Olds Rocket bellhousing question

I have a 1953 Rocket Olds motor. When I bought this engine it was lacking a bellhousing, flywheel etc. Right now I found me a complete package including a stick shift bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and pressure plate. According to the number of teeth on the flywheel (176) this setup is for a 54 and up Rocket motor. I testfitted the bellhousing and it fits except for the lowest bolt on each side (they're about a half an inch off towards the crank). Can I still use the bellhousing?

 

Is it a factory bell (cast iron), or an aftermarket aluminum bell?

 

It isn't that heavy so my quess is that it's a aluminum bellhousing.

 

Well, see if a magnet sticks to it or falls off. If it's aluminum, check for part numbers. Trans-dapt housings had a part number like FE-25 cast into them, and what I'm thinking is that it's not really for an Olds. There was a four speed adapter made for '55-'60 Pontiac engines that bolted to the front half of a stock hydramatic bell housing that looks a lot like an Olds adapter, unless you lay it next to an actual Olds adapter--then you can see the difference. If you find a number, let me know.

 

Have you got a picture or two you can post of the bell housing? I have a cast iron bell I was told was from an early OLDs V8.

 

The only number on the bellhousing is: 560766 D1.

 

I forgot to bring my camera. But as soon as I have pics I will post some.

 

That's a factory bell for the '51 and newer selector three speed.

 

Strange that the bell doesn't fit the engine properly. I thought that most of the early Rocket parts were interchangeable.

 

What isn't lining up? All '49-'64 Olds and '49-'54 Cadillac bell housings interchange.

 

I'll try to snap a couple of pictures this weekend to show you what I mean. Maybe I'm mistaken. I'm not very familiar with Rocket Olds engines you see.

 

Here are two pictures. On the second one you can see where the bolts aren't lining up.

 

I can't quite tell what you are talking about.

I am under the impression that the bellhousings are all the same. But I am also under the impression that the lower starter housings have some minor differences. Not sure if that has anything to do with it, but I can't see why it would if the bellhousings are all the same. Still worth mentioning, I guess. Hope you find the source of trouble.