Jump to content
HybridZ

Cracked Bellhousing Causes?


jt1

Recommended Posts

Everytime I pull the motor or trans out of my car, I find a cracked bellhousing. This current one is the 4th. I previously blamed it on the block, but this time it's a different block, and I had the bellhousing surfaced and wet magged for cracks, and indicated it true to the crank within 0.005" TIR.

 

It doesn't really seem to hurt anything, but it can't be good for the long term. I'm using the GM 3858403 bellhousing, and all the cracks have been in an area not supported by the block, i.e. below the crank centerline.

 

Anybody got any idea what causes this, and how to fix it? It's getting harder and harder to find these in the local junkyards.

 

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everytime I pull the motor or trans out of my car, I find a cracked bellhousing. This current one is the 4th. I previously blamed it on the block, but this time it's a different block, and I had the bellhousing surfaced and wet magged for cracks, and indicated it true to the crank within 0.005" TIR.

 

It doesn't really seem to hurt anything, but it can't be good for the long term. I'm using the GM 3858403 bellhousing, and all the cracks have been in an area not supported by the block, i.e. below the crank centerline.

 

Anybody got any idea what causes this, and how to fix it? It's getting harder and harder to find these in the local junkyards.

 

John

 

Just get a Lakewood.

 

Alan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron-

 

The engine is on the 70's GM rubber truck mounts, and the trans in on the generic rubber 350 trans mount. No alignment issues that I can detect.

 

Alan- The lakewood does not have teh liTen3ss. The GM one is 8 #'s.

 

jt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron-

 

The engine is on the 70's GM rubber truck mounts, and the trans in on the generic rubber 350 trans mount. No alignment issues that I can detect.

 

Alan- The lakewood does not have teh liTen3ss. The GM one is 8 #'s.

 

jt

 

 

Well pooh. You indicated the alignment was within .005" so maybe polishing the whole thing to get rid of any stress risers. If it happens after that stop drill the end of the crack.

 

Does the crack happen at the same place every time?

 

Of course if you went with a Jerico 5 speed there should be a Lakewood housing for that.... nothing but $$$ and damn cool noise.

 

Alan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The cracks aren't in exactly the same place, but they all originate in the lower right hand quadrant, usually somewhere below the starter bulge.

 

Polishing the whole bellhousing sounds like a lot of work. I'm eyeing a Tilton if the visa will stand it.

 

jt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 12 years later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...