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Big block truck vs car bell housing

Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Big block truck vs car bell housing - 03/25/13 09:13 PM

Please school me on big block truck vs car bell housings. My truck is an '82 D150 with a slant 6 and a '68 road runner A833 4 speed 23 spline(yes, it has an adapter ring). I'm looking into a 440 with a 10.5" flywheel and clutch. Can I use a 10.5" big block car bell housing with the slant 6 Z bar, or does it need to be modified?
Posted By: 340SHORTY

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 03/26/13 12:37 AM

The BB bell is bigger in diameter than the /6 bell. You will need to modify it.
Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 03/26/13 01:02 AM

Not to confuse anyone, but, I may put a 440 in the truck, but can I use a 10.5" car bell housing with the slant 6 Z bar? Or does it have to be a small or big block Z bar with the 10.5" bell?
Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/03/13 06:32 PM

Is it possible to use a big block car bell housing in a 440 truck?
Posted By: Hugh Jorgan

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/03/13 07:43 PM

There's plenty of room for a car bell in a truck...the question is, will the pivot stud for the z-bar be in the right place?
Posted By: poorboy

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/04/13 01:18 AM

Quote:

Not to confuse anyone, but, I may put a 440 in the truck, but can I use a 10.5" car bell housing with the slant 6 Z bar? Or does it have to be a small or big block Z bar with the 10.5" bell?



The z bar for a slant 6 is longer (wider) then a z bar from a small/big block. The diameter of the slant 6 bell is smaller then the bell on a small block, so the distance between the bell and the frame is different between the two.

There have also been changes of the location the z bar attaches to the bell and changes of location to where the z bar attaches to the frame. That change effected the angles and lengths of the arms on the z bar itself as well. Essentially, you need to have the location of the frame pivot stud for the z bar and the pivot stud location on the bell in line with each other so the z bar pivots squarely and evenly. Then you need the z bar to have the correct length so it doesn't bind or fall out. The finally, the arms on the z bar have to be in the correct position to line up with its corresponding end, at the correct angle and be of proper length to release and apply pressure on the throwout arm (which also has to match the bell).

The problem is, most car body lines had z bars and pivot points for specific body/motor/bell arrangements, and those changed at least 2 times for at least A & B body cars that I can think of off hand. I'm just not sure when those changes were made between about 65 and 75. Now you want to add trucks into the equation. Trucks could have been ordered with a whole slew of combinations from hydraulic to mechanical linkage, slant 6 to small block to big block to diesel, from 3 speed, to car 4 speed, OD 4 speed, heavy duty 4 speed, to 5 and 6 speeds.

You have a pile of parts and want us to tell you everything is going to fit? OK, it will all fit, you may have to make some modifications. I suggest you start with the z bar that was attached to the bell you are going to use, and plan on modifying the pivot point and z bar arm length to match your truck on the frame side. Gene
Posted By: Diplomat440

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/04/13 05:04 AM

you will have to use a car bell with the a-833, the big block truck bell that i have has bolt holes for np-435. you may have to mod/swap ballstud brackets and z bars but thats easy stuff
Posted By: dogdays

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/04/13 05:37 PM

My '64Dog's hydraulic clutch keeps looking better and better!
R.
Posted By: Robbins

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/05/13 03:44 AM

or find this bell and be done with it.

Attached picture 7655050-bbbell3.jpg
Posted By: 70_FJ6_RR

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/05/13 08:15 PM

Thanks for all the info! My best bet is to modify the slant 6 Z bar, unless someone knows a close Z bar fit for a 10.5" bb bell in a '82 Ram.
Posted By: rickstershemi

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/05/13 10:59 PM

Quote:

Thanks for all the info! My best bet is to modify the slant 6 Z bar, unless someone knows a close Z bar fit for a 10.5" bb bell in a '82 Ram.



Get in-touch with Brewer's Performance....they can point you in the right direction as well as supply any missing parts you may need....good folks (937) 947-4416

Rickster
Posted By: Dan Brewer

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/08/13 08:21 PM

Quote:

or find this bell and be done with it.

THat BB truck bell is a tough one. It has the A833 pattern. Most did not.
Posted By: Robbins

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/10/13 07:30 PM

Quote:

Quote:

or find this bell and be done with it.

THat BB truck bell is a tough one. It has the A833 pattern. Most did not.



Ya...........but they are out there. That one site still has the one for sale. That truck Lakewood bell can do the same thing though. If I'm not mistaken.

I had put a car bell in my short bed once cause my truck bell(SB) broke the ball where the clutch fork rides on(80's)130 tooth flywheel bell and the angles were never right with the car bell as far as the clutch fork goes. I'm sure there are ways of getting around it, but I just finally fixed the truck bell and put it back in.
Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Big block truck vs car bell housing - 04/10/13 09:05 PM

you can fab up a bracket to hold a slave cyl and use a hydo clutch pedel/MC

IIRC member Commando did that in his C-body for a BB 4 -speed,used cheap over the counter parts.

seemed ez enuff to me and have thought about that same set up on my 88 truck that has the firewall hole for clutch MC already.

I would like to use a lakewood bell myself but the clutch mech linkage is my hold up so far.
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