[L79Fan]

I am wrapping up putting the Tremec in my '67. In the process I had to convert to an 11" clutch to get a bellhousing to check out to their required specs. Had the bellhousing, don't have the gravel shield. Anyone out there have the GM part number for one?

 

[Mike]

If it's a 621 ,the current dust shield is #3843943

 

[L79Fan]

Thanks Mike! :thumbsup: I've got a new one coming. One less detail to deal with on the project. :hurray:

 

[L79Fan]

Went to put the starter in & it will not fit into the hole in the gravel shield. Took the gravel shield off & tried it on both straight & staggered bolt pattern starters just to make sure that it wasn't something to do with the bellhousing or flywheel. But I wasn't imagining anything - it does not fit over the rear starter housing. What kind of starter is everyone running with this shield?

 

[DZAUTO]

The top cover is for the smaller, 403 style housing (for the 153 teeth flywheel).
The middle cover is for the larger, 621 style housing, part number 3843943, (for the 168 teeth flywheel).
The bottom cover is for the truck housing, which is also for the larger 168 teeth flywheel, BUT, the middle and bottom covers WILL NOT interchange.

THIS IS IMPORTANT!
If you're using a starter with an alum nose, that MAY be the problem. The larger, 621 bell housing requires a starter with a cast iron nose, which is smaller than the alum nose.
Below is a comparrison between iron and alum noses. Notice the iron nose is smaller than the alum nose.

 

[L79Fan]

Thanks Tom. After I posted that I took the shield & went down to the local O'Reillys & had them pull me out a rebuilt for a '67 Chevelle 396. Bingo! I took that one & came home & dug out 4 old steel milk crates full of starters & started going through them. Out of twenty-some starters I only had two of those. I only remembered the iron nose on the older (55-7) style front bolt starters. Must be the ravages of age! Do you have the numbers on the top & bottom one? I'd like to pick up one of each for reference before they discontinue them.

 

[DZAUTO]

The bottom one (for a truck housing) is discontinued for sure, I don't know about the one for the smaller 403 style housing. I'll check on the numgers and get back to you.

 

[DZAUTO]

The cover for the truck housing (bottom) is 6263757, and discontinued. BUT, it MAY be possible that some dealer, somewhere in the USA might still have one in their parts inventory. Have your local Chevy parts guy plug the part number into a nation wide search in his computer and see if one shows up at some dealer. If a dealer has one in their parts dept, they can UPS it to you (that's how I located a couple of them).

The cover (top) for the smaller 403 housing is 354497 and it's still available from GM (I frequently use gmpartsdirect http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm ).

 

[L79Fan]

Thanks Tom. Got the good number coming through my local dealer & found the other one collecting dust at another dealers. Good reference to have handy. And, something else for the estate sale.

 

[DZAUTO]

While we're on the subject of bell housings and covers, there was a time when I wouldn't even look at or consider a truck housing at swap meets. BUT, I have now begun to give a second thought to truck housings.
Since either an adapter ring is now available to fit a Muncie (or other manual trannys) to a truck housing, or, in the case of Muncies, there is now a front bearing retainer available with a larger diameter to fit the truck housing, it is now a good idea to pick up the truck housing at swap meets. I often see the truck housings at swap meets for near dirt cheap prices.
Since good 621 housings have now been priced sky high, the truck housings are an EXCELLENT alternative (if you can live with that additional bulge on the bottom) to allow the installation of the larger 168 teeth flywheels. :thumbsup:

 

[L79Fan]

If you are talking about the aluminum housings, I have also wondered why they weren't being used as a substitute. There is also the earlier cast iron truck housing out there. The 55-7 bellhousing minus the side mounts. If you can find one with both front tin shield & the lower pan tin you've got everything you need.

Just a thought for going really low-buck. Of course you would have to use the starter that bolts to the bellhousing. OK - so it's a bit more complicated. I guess that I grew up with that on all of the 1955-7's that I had so I know my way around them.