1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Tom, totally forgot that 56 early 3704922 casting had the small pivot stud like 55's. Thanks for reminding me. Didn't the 56 dated 3733365 Corvette bellhousing have the large pivot studs like the 57 Corvette bellhousing did? Great pictures! Thanks, Gary....

Now that I don't know!
The last time I actually saw a genuine 56 Vette housing (at least assumed that it was original to the car), it never occured to me to look at the configuration/casting number/ball stud, because I didn't expect to be trying to remember 35yrs later down the road!

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Greg;

Are you certain you will have a cross shaft situation regarding the "heavy" clutch? Reason I ask, many early Vettes had B & B spring clutches installed and the favorite pass time of rodders was thinking they needed white springs in them to hold all that power, and any decent shop could change them out pretty quick. White spring clutches were famous for bending clutch linkages, and even torquing 57 Chevy dash boards. Ask me how I know. I learned quickly in my drag racing career to replace those B & B's with a good 11" diaphragm clutch which got me into power shifting and through an entire season.

Stu Fox

[Greg L.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Whoa! I did realize I was opening a bag of worms! Quite interesting though and if I'm not careful I might convert myself from a C3 guy to a C1 guy.

Anyways, Stuart I don't really know what the problem is or if it really even is a problem until I get the car later next week. I was just trying to get ahead of the curve a bit with it and see what I might be up against as far as making it more correct.

I had thought that it might have a heavier pressure plate so I'll look into that too. My brother has a 67 SS/RS that he's had for about 20 years and it has some bas a$$ pressure plate in it. So much so that it literally ripped the leaver out of one end of the cross shaft one evening years ago and the pedal dropped to the floor. We lived on a farm back then so I limped it out of town for him and drove it home. I took the shaft out and put it in a vice, bent the arm back and re-welded it and it's been "good" ever since mostly because he doesn't drive it much. We all cringe a bit though anytime someone presses on that clutch pedal because it's only a matter of time before it lets go again.

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Greg;

Are you certain you will have a cross shaft situation regarding the "heavy" clutch? Reason I ask, many early Vettes had B & B spring clutches installed and the favorite pass time of rodders was thinking they needed white springs in them to hold all that power, and any decent shop could change them out pretty quick. White spring clutches were famous for bending clutch linkages, and even torquing 57 Chevy dash boards. Ask me how I know. I learned quickly in my drag racing career to replace those B & B's with a good 11" diaphragm clutch which got me into power shifting and through an entire season.

Stu Fox

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!
That's all I have in ANY of my cars!
This 11in diaphragm clutch is 6yrs old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFepdn-27R0

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Tom;

No doubt you went through similar experiences with the old B & B clutches back in the day. I recall some of my Buddies brazing two clutch rods together in an attempt to keep them from bending. The other day I came across a couple of broken pivot pins from a B & B along with some centrifugal weights in one of my junk parts boxes. Guess I was keeping them as souvenirs of lessons learned the hard way.

My 63 still has the original Diaphragm clutch after 45 years and nearly 45k miles - course I don't do burnouts w/ a 3.36 final and close ratio box, but I still do throw a mean power shift once in a while!

Stu Fox

[Greg L.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Do you guys know if the bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, cross shaft and so forth would work from a 59-61ish chev 4 dr, 6 cyl? I ran across one in Pick a Part today and it got me wondering if I could use anything from it to help put mine back to "original".

[Tom P.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Greg,
NOTHING for a 62-earlier Chevy 6cyl engine will fit any Chevy V8----------------------except the oil in the pan!

[Greg L.]

Re: 1960 Bellhousing and C1/C2 cross shaft differences.

Thanks Tom. I didn't really feel like crawling under there anyways!