I got to thinking of a muncie swap last weekend, Phillip on the board here offered me good deal on one, but after pricing everything else it looks like the tranny will be the cheapest parts of the swap. Since a couple of swap meets are coming up soon I thought id see if I can find a bell housing, not looking for a 621 because of the price, and I understand a 10.5 clutch is fine so is there a list for bellhousing numbers to look for? motor is basically a truck 454 gen 4 so I know i'll need a flywheel too. I just don't want to buy something I cant use. thanks. Jim

I got to thinking of a muncie swap last weekend, Phillip on the board here offered me good deal on one, but after pricing everything else it looks like the tranny will be the cheapest parts of the swap. Since a couple of swap meets are coming up soon I thought id see if I can find a bell housing, not looking for a 621 because of the price, and I understand a 10.5 clutch is fine so is there a list for bellhousing numbers to look for? motor is basically a truck 454 gen 4 so I know i'll need a flywheel too. I just don't want to buy something I cant use. thanks. Jim

Do a search on bell housings. Tom Parsons, aka DZAUTO, has good info on what will work and the sizes. You can use a truck housing, has a larger hole in the front but McLeod make a niffy spacer to reduce the hole to a stock muncie size and the housings are dirt cheap.

I picked up a truck housing in excellent condition for 20 bucks! My grandpa has a lathe, so he's going to help me with the spacer. It shoudln't take more than an hour.

Jim,
READ THIS CAREFULLY!
I would NOT advise using the smaller flywheel and 10 1/2in clutch behind a BB. Yes, the bell housings (such as a 621) are becoming a little scarce and the prices are going up on them. I used to pick them up at swap meets for around $50, but according to everyone else, that no longer seems possible!
Wally is 100% on the money about using a truck housing. The truck housing is a 100% perfect fit and the Muncie will bolt right up----------------------BUT YOU DO NEED TO USE A SPACER!!!! The reason for using a spacer is because the fit of the tranny front bearing retainer into the hole of the bell housing is what properly centers the tranny with the crankshaft. YOU CANNOT COUNT ON THOSE FOUR BOLTS TO PROPERLY CENTER THE TRANNY!
Other than the larger hole in the truck housing, the most noticeable difference between a truck and car housing is that the truck housing has a big additional bulge around the lower portion of the housing (which I personally do not like). But the housing will function just fine when using a spacer.
I presume that you are aware that the 454 must use an UNbalanced flywheel which has an extra weight on one side. These unbalanced flywheels only come in the larger 14in diameter 168 teeth version.

Hey Tom,

Would you have any casting numbers for those bell housings that could be used with the 454? Would this one work, GM460486?

I'm going to a BB eventually.

thanks for the info, Im just thinking im going to start collecting parts, I found a bell housing the guy said its a nova bell housing because the clutch fork angles down quite a bit, will this one work? reason I ask is I can probably get it cheap, he's cleaning his yard and gave me a 10 bolt 1st gen camaro rear and a 350 shortblock. Jim

Jim,
Dont know how much you want to spend, but here is a brand new Lakewood with block plate for $210

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Lakewood-Bellhousing-Block-Plate-Chevy-sb-sbc-bb_W0QQitemZ180016848232QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33730QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

thanks for the link. Im just going to leave it alone for now, and see what pops up at the next few swap meets. On another note Im not sure the headers will clear the clutch linkage. Does anyone know if summit 9010 headers work for a 4 speed 70 chevelle? thanks Jim

I'll look at the casting number on the truck housing tonight when I get home tonight.

You don't want an early Nova housing for two reasons.
1. The bearing fork angle is totally wrong for a Chevelle------just won't work!
2. It is ONLY for the smaller flywheel/10 1/2in clutch. For a BB, you want a big flywheel/11in clutch/big bell housing.

Jim,

After cracking the 40 year old 621 in my 66 Chevelle (454) I began looking for another 621 and every good one was over $200. and I was worried about using a bellhousing that was 30 to 40 years old. Thats when I came across Keisler and their reproduction of the 621, all new and kit like a glove it even has the GM number stamped into it. I bought the kit with bolts and cover for $199. Check it out at;

http://www.keislerauto.com/gm/transmissions/bellhousing.asp

Jim,
Also, bell housings (generally) have no correlation to engines. Going all the way back to 1955 (first Chevy V8), ANY bell housing for ANY Chevy V8 will bolt up to ANY Chevy V8 engine, as well as any 63-later Chevy 6cyl and V6. Thus, you can literally stick a 502 into a 55 Chevy and bolt it up to the 55 Bell housing!
The back of all Chevy V8s have the same bolt pattern for a bell housing/auto tranny.

Here is a list of many Chevy bell housings. This is not a advertisement for these guys, just info.

http://www.tracyvette.com/bellhousings.html

The casting number on the truck housing is 460486. I've been passing these up left and right at the swap meets for years, at prices of $10-25. I guess I should start buying all I run across at these prices. As already mentioned, they can be used quite successfully with a spacer (just remember, they have that big additional bulge on the bottom).

The following are casting numbers for bell housings that can be used with the big flywheel (168 teeth) and 11in clutch.

3872444-used on some Chevelles and Vettes in 66/67-if you run across one of these it will usually command a rather high price, they're highly sought after by the BB Vette guys.

3899621-this is the typical housing for the big flywheel and was used on a bazillion cars and light trucks (I don't understand why they are so scarce and expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

464697-this is virtually a clone of the above (621) housing. It was used in 80s and later as well as a parts dept service replacement. There should be a ton of them out there, but I seldom see them. If you are not a numbers nut, this is an excellent housing, SHOULD be cheap (everyone is looking for a 621) and will work just fine. Other than the casting number, it looks 100% identical to a 621.

We haev used the 697 housing a few times. However sometimes, when you use an aluminum nose starter, the nose will hit inside the housing. 5 minutes with a dremel fixes that though. Its a small amount that needs removal.

Thanks Tom. Excellent info. You always seem to come up with the answers.

Thanks Tom thats the info I was looking for. Jim