Hang a Torqueflight from a steel bell housing ?

Hi All,

Looking for input on an idea. I am looking at taking a 1963/64 Dodge/Plymouth Push Button Aluminum Torque-flight and machining off the bell housing. Then bolting it via the front pump housing bolts to a stock cast steel bell housing from a 1949 Desoto M6 (tip-toe-shift) and flathead six.

What I would like people's comments on is do folks think that the structure of the Torque-flight is strong enough to hang off the back of the bell housing like the cast iron M6 or the cast iron 3-speed with BW-OD does?

I would like to not have to make a trans cross member if I do not have to. We are trying to make this a reversible transplant.

I know that the folks that make the super-bell bell housing cut Torque-flight all week long and stick their racing bell housings on them so this is not that far out there.

Does anyone know what a torque-flight may weigh?

Thanks, James

 

When I bought my roadster it had a SBC in it with a Clutch flite. It used a modified Chevy blow shield that bolted the the Torque flite exactly as you propose. Several drag cars used Clutch flites in those days and that mounting system seemed to work fine. I don't remember if there was a separate trans mount. But I bet there was. I would.

 

a 727 weighs about 135 lbs with a torque converter and 115 lbs without

Lots of Clutchflites built back in the day with the bellhousing bolted to the pump bolts in some pretty severe conditions, I don't see a problem with what you are doing.

 

Might be able to find a Mopar from the late 50's that has a Cast Iron Torqueflite and flathead 6 in it. That would be a total bolt in! The bell housing on both cast iron Powerflite and Torqueflites are removable. I would think that the Powerflite 6 cyl bell might work with the cast iron torqueflites too. Just another idea.