Bell Housing Swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*BAT* · 12-28-2012, 06:56 PM

Well it seems that "FrankenTruck" is about to get yet another component added to its cornucopia of parts. I have a SBC under the hood and the previous owner installed a T5 out of an '89 Z28 (with the S10 tail shaft). My only issue is that based on the Z28 bell housing the trans is rotated about 30 degrees left which other than just looking plain weird (and it bugs me), I am sure it can't be good for proper lubrication nor will it drain properly with the drain plug pointed 120 degrees from the ground.

So I have been researching this mod and I have come to the conclusion that if I swap the Z bell housing for a mid to early 60's Corvette bell housing (it has the T5 required 4-5/8" opening), I can get the T5 to sit upright. Also, I have a virgin high hump (my current one has 2 holes in it) that once I have the trans in place, I can cut to fit. So the question that comes to play here is this: I have never done anything like this before but I am not afraid to give it a try. I know that the T5 is only held in with 4 bolts and I am assuming as long as I am careful removing it, it should slide out the back... correct? The good news is the high hump is out so I can pretty much access it from the top. Then comes the bell housing, I know the clutch mechanism comes in the side (right?) and the PO installed a hydraulic clutch. What kind of trouble am I asking for when I go to pull the bell housing? Any thing else I need to know and/or any tips?

I am thinking that I will tear in to this tomorrow at least getting the trans out while I wait for the bell housing. Any/all tips, comments, suggestions, encouragement (or not), is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

BAT

*BAT* · 12-28-2012, 07:01 PM

Here is a near straight down view of the trans. And yes, that shifter is going too.

Name: Trans 3.jpg
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Size: 95.5 KB

Tx Firefighter · 12-28-2012, 08:03 PM

That's a lot of trouble to go to just to get the trans more vertical. Don't worry about the tranny's well-being tilted over like that. GM engineers knew what they were doing.

**LockDoc** · 12-28-2012, 08:09 PM

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Don't push the clutch pedal in after you get the tranny out (unless you are going to replace it) or it will mess up your clutch disk alignment. I don't know which type of hyd clutch you have but make sure it will fit the new setup. I'm sure others will chime in with more ideas...

LockDoc

*BAT* · 12-29-2012, 10:56 AM

My biggest dilemma is working around the clutch, that is un-chartered territory for me and I guess I need to do some more research on it before I dive in too far.

12-28-2012, 06:56 PM	#1
BAT Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mt. Prospect IL Posts: 482	Bell Housing Swap Well it seems that "FrankenTruck" is about to get yet another component added to its cornucopia of parts. I have a SBC under the hood and the previous owner installed a T5 out of an '89 Z28 (with the S10 tail shaft). My only issue is that based on the Z28 bell housing the trans is rotated about 30 degrees left which other than just looking plain weird (and it bugs me), I am sure it can't be good for proper lubrication nor will it drain properly with the drain plug pointed 120 degrees from the ground. So I have been researching this mod and I have come to the conclusion that if I swap the Z bell housing for a mid to early 60's Corvette bell housing (it has the T5 required 4-5/8" opening), I can get the T5 to sit upright. Also, I have a virgin high hump (my current one has 2 holes in it) that once I have the trans in place, I can cut to fit. So the question that comes to play here is this: I have never done anything like this before but I am not afraid to give it a try. I know that the T5 is only held in with 4 bolts and I am assuming as long as I am careful removing it, it should slide out the back... correct? The good news is the high hump is out so I can pretty much access it from the top. Then comes the bell housing, I know the clutch mechanism comes in the side (right?) and the PO installed a hydraulic clutch. What kind of trouble am I asking for when I go to pull the bell housing? Any thing else I need to know and/or any tips? I am thinking that I will tear in to this tomorrow at least getting the trans out while I wait for the bell housing. Any/all tips, comments, suggestions, encouragement (or not), is appreciated. Thanks in advance, BAT

12-28-2012, 07:01 PM	#2
BAT Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mt. Prospect IL Posts: 482	Re: Bell Housing Swap Here is a near straight down view of the trans. And yes, that shifter is going too.

12-28-2012, 08:03 PM	#3
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Bell Housing Swap That's a lot of trouble to go to just to get the trans more vertical. Don't worry about the tranny's well-being tilted over like that. GM engineers knew what they were doing.

12-28-2012, 08:09 PM	#4
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,891	Re: Bell Housing Swap - Don't push the clutch pedal in after you get the tranny out (unless you are going to replace it) or it will mess up your clutch disk alignment. I don't know which type of hyd clutch you have but make sure it will fit the new setup. I'm sure others will chime in with more ideas... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

12-29-2012, 10:56 AM	#5
BAT Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Mt. Prospect IL Posts: 482	Re: Bell Housing Swap My biggest dilemma is working around the clutch, that is un-chartered territory for me and I guess I need to do some more research on it before I dive in too far.



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