this: 8BA in 1937 - The Ford Barn
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