I am doing a big block 440 into a '80 short box and want to put a 4 speed behind it.

Will a car bell housing work 10 1/2" ? it will be a OD 4 speed most likely so how can I change the front bearing retainer if needed to fit bell housing?

Thanks Kurt

I did the same thing. I used a bellhousing from a 77-78 big block truck, it has a dual bolt pattern for 2 different trans. I have heard of guys using the car aluminum bell but the hole has to be enlarged to fit the OD bearing retainer.

IIRC the 4.80 with the 308 bearing and the 5.125 share common mounting bolt patterns, should be able to swap to get it to fit.

Also, NP435s have a 5.125" diameter.

R.

Yes the 10 1/2" bel housing will work if you change to or have the smaller (early) front bearing retainer. I put an 833 in my 78 factory 440 pickup back in 1981. Two things I had issues with. Even using the 11" disc that would fit the 10 1/2" set up, the clutch was never that strong and prone to slipping when pushed hard. My engine build was fairly mild at approx 450 HP. Secondly, using the stock pickup z-bar bracket that bolts to the frame, the alignment was not good and square. It worked, but would wear out the plastic bushings after a short time. I did run the pick up about 100K miles with that engine / trans set up with replacing the clutch once. Busings numerous times.

Ha, I just posted about this!

If you can find a #4039670 bellhousing, it will all be a bolt in deal. But, I searched or over a year to find one, they are rare.





That bell is the ONLY way to use ALL factory parts when trying to run an 833/833OD behind a BB in a truck. Anything else will require modification/fabrication, hydraulic clutch actuation or a Lakewood safety bell housing.

Before I found the #670 bell, I was going to use a BB car bell and hydraulic clutch.

I think you can turn the OD of the 5.125 retainer down to 4.80 also.

Kevin

I put a 383 4-speed in a 1987 Dodge D150 2wd that I had. I bought a lakewood bell housing and I used a regular B&E body 4-speed, I liked it..
If I was ever going to do it again... I would use a 5 or 6 speed transmission.

I got it figured out, used a car '66-'67 bb bell and found an OD trans.

switched the front bearing and main case for a earlier one to fit he bell housing. and put all the O/D parts in it with new seals, gaskets.