The Ford Barn

OldGold360 · 05-01-2023, 08:40 PM

Hello folks,
I need a little help. Does anybody have a stamped 8ba bell housing that they wouldn’t mind taking a measurement for me. The stamped 8ba has the thick reinforcement pieces welded to the flange of the bell. I would like to know the thickness of just this reinforcement “doubler”, not the total thickness of both the doubler and flange. A fairly accurate measurement with calipers would be appreciated.

Thanks!

petehoovie · 05-01-2023, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGold360

Hello folks,
I need a little help. Does anybody have a stamped 8ba bell housing that they wouldn’t mind taking a measurement for me. The stamped 8ba has the thick reinforcement pieces welded to the flange of the bell. I would like to know the thickness of just this reinforcement “doubler”, not the total thickness of both the doubler and flange. A fairly accurate measurement with calipers would be appreciated.

Thanks!

rotorwrench · 05-02-2023, 11:18 AM

The 8CM Mercury half bell had variations from 1949 through early 1951 (February 51), This was likely to reinforce the starter location where it met up with the lower starter plate. There were variations in the starter plate for that time period as well. Some had the pan attachment angle bolted to the starter plate and some had the angle spot welded on. The Mercury Oil pan that these worked with also had three studs at the bottom rear of the pan for all that stuff to attach as well. All of my half bells are either on the cars of buried in storage. If you have one that doesn't have that reinforcement then I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Ford cars (8BA) had a different clutch, bell housing, and starter plate as well as a different transmission. The pickups had a different pan and half bell that they shared with other trucks. The half bell is cast iron on those and they have a more complex dust seal set up to reinforce that area.

This is from the flathead V8 Techno Archive.
https://web.archive.org/web/20160318...ellhousing.pdf

OldGold360 · 05-03-2023, 09:04 AM

Thanks, but it’s not for repairing anything. I do not have a stamped bell housing and was asked by a friend who is currently overseas to help make something for his custom rod he is building. I just need to know the thickness of the small reinforcement piece. I figured someone had a stamped bell housing laying around they could measure. Or, if someone has one for sale, I’ll buy it.

rotorwrench · 05-03-2023, 10:44 AM

There are several on flea-pay right now but I wouldn't purchase one with out the starter plate and it helps to have the 8CM oil pan as well. This allows a good fit of an 8BA in any of the earlier flathead V8 Fords or say an AV8 project using a top shift 91A style transmission. This stuff is getting pricey these days. The truck stuff will work as well but a person needs the pan, baffle, and starter plate on those. Hopefully someone has one handy to measure on. Folks know these parts are usable for AV8 conversions so there aren't as many as there once was. It's usually better to find an old 49 though early 51 Mercury take out motor and just buy the whole thing. If the block and crank are good then a person has a basis for an old style hot rod. The flywheel and clutch will also work with a 91A type top shift transmission.

marko39 · 05-03-2023, 11:43 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGold360

Hello folks,
I need a little help. Does anybody have a stamped 8ba bell housing that they wouldn’t mind taking a measurement for me. The stamped 8ba has the thick reinforcement pieces welded to the flange of the bell. I would like to know the thickness of just this reinforcement “doubler”, not the total thickness of both the doubler and flange. A fairly accurate measurement with calipers would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Just checked one from a 49-51 car and as close as I could measure was approximately 7/32. Which one are you looking for?

OldGold360 · 05-04-2023, 02:06 PM

Thanks Marko. Sorry to be a bother. Unfortunately I don’t have access to a stamped version for this measurement. I’ll either buy one or wait till my friend is home in a couple months and have him measure it. Thanks

old splicer · 05-04-2023, 07:58 PM

.175-.180 for the plate,

flatrod · 05-05-2023, 09:27 AM

I measured one here, came up with .200 to .210. The one on the other side was the same thickness.

cas3 · 05-05-2023, 10:22 AM

I have a few of the cast versions with starter plate for sale if you wish, send me a pm

OldGold360 · 05-06-2023, 12:28 PM

Thanks for the help. I do appreciate it.

05-02-2023, 11:18 AM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed The 8CM Mercury half bell had variations from 1949 through early 1951 (February 51), This was likely to reinforce the starter location where it met up with the lower starter plate. There were variations in the starter plate for that time period as well. Some had the pan attachment angle bolted to the starter plate and some had the angle spot welded on. The Mercury Oil pan that these worked with also had three studs at the bottom rear of the pan for all that stuff to attach as well. All of my half bells are either on the cars of buried in storage. If you have one that doesn't have that reinforcement then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Ford cars (8BA) had a different clutch, bell housing, and starter plate as well as a different transmission. The pickups had a different pan and half bell that they shared with other trucks. The half bell is cast iron on those and they have a more complex dust seal set up to reinforce that area. This is from the flathead V8 Techno Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20160318...ellhousing.pdf Last edited by rotorwrench; 05-02-2023 at 11:34 AM.

05-03-2023, 09:04 AM	#4
OldGold360 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: SW WA Posts: 639	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed Thanks, but it’s not for repairing anything. I do not have a stamped bell housing and was asked by a friend who is currently overseas to help make something for his custom rod he is building. I just need to know the thickness of the small reinforcement piece. I figured someone had a stamped bell housing laying around they could measure. Or, if someone has one for sale, I’ll buy it.

05-03-2023, 10:44 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed There are several on flea-pay right now but I wouldn't purchase one with out the starter plate and it helps to have the 8CM oil pan as well. This allows a good fit of an 8BA in any of the earlier flathead V8 Fords or say an AV8 project using a top shift 91A style transmission. This stuff is getting pricey these days. The truck stuff will work as well but a person needs the pan, baffle, and starter plate on those. Hopefully someone has one handy to measure on. Folks know these parts are usable for AV8 conversions so there aren't as many as there once was. It's usually better to find an old 49 though early 51 Mercury take out motor and just buy the whole thing. If the block and crank are good then a person has a basis for an old style hot rod. The flywheel and clutch will also work with a 91A type top shift transmission. Last edited by rotorwrench; 05-03-2023 at 11:04 AM.

05-04-2023, 02:06 PM	#7
OldGold360 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: SW WA Posts: 639	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed Thanks Marko. Sorry to be a bother. Unfortunately I don’t have access to a stamped version for this measurement. I’ll either buy one or wait till my friend is home in a couple months and have him measure it. Thanks

05-04-2023, 07:58 PM	#8
old splicer Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: nor-cal Posts: 27	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed .175-.180 for the plate,

05-05-2023, 09:27 AM	#9
flatrod Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 291	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed I measured one here, came up with .200 to .210. The one on the other side was the same thickness.

05-05-2023, 10:22 AM	#10
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,578	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed I have a few of the cast versions with starter plate for sale if you wish, send me a pm

05-06-2023, 12:28 PM	#11
OldGold360 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: SW WA Posts: 639	Re: Stamped 8BA bell housing measurement needed Thanks for the help. I do appreciate it.