is there a difference in length btw a mopar specific bell for a glide over a chevy bell?reason I'm asking is I have a converter that was built for a JW mopar bell and case glide and I have a TSI chevy bell glide trans. now the converter has 1/2 gap btw flex plate.i know I can shim it .350 to get perfect engagement I was just curious as to why there is a such a difference as opposed to .125 with the JW setup.anyone?

Every single time I change one part it’s like starting over. My convertors are different, my flywheels are different, different ways to attach the flywheels, big block, small block, mid plate, ATI case, JW shield. Not only that but my starter spacing is different. Some I had to cut the nose off and some it stays on. Ohhhh the joys of racing

I had a JW bell on a glide case and used the JW flywheel and adapter, with an 1/8" midplate. Used a T400 converter with nothing modified and it all worked with a .125 shim between the flywheel and the converter.

How do you have a Chevy pattern trans bolted to a Chrysler engine? Adapter plate? Still have the JW wheel and crank adapter on the engine? I wouldn't be afraid to use .225 of spacer as long as the converter snout is supported at the crank.

I have an 1/4 adapter plate/midplate.....the snout will have .200 at least of engagement which I know is borderline.....the JW setup also used a 1/4 mid plate so this is where my confusion is.John you are so right there is always some BS to deal with for sure ....LOL.
P.S. I have another flex plate I can try to see if things change at all.

All the various manufactures parts will end up in a different position. I have used JW, ATI and Reid that two latter with GM bellhousings and Mopar. All of them require different converter and starter placement.

My advice, pick one manufacturer and get all the stuff for a particular project from them. Much better chance of everything working together with no drama. No drama is defined as not needing a complete machine shop and a wheelbarrel of aluminum billet to make it work. There is very little in this game that does not need some kind of massaging or fiddling to fit and work right.

I would agree 1000% with what was just said. I had a flexplate break once at a divisional race. Luckily in Vegas. Luckily we got rained out and I had a day to figure it out after taking the car home. I had an old one put it in and after a few hours of messing with starter and converter finally got it all to work. And the only change was from a JW Wheel to TCI flexplate.

How about this one. Small block Mopar, ATI powerglide adapter plate, ATI powerglide with chevy powerglide bellhousing, JW flywheel and adapter. Chevry starter is on passenger side so while I had my powerglide on the stand I modified the bellhousing for starter clearance, modified the starter holes to fit the ATI adapter plate, clearanced the nose of the starter, (2 starters so I had a spare) and then after ever-thing was bolted in shimmed the starter for proper clearance.


Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr


Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr


Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr

Here's a diagram of the shim kid and nose piece I buy from Summit.


https://racewithjw.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/92456-92456A.pdf

thx guys I can make it work no biggie I was just curious as to why the spacing was different with this setup but now I get it.what is the max amount of spacer thickness recommended btw the flywheel and converter?

There againsome of the convertors have pads weld d on them and some don’t. I think I am down to one convertor without a pad thank God. I think my thickest spacers were .370 if I remember right because I made them at work on our surface grinder.

with a .350 spacer the converter will be out .150 which Is right in the middle of spec so I should be ok.will this be safe at 1000hp NA +2-300hp shot of dope?

Run it! Hard!

You wont have an issue with the spacer, another option is to have a pad welded to the converter itself instead.

Al I don't want the converter application specific incase I use it in something else or end up selling it so I will go the spacer route.thx guys

Boy you guys where right tried another flywheel and it spaced it out another 1/8".gonna have some fun!