bellhousing from c60?

[vetnat]

Hi. Out driving in the country today and spotted a derelict looking 1960 or 61 c60 (was raining so didn't take any pics for definitive ID). It has a V8 engine. Before I try tracking down the owner, I want to know if I could use the bellhousing from it to put a 292 into my 1961 c10 (currently has the 235). AFAIK it should work, but a bit uncertain because the C60 is such a big truck. Thanks.

[Nanook]

PM me...I have the bell housing you need in Calgary.

[vetnat]

I will PM you Nanook. Thanks. In the meantime, any comments if bellhousing from the c60 would work? It is about 90 minutes from my house.

[Captainfab]

It may or may not work depending on what trans is bolted to it in the C60. Is it a 4 speed or a 5 speed?

[vetnat]

I will have to check on the trans. Thanks for the tip. I presume 4 speed would work, but not 5 speed?

[vetnat]

OK, have not heard back from the owner of the C60 yet, but in the meantime have found 2 other 8 cylinder trucks, but they both have 5 speeds in them. Is it possible to use the bellhousing from a 5 speed for my 3 speed trans? I was unaware of 5 speed transmissions used in 60's trucks before now, so I know very little about them.

[Captainfab]

I have never seen a 5 speed in a C10,20 or 30 truck. Only in the C50 and up trucks. Too bad you are so far away, I have 3 or 4 of the bellhousings you will need that will likely go to the scrap yard.

[vetnat]

Damn! Too bad, indeed. Thanks for the help, will keep looking.

[vetnat]

Ok, have found a C50(?) with the clutch fork on the passenger side and a V8, but again it is a 5 speed. So, will the bellhousing fit my 3 speed trans, but may not mount properly to the truck, or does it not work at all? I am assuming the bellhousing for a 5 speed trans is not the same as the bellhousing that fits a 3 or 4 speed trans? It seems only the big trucks came with V8s around here. Thanks.

[paulspickupparts]

If you are trying to keep you truck stock as you know you will need to get a V-8 bellhousing from a 60-62 Chevy Pickup (RH Passenger side Hydraulic Clutch ) . I am not 100 % on this but pretty sure the round circle that the trans fits into on the rear of the bellhousing is larger on the big transmissions. It should match the collar diameter on the front of you transmission . Sure you might be able to bolt up to the larger diameter center but will not mount the trans as designed. Before you buy a bellhousing measure the opening on your current bellhousing and transmission collar . Then measure the opening of the bellhousing you want to use. They should be the same as long as someone has not messed with it.

[paulspickupparts]

I think Nanook said he has what you need.

[vetnat]

Thanks for the reply. I will try contacting Nanook again.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Those larger trucks have a larger bell housing to acomidate a larger clutch. They have an adapter plate between the engine & BH. That is where the upper mounting hole is used that comes drilled & tapped on most truck engines. You can look at one & tell if it has the adapter plate. The center hole is larger with sm465 transmissions & probably New process & 5 speeds.
George

[vetnat]

Great, thanks. Now I know what to look out for.

[vetnat]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I have never seen a 5 speed in a C10,20 or 30 truck. Only in the C50 and up trucks. Too bad you are so far away, I have 3 or 4 of the bellhousings you will need that will likely go to the scrap yard.

What would you be asking for a bellhousing? Willing to ship? Zip code 59254. Thanks.

[Captainfab]

Going back and rereading, when I posted that, I did not realize that you needed a '60-'62 V8 bellhousing with the hydraulic clutch. The bellhousings that I have are for the '63-'67 tucks with a mechanical clutch. You would have to purchase an aftermarket hydraulic clutch conversion to use one in your '61. And then it would not be original looking.

Originally Posted by vetnat

What would you be asking for a bellhousing? Willing to ship? Zip code 59254. Thanks.

[vetnat]

Too bad! Hen's teeth! Thanks for reply.

[paulspickupparts]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

Those larger trucks have a larger bell housing to acomidate a larger clutch. They have an adapter plate between the engine & BH. That is where the upper mounting hole is used that comes drilled & tapped on most truck engines. You can look at one & tell if it has the adapter plate. The center hole is larger with sm465 transmissions & probably New process & 5 speeds.
George

Wrenchbender . The bellhousing size depends on the size of the trucks. I have taken several out that the bellhousing matches the pickup bellousing with the exception of the circle for the transmission . 4 speed to 4 speed circle might be ok but I believe is larger the 3 speed circle may be different.

As you say there is also a larger version which does not even resemble the smaller bellhousing . As you say I usually find them in larger trucks. The more heavy duty larger GVW rating.

