A tale of two bellhousings

[Mr meteor]

Good afternoon,

When I bought my project car it came with the original cast iron bellhousing. The seller threw in a stamped bellhousing and opined "These are like gold to those flathead guys."

Now that I have my clutch ready to install (thanks to tubman), I am getting around to deciding which bellhousing to use. The removable cover on the cast one seems like it could be useful, but I want to know if there is indeed a preference amonst you guys for the stamped version. Lemme know!

[marko39]

These are sought after for installing a 8ba engine in a pre 49 car. You need the correct one or two that will work and they must have the correct starter plate. Check vanpelts website to id what you have.

[tubman]

He's working in a '54 Meteor (Canada still used flatheads in '54), so I think we're talking about two different things. I am not familiar with a cast iron late bellhousing (small 4 bolt transmission bolt pattern), but I would say go with the one that came with the car, as it should fit. Ford changed the clutch linkage in '52, and the pressed steel bell housing may not be exactly right.

[Mr meteor]

For some reason the images didn't load in the post.

[19Fordy]

Mr meteor, See if you can reduce picure size BEFORE posting to make viewing easier.
Use the OEM bellhousing and sell the 49-51 Merc bellhousing to a needy person.

[tubman]

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I don't think that is a Merc bellhousing, but a pressed steel 8BA unit. Again, the changes to the clutch linkage may keep it from working. In any event, they are both for the later 4 bolt transmissions, but I don't think they are interchangeable. But then, the last time I worked on a '53 Ford was in 1960.

Hey! Now we have someone who can make images larger than Pete!

[Mr meteor]

Funny about the pictures, I have posted from my camera before and they were never THAT big. Sorry about that!

Thanks for sharing the info on the bellhousings. I was able to confirm that the clutch in my 1954 meteor is in compatible with that stamped bellhousing.

[flatrod]

I think the clutch arm is clocked differently between the two.

[Mr meteor]

Originally Posted by flatrod

I think the clutch arm is clocked differently between the two.

This is true. Upon closer inspection, the stamped bellhousing fork comes out at a downward angle and the cast bellhousing fork comes out horizontal to the throw out bearing.

[Mr meteor]

Cleaned up the cast iron last night. interesting factory colour