1960 Bellhousing Boot

[Joe P.]

Can anyone suggest where to purchase a boot for the 3764591 bellhousing found only on the 1960? This has the smalller opening.

Thanks.

Joe

[Mike E.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

The factory did not install a bellhousing boot on either the 60 or the 61-62 bellhousing. There is an aftermarket 61-62 boot available, but that was/is not factory correct. A good judge would deduct if you had one.

[John N.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

The factory did not install a bellhousing boot on either the 60 or the 61-62 bellhousing. There is an aftermarket 61-62 boot available, but that was/is not factory correct. A good judge would deduct if you had one.

Mike
I am curious why they did not install the boot on the Corvette. The 62 409 Chevrolet which used the same bellhousing did have the boot.
Regards

[Mike M.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Mike
I am curious why they did not install the boot on the Corvette. The 62 409 Chevrolet which used the same bellhousing did have the boot.
Regards

was the 409 boot made of leather? mike

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

I bought a 61-63 style (alum) housing at a swap meet a few years ago and it came with a rubber boot---------------WHICH IS A PERFECT FIT. Thus, I can only presume that is what was supposed to be used.
I can post pictures if needed.
My 56 has a 60 only (alum) 3764591 bell housing and I've never known of a source for a boot to fit it.

For those who may not be aware of it, the OPEN bottom, alum bell housings were also used on 60-63 hi-perf 348 and 409 engines in full size pass cars.

[John N.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

was the 409 boot made of leather? mike

Mike
The boot was rubber, I believe I still have it, and it has deteriorated. The bellhousing came off early and was replaced by a RC NHRA approved bellhousing so I could use the car on Sundays. I wonder if this was a Flint vs Tonawanda plant deal.
Regards

[Mike M.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Mike
The boot was rubber, I believe I still have it, and it has deteriorated. The bellhousing came off early and was replaced by a RC NHRA approved bellhousing so I could use the car on Sundays. I wonder if this was a Flint vs Tonawanda plant deal.
Regards

reason i asked is somewhere or other i came up with a leather boot that is in the old black yellow GM cardboard box but unfortunatly the lid with part # is long gone. i entertained using it on my 57 FI chevy pass car but was persuaded not to use a boot. BTW, the leather boot fit the 57 cast iron bellhousing well. regards,mike

[John N.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

reason i asked is somewhere or other i came up with a leather boot that is in the old black yellow GM cardboard box but unfortunatly the lid with part # is long gone. i entertained using it on my 57 FI chevy pass car but was persuaded not to use a boot. BTW, the leather boot fit the 57 cast iron bellhousing well. regards,mike

Mike
Your friend probably gave you wrong information. Group 0.797 BOOT-CLIP, clutch fork 57-60 PASS. (8 cyl. ) (2 1/4 of clutch hsg. face w/4 clips) 3738285 1 $!.50. I see no reference in that section to Corvette. So my answer to my earlier question is no boot for any Corvettes of that era. I believe my factory 57 270 HP pass car had it.
Regards

[Joe L.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Virtually all 55-62 Chevrolet applications with manual transmission EXCEPT Corvette did use a clutch fork boot. Why was Corvette excluded? Who knows?

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Virtually all 55-62 Chevrolet applications with manual transmission EXCEPT Corvette did use a clutch fork boot. Why was Corvette excluded? Who knows?

STRANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike E.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

I was researching this already back in 1974 when my first 62 didn't have a boot. Motor had never been out, clutch had never been apart, fork had never been messed with. Couldn't figure out how the boot disappeared when that area hadn't been messed with at all. Checked out some other unmolested cars back in the 1974-76 time frame--all the same. This is long before the AIM's came out! Then they came out. No call-out. Parts books had no call-out. Still don't know why they didn't put them on, but I know they didn't!

[Joe P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Thanks for the information.. So now the question that i have.... if it is not correct for judging.. would you put a boot on for protection from the elements?



Thanks.

Joe

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Thanks for the information.. So now the question that i have.... if it is not correct for judging.. would you put a boot on for protection from the elements?



Thanks.

Joe

To answer your question, YES, I would if I could find one for the 60 only bell housing that is on my 56.
I already have a good one for the 61-63 housing that I have and, if and when I install it on an engine, I WILL use the boot.
OR, since it isn't even correct for a 56, the next time I pull the 400 out, I may just swap bell husings and use the 61-63 housing since I have a boot for it.

[Dennis A.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing Boot

Joe,
I installed a rubber boot for driving on my 61 & 62... easy to pull off for judging.