James Longhurst and I stopped by Hamilton Machine Works in Raleigh and discussed plans with them. He couldn't give me a hard price up front, but it will be somewhere between $140-200 for both modifying the bellhousing (steel adapter plate) and making a spacer ring (collar) to mount a standard Mustang pilot bearing in the crankshaft.

I will drop off a BH, T5 trans, and a detailed drawing in the next couple of weeks and he'll make one prototype first, then we can get a hard price and look at getting the rest done as a group.

Thanks to Rock for the shop recommendation. They seem like an excellent place and Robby Hamilton was great to talk with.

Once again, we will ONLY be doing this for the OD 4spd/Slant bellhousings and T5 transmissions, which I think was clear before.

Everyone should let me know what crank hub diameters you have, and T5 trans type you will use (input shaft length) V8, V6 or 4cyl. I would prefer to avoid small hub cranks (pre 6, but could be talked into it. Price might be slightly higher for those small hub crank/pilot spacer rings. If you DO NOT want a crank hub/pilot spacer, then let me know. You might want to do this if you don't know which trans you will use. I expect this will knock $20 off the price and it should be easy to get that made locally at any shop.

Best thing is for everyone to send their bellhousings to me with a deposit of $50 and once I have them all I can take them over for the work.
We might get this stuff done before Xmas, but more likely in January.

My home address for shipping:

Lou Madsen
100 Kelly Ct
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Feel free to post or PM me with questions.

Thanks,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I just got my e-bag housing so I will ship it off to you this week Lou. I don't have a T-5 selected yet but am thinking I will go with a V-8 or V-6 tranny, I need to run over to the Mustang Yard down the road and see what I can pick up there. I have my 72 3 speed in the car now so I am assuming it is the 2.15" O.D. hub.

Brian

Hey, Bohmer2; Just wondering, are you still interested in that A833 OD that I am holding for you?? NO prob either way, I just need to know as I've told a couple of people that its gone that have asked about it.
E mail or call me, so as not to take any more away from Lou's post.

NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED POST... Sorry to interrupt, Lou!

what is the reason the aluminum 3spd bellhousing doesn't work? the only difference i see is the hole for the tranny and the bolt pattern.

zedpapa

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1970 dodge dart w/225 /6 bored .040" over, holley 390cfm w/vac. sec., compcams 252s, clifford shorty headers w/2.5" exhaust w/flowmaster, f-body 11" front discs, aluminum A-833OD, 8 1/4 w/3.21 SG
soon to have 5 gears!!!

There is no reason you can't make a 3spd BH work, but it will take a different pattern for the plate and machining out the register hole. At this point, I am not interested in providing that service. Sandy in BC used a 3spd BH for his swap. If this OD BH plate works out, I might be talked into engineering something for the 3spd BH. Otherwise, a local machine shop might be able to help you.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

But you are still on for adapting od bell right? Are you ready to receive them or should we wait a couple weeks? Mines just sitting there I haven't taken the time to box and ship it.

Yes, we are going ahead with the OD BH project. I am ready recieve your bell(s), so send 'em over!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I used a 3spd bell. It works fine except.....if you want a big clutch.
I use a 4 cylinder trans and a 7.25 rear axle so I feel comfortable with a 9.25 clutch. We do little city driving and the trans is geared low enough that the clutch is more like an IN/Out box than anything. If your build is going to be drag raced or you drive in the city with high geared rear axle you might think about going with the bigger trans . clutch , rear axle etc.

I use a Turbo T Bird clutch disc with a trans from a 3400lb Mustang with 3.08 gears. In a 3000 lb Valiant with 3.23 gears it seems to be just fine....mind you we all make sure we make the tires slip rather than the clutch. ....or...I let out the clutch at an idle in 1st...then romp on it.

The 3 speed bell is easy to work with....and fits the Ranger/Mustang trans nicely in a 3spd trans tunnel.

If starting from scratch I would use the OD bell and Lou's Group Buy.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....