[paulspickupparts]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Going back and rereading, when I posted that, I did not realize that you needed a '60-'62 V8 bellhousing with the hydraulic clutch. The bellhousings that I have are for the '63-'67 tucks with a mechanical clutch. You would have to purchase an aftermarket hydraulic clutch conversion to use one in your '61. And then it would not be original looking.

Captain . I do not think he would have to purchase aftermarket clutch conversion . As his truck is a 61 he should already have the clutch setup with the dual master cylnder . One side of the master cylinder is for the clutch and the other side is for the brakes . If the truck is stock there will be a steel hydraulic line that runs down from the master cylinder along the firewall. It then switches to a rubber line ( much like a rubber brake hose) This is to take up the flex from the clutch to cab . Everything ends up at the slave cylinder mounted on the rh passenger side of the bellhousing . There is no way you could run a solid steel line and not have it crack due to engine trans flex different from the cab flex.

So for 60-62 Chevy pickups there were two bellhousings used . One for the 6 cylinder 235 and one for the 283 . This is because the 235 and 283 do not share the same bolt pattern . If you get the V-8 Bellhousing (hydraulic) you can also run a 250 or 292 as those engines share the same bolt pattern with small block V-8 .

Over the years I have sold a few of the V-8 60-62 bellhousings to the 64-66 truck owners . Usually it for someone that wants to get rid of the Z bar, clutch rod and pedal rod. The frees up room for headers and also is popular in the guys wanting to lower their trucks near the ground. Also a pretty good setup for a street rod application which eliminates clutch linkage and allows the use of a single hydraulic line. Mainly for 4 speed trans apps but whatever you want. If you do this conversions you also have to use a clutch brake pedal setup with the dual pushrods and add a dual master cylinder . Hope I did confuse anyone here. Its all in my head . how it appears on paper varies.

[Captainfab]

Yes I am quite familiar with the hydraulic clutch system used on the '60-'62 Chevy's and '60-'63 GMC's

If I were to sell the OP a '63-'67 bellhousing designed for a mechanical clutch. he would have to purchase an aftermarket hydraulic clutch slave cylinder conversion such as the one made by Novak to be able to use it in his '61 Chevy.

https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/...hcr3/kit-hcrc/

However I do not know how well the 1"+ bore on the stock clutch master would work with even the 7/8" bore clutch slave cylinder offered by Novak.

Originally Posted by paulspickupparts

Captain . I do not think he would have to purchase aftermarket clutch conversion . As his truck is a 61 he should already have the clutch setup with the dual master cylnder . One side of the master cylinder is for the clutch and the other side is for the brakes . If the truck is stock there will be a steel hydraulic line that runs down from the master cylinder along the firewall. It then switches to a rubber line ( much like a rubber brake hose) This is to take up the flex from the clutch to cab . Everything ends up at the slave cylinder mounted on the rh passenger side of the bellhousing . There is no way you could run a solid steel line and not have it crack due to engine trans flex different from the cab flex.

So for 60-62 Chevy pickups there were two bellhousings used . One for the 6 cylinder 235 and one for the 283 . This is because the 235 and 283 do not share the same bolt pattern . If you get the V-8 Bellhousing (hydraulic) you can also run a 250 or 292 as those engines share the same bolt pattern with small block V-8 .

Over the years I have sold a few of the V-8 60-62 bellhousings to the 64-66 truck owners . Usually it for someone that wants to get rid of the Z bar, clutch rod and pedal rod. The frees up room for headers and also is popular in the guys wanting to lower their trucks near the ground. Also a pretty good setup for a street rod application which eliminates clutch linkage and allows the use of a single hydraulic line. Mainly for 4 speed trans apps but whatever you want. If you do this conversions you also have to use a clutch brake pedal setup with the dual pushrods and add a dual master cylinder . Hope I did confuse anyone here. Its all in my head . how it appears on paper varies.

[paulspickupparts]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Yes I am quite familiar with the hydraulic clutch system used on the '60-'62 Chevy's and '60-'63 GMC's

If I were to sell the OP a '63-'67 bellhousing designed for a mechanical clutch. he would have to purchase an aftermarket hydraulic clutch slave cylinder conversion such as the one made by Novak to be able to use it in his '61 Chevy.

https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/...hcr3/kit-hcrc/

However I do not know how well the 1"+ bore on the stock clutch master would work with even the 7/8" bore clutch slave cylinder offered by Novak.

I agree on the 7/8 bore slave from novak may not work with the pickup slave of 1 1/8 inches . It has been my experience that the slave and master cylinder bores should be almost identical bore or weird things start to happen. I know I have a 61 C60 . That master cylinder has a bore of 1 1/4 and was really hard to find a new one . Many times they were were replaced with the pickup version which also lead to some issues . Thanks