Transmission / Overdrive: Identifying bell-housings.

[DougHolverson]

I have a suspicion one is just a common three-speed housing. I have half a suspicion that other is a McKinnon Chevybaker item. I have half a suspicion that it isn't.

[gordr]

Left is is '58 - '64 V8 3-speed and late 4-speed bellhousing. Right looks like it's for a McKinnon six cylinder. The bolt pattern on the cast-iron adapter plate looks like it matches the T-96.

[StudeRich]

Without lower bolt centerline measurements it is hard to be sure, but I say #2 is for the 3 Speed Overdrive ONLY '66 Stude. 230 c.i.d. GM Six that used a T-86 and the '65-'66 283 V8 T-86 which will also mate to a '61 Hawk Chevy Case T-10 4 Speed!

[brngarage]

Gord, will the 58 to 64 shown work OK in a 53 or 54 C/K with T-86 overdrive? Thanks.

[gordr]

No, not with the correct transmission for the year. Up to '57, most Studebaker cars had a two-piece driveshaft, with a center hanger bearing, and the transmission case was short, and had a yoke bolted to the tailshaft, pretty much identical to the yoke on the rear axle. The slip spline was in the rear half of the two-piece driveshaft. Those transmissions had a "square" bolt pattern on the front face (T96 similar but smaller).

When Studebaker went to the one-piece driveshaft in '58, the T86 transmission also went to the "Ford style" bolt pattern on the front, which is an upright rectangle with one of the lower bolts offset outwards about an inch. Not directly below its upper counterpart, in other words, as the other lower bolt is.

You could use the later bellhousing, if you also used the later transmission and driveshaft. Some massaging of the rear floor might be necessary, and you would want to check the spline engagement of the driveshaft in the transmission, as there were some small changes in wheelbase, too.

[brngarage]

Thanks Gord.

[brngarage]

Gord, I just looked at a bell housing I have (picture included). The casting (part no?) number on mine matches the one shown in the first post in this thread, however the transmission bolt holes appear (and I measured 6" between each of them) to be in a square pattern as you described, not in the Ford style. Were there "early" and "late" versions of this bell housing? It appears to me that I should be able to use the bell housing I have with the early (short tailshaft) transmission. Please help me figure this out. Thanks very much.

[Alan]

Howard. It is the same housing, just a different drilling pattern. Put the bell housing on a stout bench and drop the tranny you want to use in the register hole. Line the tranny up straight, the top holes might be the same. Take a duplicating punch and dupe the holes in the trans case to the housing. You will have 4 dimples on the face of the housing. Just put it in a drill press and drill and tap the holes. Or you can just bring the whole mess over here and I will take care of it for you.

[brngarage]

Thanks Alan! By the way, thanks again for the engine mounts you gave me (some time ago).