Pulled my trans and 440 today with the help of my friend twodoorpost - trans came out first, and noticed what looked like a crack at the bottom of the bellhousing - if you are looking at it straight on face to face right side up/pan on bottom - the crack is at the 6 o'clock position - enough to feel with a fingernail, right to the edge of the case, it's about 2 to 2.5" long - didn't take a pic - we were on a time situation to beat rain - my big question is - is the trans fubar'd? It's the #'s match trans to my car - or can something like this be alum/welded? - There also was 2 "grooves" rubbed into the case cross wise - like from driver side to pass side - about 1.5" long - maybe 1/8" apart, and behind the crack I am asking about originally. The trans was worked before I picked the car up, has a transgo 3 mvb and @3500 stall converter (foot brake method). Is my #'s trans garage art fodder and time to start looking for a core 727 ? - thanks Moparts trans guru's

Sounds fixable. Find a welder that cxan do tig.

Lots of people used to (or maybe still do) cut that area out to make it easier to install/tighten the converter bolts. I've seen square and arced cuts that go back a couple inches from the face of the bellhousing.

Not much stress in that area, if welding isn't convenient just stop drill the crack and call it good or cut out the entire area.

Update with pic

Am I seeing things or is that crack the whole length of the case in that pic ???

...driver, after blowing the pic up, I see what I think you're seeing, will have to wait for my next door neighbor to send me the pics he took when he helped me get the trans in a position to take the pics...fingers crossed but not holding my breath...ugh

Weld it up, dress it, then sandblast the case in that area and you'll be good to go. I've done it a number of times including welding holes shut.

just tried twice to post updated pics - first time they came up on moparts upside down, they are right side up on my iphone, so I deleted the post, flipped the pics in my phone upside down hoping they would be right side up on moparts - still upside down - any tips - thanks...otherwise will just post upside down and hope for the best

update... cleaned up a bit...fubar?

The one by the bottom of the Bell is definitely a crack. The one by the pump looks more like a casting mark. Notice it doesn't go into the machined area of the pump opening.

What do things look like from outside the Bell? The one crack will definitely show on the outside. The casting mark won't.

The lower crack isn't visible from the outside, the one by the pump sure feels like a crack, enough that my fingernail can feel it

Very strange crack. As I stated earlier this isn't a highly stressed area. I'd scrap it.

John, I'm not too concerned with the crack in the lower portion of the bellhousing, have a guy that can fix that...it's the crack further up by the pump that's got me concerned, if it wasn't the #'s tranny I'd just get another, which I probably will anyway, but obviously I'd like to keep the motor trans with the car if possible. Thanks to all again.

Numbers matching changes the game. Welding is the only way to save it.

Just have it welded up .