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Old 01-02-2016, 12:04 AM   #1
RedRoad
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Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

I searched but didnt see any specific posts. I have two 465/205 assemblies from a 74 K10 both with aluminum bell housings. Can I use these for an auto to manual swap or do I have to go to the cast housing?

thanks
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Old 01-02-2016, 10:43 AM   #2
b454rat
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

GM did, why not?
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Old 01-02-2016, 12:23 PM   #3
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

You mean cast iron, right? Both aluminum and iron bell housings are cast pieces. I didn't know GM used aluminum housings in 4spd later on. I guess that worked out, but it does seem right to have a cast iron housing connecting a cast iron engine and transmission.
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Old 01-02-2016, 01:17 PM   #4
RedRoad
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

I guess the wording was a bit wierd. I do not have a cast iron housing but I do have two good 73 up aluminum housings.

I would like to use the aluminum housing if possible but looking at both types I noticed the Z bar ball on the aluminum one screws directly into the housing while the cast one uses a bolt on bracket. Since I dont have a cast iron one on hand to measure any difference in location I was wondering if the Z bar will even work when using the late housing on an early body/frame
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Old 01-02-2016, 10:26 PM   #5
JIMs70GMC
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

Tomorrow I will try and get you some pictures, I have an 83 aluminum bellhousing and a 71 cast iron bell housing and even different is the 87 bell housing on my K5 which has hydraulic clutch. And we can see if we can get you some answers.
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1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX
1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears
1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now.....
1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone.
1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed.

1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm
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Old 01-03-2016, 02:46 AM   #6
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

Thanks I appreciate the replies.

I would like to see any differences in housing width (engine flange to trans flange)

What I think I need to figure out is the z bar situation. Are 71-72 z bars the same for 2wd vs 4wd?
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Old 01-03-2016, 10:08 AM   #7
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

I have seen differences, can't recall just what, why, or when. But I have also seen the factory use mounting plates for the pivot ball to move it's location forward or back
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GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling)
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Old 01-03-2016, 11:55 AM   #8
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

Most blocks will have either a hole already there for a pivot ball, or there will be a boss, just have to drill and tap. But I don't know if that was for trucks or cars. I did one to a car, but thinking it is for cars and not trucks. I had a 75 and 84 that had the ball on the bell. Made it fun wheeling, putting it in 4 low with shot motor mounts would let the motor twist enough to let the z-bar fall out.
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Old 01-04-2016, 07:26 AM   #9
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

^^^ That's how it got on the '77 K30 I had. It would 'torque' itself loose at the worse time, like in a bog or hill climbing
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed"

GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project)
GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling)
Tim

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R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~
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Old 01-04-2016, 09:28 AM   #10
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

B454rat I believe you are correct it does mount to the block atleast my buddies 67c20 did. I feel your pain on the clutch z-bar special-k thats exactly how my74 k5 is now but I have newer motor mounts and a fairly healthy motor it's a royal pain in the you know what to have to fix it on a hill because it's stuck in gear and there isn't a vehicle big enough to flat drag it to a better spot
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1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 350sbc/SM465/NP205, dana44 front, corp 14bolt rear with 4.10s and a powertrax locker, custom rear bumper 400sbc in the works.
1981 GMC C1500 stepside 250i6, 3spd, 12bolt with 3.08s 2.5/4drop on 15x10 with 275/50r15
81 GMC C3500 cab-chassis dually with utility bed 350sbc, Sm465, 14bolt with 4.10s nv4500 getting ready to go in
1979 Chevrolet K5 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434096
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Old 01-04-2016, 11:44 AM   #11
b454rat
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

I'm not sure if I did it to the 84 or not, but can always put a chain on the driver side to limit movement. Back in the day I had a car that the mounts were TOAST, so bad that doing a line lock (power brake as some say), with the hood open you could see the motor completely lift off the mount. I put a small chain on it to keep it in place.
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Old 01-04-2016, 11:00 PM   #12
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

I have a '74 K20 with the aluminum bell housing sm465/205 It has held up for over 20 years behind a 454...I removed the original 350 engine 350 auto trans/205 combo in 1995 and haven't had any issues with the alum bell housing, I recently removed the cast iron bellhousing , and sm465 trans/ 205 in my '72 K20,trans case was noisy, I had a setupfrom a '74, I installed it with no problems, just had to use the old clutch release arm, and had to change the pivot ball from the old cast bellhousing to the aluminum housing, I like using the alum bellhousing , it is so much lighter and I can use the 2-bolt starter like the rest of my trucks use... we did the same setup in my sons '70 gmc K20
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Old 01-05-2016, 02:54 PM   #13
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmchevy1979 View Post
I feel your pain on the clutch z-bar special-k thats exactly how my74 k5 is now but I have newer motor mounts and a fairly healthy motor it's a royal pain in the you know what to have to fix it on a hill because it's stuck in gear and there isn't a vehicle big enough to flat drag it to a better spot
My mounts were all good. A lot of the problem was frame flex, then there was that rat 454, 4.56s, and 37s

This thread has good info:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...52106877294960
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed"

GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project)
GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling)
Tim

"Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman"

R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

Last edited by special-K; 01-05-2016 at 03:18 PM.
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Old 01-05-2016, 10:40 PM   #14
bmchevy1979
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Re: Can you use aluminum bell housing on 72 and earlier?

Quote:
Originally Posted by special-K View Post
My mounts were all good. A lot of the problem was frame flex, then there was that rat 454, 4.56s, and 37s

This thread has good info:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...52106877294960
It does seem to be frame flex even though my 350 isn't a torque monster but with 3.73 gears the torque it does have gets put through the drivetrain. I have had it come loose when it was burried frame deep in sand as well as mud. And a few up hill battles that when i decided to let off and get another run it pops loose
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1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 350sbc/SM465/NP205, dana44 front, corp 14bolt rear with 4.10s and a powertrax locker, custom rear bumper 400sbc in the works.
1981 GMC C1500 stepside 250i6, 3spd, 12bolt with 3.08s 2.5/4drop on 15x10 with 275/50r15
81 GMC C3500 cab-chassis dually with utility bed 350sbc, Sm465, 14bolt with 4.10s nv4500 getting ready to go in
1979 Chevrolet K5 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434096
1976 Chevrolet C10 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434195
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