The Ford Barn

36coupe · 10-19-2018, 06:58 PM

I finally have gotten everything together to put the T170 behind my 51 merc engine. I may change the way I mounted the spring on the clutch release bearing. Machine shop came up with a novel idea of how to make a bracket for the cast Bell housing to catch the 4th bolt.

36coupe · 10-19-2018, 07:01 PM

Return spring I may make a stainless bracket between the top two bolts

tubman · 10-19-2018, 07:23 PM

If I may ask, what is the bellhousing out of?

51504bat · 10-19-2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

If I may ask, what is the bell housing out of?

This page from Wilcap adapters has good info on flathead bell housings:
http://www.wilcap.com/flathead.html#bells
I believe the housing in question was not used in many applications and maybe Merc as well as Ford. I had one I got several years ago with a bunch of Merc Parts but not 100% sure what it was from.

tubman · 10-19-2018, 08:17 PM

That tells me everything I need to know. Thank you.

V8 Bob · 10-20-2018, 07:19 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

If I may ask, what is the bellhousing out of?

The bell is a one-year-only '51 Mercury.

Ol' Ron · 10-20-2018, 07:57 AM

The steel bellhousing is the easiest to convert, we just welded tabs and nuts on the housing. Then used all the stock clutch linkage and throwout bearing. Been in my truck for the past 4 years and works great.
We also installed a Toyota 5 speed floor shift trans in a 38 Pu the same way.
That works even better.

V8COOPMAN · 10-20-2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

The bell is a one-year-only '51 Mercury.

Same info I have....1951-ONLY Merc. DD

rotorwrench · 10-20-2018, 10:05 AM

They transitioned the late 51 Merc bell housing into the lever type that was used for 1952 & 53 Ford & Mercury cars. The late 51 Merc design was the last to use the rotating fork type release shaft. They are a very good bell for adapting later transmissions to flatheads but they are getting harder to find every year. Both of my Mercury cars are early 1951 and still have the pressed steel half bell like the 49 & 50 Mercs.

36coupe · 10-20-2018, 06:09 PM

Took me while to find the cast bell housing. I was looking for steal one but couldn’t find one. The engine I have 51 Merc. I thought it was going to have to cut the input shaft but there seems to be enough room on the end of the crank for it to fit without cutting. Took me a while but I think this should be a good combination for the 36.

rotorwrench · 10-21-2018, 08:21 AM

If you have the ratios for the V8 applications, it should be just right. The one of the 6-cylinder applications has a bit more space between ratios but will still work. I just wish that Tremec would still supply parts for these. Hopefully an aftermarket source will show up. If a person could get the gears, the ratios could be set up how ever a person wanted.

10-19-2018, 07:23 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: T170 behind a 8BA If I may ask, what is the bellhousing out of?

10-19-2018, 08:17 PM	#5
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: T170 behind a 8BA That tells me everything I need to know. Thank you.

10-20-2018, 07:57 AM	#7
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: T170 behind a 8BA The steel bellhousing is the easiest to convert, we just welded tabs and nuts on the housing. Then used all the stock clutch linkage and throwout bearing. Been in my truck for the past 4 years and works great. We also installed a Toyota 5 speed floor shift trans in a 38 Pu the same way. That works even better.

10-20-2018, 10:05 AM	#9
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: T170 behind a 8BA They transitioned the late 51 Merc bell housing into the lever type that was used for 1952 & 53 Ford & Mercury cars. The late 51 Merc design was the last to use the rotating fork type release shaft. They are a very good bell for adapting later transmissions to flatheads but they are getting harder to find every year. Both of my Mercury cars are early 1951 and still have the pressed steel half bell like the 49 & 50 Mercs.

10-20-2018, 06:09 PM	#10
36coupe Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 864	Re: T170 behind a 8BA Took me while to find the cast bell housing. I was looking for steal one but couldn’t find one. The engine I have 51 Merc. I thought it was going to have to cut the input shaft but there seems to be enough room on the end of the crank for it to fit without cutting. Took me a while but I think this should be a good combination for the 36.

10-21-2018, 08:21 AM	#11
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: T170 behind a 8BA If you have the ratios for the V8 applications, it should be just right. The one of the 6-cylinder applications has a bit more space between ratios but will still work. I just wish that Tremec would still supply parts for these. Hopefully an aftermarket source will show up. If a person could get the gears, the ratios could be set up how ever a person wanted.