I recently bought a 4 speed muncie box to fit onto my 1956 inline 6 engine, I was told everything was going to fit and being young I believed him. The problem I have is that the muncie does not have the same pattern as my bellhousing which is a 1941 chevy pickup. So even if I could find something different, would it still have the mounts for the floor start and starter motor in the same place? Im really stuck and could use some help, I can get serial numbers off my box and bellhousing if that helps. I need a solution to fit this gearbox to my truck. cheers, scott.
I had heard that a 235 will bolt up to either a Muncie or a Saginaw, but since you have a bellhousing from a 216 there may well be a difference.
I never even realised the bellhousing was from the 215, thanks for that. Now I need to hunt for a later bellhousing, should be fun and games here in the UK! Edit; will the muncie have the same pattern as the later truck bellhousing?
Either your bellhousing isn't originally from a truck...but from a car. Or maybe it's too early, or maybe it's from a large truck. The later Chevy transmissions will bolt to the '48 through '55 first series "AD" pickup truck bellhousings, and they'll have the mounting holes for the foot-pedal starter mechanism too.
Just to be clear: Earlier Chevy pickup truck bells ('47 and older) may have the same bolt pattern as the later Chevy transimissions...but I'm only certain about the AD (Advanced Design) models. And the Muncie trans will certainly bolt to '55 second series and later Chevy pickup truck bellhousings, and they'll have the side mounts on the bell as late as about '60, but they may not have provisions for the foot-operated starter. I'm not absolutely positive which year it was for the last foot-operated starter...but I think it would've been '55 first series AD.
Definitely the '55 truck bellhousing will work with the Muncie, the front bearing retainer may vary in diameter, but is easily resolved. I know bellhousings had the side mounts as late as '68 and probably later than that. I would think of losing the foot-operated starter unless there is a good reason to keep it. Bob
The wide Chevy pattern was first used on 1948 model trucks. 1948-59 truck 235 bellhousings will have the right bolt pattern and will have provision for the foot starter linkage. There are no car bellhousings with the combination of foot starter and wide bolt pattern.
use a truck bell housing from a 235. It will fit your motor and fit the trans. Sorry but your clutch will have to be changed to. Makes a great set up You will love it.
you'll need a 235 bellhousing for a 2nd-55 to a 59 truck---it makes no difference about what trans it is for -- 3 or 4 spd ---but it has to be for a 235-----starters were floor mounted until 1959 for 6 cyls---v8s had key start beginning in 55
All 1937-62 216/235/261 bellhousings can interchange without affecting the flywheel, clutch or starter.
1948-1959 trucks, not just 55-59. In fact, it will probably be easier to use a '48-53 version due to the design of the sidemounts.
thanks for the help guys, much appreciated, now its the hard task of chasing a bell housing down over here in the UK, the straight 6's arent very popular over here so there's not a lot of people who know much about them or keep the parts.
If you use pre55 bellhousing it will have the plat mounts on it, the later ones are at 45 degrees. And use different crossmember. Actually 54 is 45 degrees also.
Not exactly correct. The '37 and maybe some other bellhousings of the era used a longer fork that had different style of tangs...which worked with the different type of throwout bearing...which worked with a different type of pressure plate. The early fork won't work in stock form with the later style throwout bearing. And you can't use a later fork, 'cause even though it'll attach to the pivot ball of the early bell, it's just a little too short to reach the bearing. You can modify the early fork to work with the later bearing by first welding or brazing the correct size diameter rod across the tangs of the fork...to assure alignment...then cut the middle portion of the rod out, so it fits nicely into the groove of the later throwout bearing. Or you can use a later bellhousing and all it's related components. This doesn't really apply to the OP's swap...but it does apply when swapping a 235 into a '37 and other similar Chevys that still retain their original transmissions.
I just bought a '56 truck 235 for my truck. Came w/ 3spd trans, flywheel, clutch, & bellhousing (which I don't need). No starter linkage, though. PM me if interested in BH. Just for fun I tried a car 4spd (since given to my nephew) on my 235 BH & fit perfectly. Don't know what all you've been swapping, but make sure the starter matches the flywheel. 216 & 235 had diff tooth counts (depending on voltage & trans combo). 158 & 162? I wound up using the FW & starter from a '48 216 one ton on my '59 235 in my '49 1/2 ton. It all mounts the same. Scott
Hey, yeah I could definitely use the bellhousing, where abouts are you in the world though? If its gonna be international shipping it will cost me a small fortune with the weight of it.
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