T-98 Question

I have a 61 F100 with a 292 and a T-98 4 speed. Looking everything over my flywheel pressure plate and clutch are open and exposed to the elements, it looks like the bell housing has a bottom plate part that comes off as there are bolt holes there. Also there is no flex plate on the front of the flywheel. Did these come this way or should I be looking for a plate to cover it up with.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by a flexplate...a flexplate is used with automatic transmissions, basically the auto version of a flywheel. If you are thinking of the "midplate", "block plate", or rear shield that goes between the engine and transmission of a lot of later Ford engines like the 460 & so forth, no, the truck Y blocks don't use it (that I know about; maybe late ones do but I don't think so.).

To directly answer your question, though, there is a stamped piece of metal that covers the bottom of the bellhousing, kind of a shield-shaped bowl that covers up the clutch, pressure plate, & flywheel. Most trucks seem to have them removed but it seems like it keeps road junk out, anyway....though they do collect oil from the leaky rear main seal.