Bellhousing dead horse

[Edward M.]

Which I will continue to beat. A question has come to mind.

Early 56 Corvettes used the 922 bellhousing, late 56 Corvettes used the 365 bellhousing.

OK, so when did the change occur?

The latest dated 922 I have found so far is February 15, 1956.

The earliest dated 365 I have found so far is dated October 24, 1956.

Do we have confirmation that late 56 Corvettes really used the 265 bellhousing?

[John H.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Early 56 Corvettes used the 922 bellhousing, late 56 Corvettes used the 365 bellhousing.

OK, so when did the change occur? Do we have confirmation that late 56 Corvettes really used the 265 bellhousing?

Ed -

The 1956 Engineering Bill of Material for Flint V-8 shows the 3709422 bellhousing casting (machined into P/N 3729001, to use the new #3729000 ball stud) used on all 1956 manual transmission Corvette engines. The 365 bellhousing doesn't show up in the BoM until 1957.

[Edward M.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Ed -

The 1956 Engineering Bill of Material for Flint V-8 shows the 3709422 bellhousing casting (machined into P/N 3729001, to use the new #3729000 ball stud) used on all 1956 manual transmission Corvette engines. The 365 bellhousing doesn't show up in the BoM until 1957.

Which really makes me wonder if the 265 was ever used for 56 Corvettes. Thanks John.

[Gary C.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Mid '56 to '57 using 365 bellhousing was carryover from at least the 3rd edition 56-7JM. It was not in the 1st edition and can't find my 2nd edition. My '56 BOM dated 1-5-56 shows a part # 3728999 for Housing, Assembly Clutch with a 3729001 stud. No cast number is shown. No data available to the 5th edition JM update team to change it. 5th edition update is underway, please e-mail information to gchesnut@charter.net so we can correct. Thanks, Gary....

[Edward M.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

So no one with a late 56 that can confirm what bellhousing was used?

[Gary C.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Ed, several late restored '56's have 365 bellhousings, but no original unrestored Bowtie cars to sample were identified. Gary....

[John H.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

My '56 BOM dated 1-5-56 shows a part # 3728999 for Housing, Assembly Clutch with a 3729001 stud.

Gary -

3728999 is the part number for the '56 bellhousing assembly (machined from the 3704922 casting) which includes the #3729000 ball stud; #3729001 is the part number for the machined bellhousing less the ball stud.

[Gary C.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

John, thanks. Still learning how to read Chevrolet BOM's. Where did you find the part number to cast number relationship? Gary....

[John H.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

John, thanks. Still learning how to read Chevrolet BOM's. Where did you find the part number to cast number relationship? Gary....

Gary -

Ken Kayser breaks down and explains the '55-'56-'57 Engineering Bill Of Material for Flint V-8 in gory detail in his "Countdown To Gold" articles in the January, February, March, April, and May 2002 issues of "Vette Vues".

[Thomas G.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

My original 4318 has the 922, casting date H66, bell housing.

Tom

[Edward M.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

My original 4318 has the 922, casting date H66, bell housing.

Tom

Tom ;

Are you saying that you have an original 1956 Corvette, VIN 4318, with a 922 bell housing dated H 6 6 (August 6, 1956)?

[Thomas G.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Tom ;

Are you saying that you have an original 1956 Corvette, VIN 4318, with a 922 bell housing dated H 6 6 (August 6, 1956)?

Yep. I should qualify that. I bought the car 1989 with 43k miles. Before that it had a 4speed trans that was installed in 1958. I guess it's possible that the bell housing was changed at that time, but I can't imagine why. The fact remains that the casting date is correct for my vin, and it had a 3 speed (GR) originally.

Tom

[Edward M.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

Yep. I should qualify that. I bought the car 1989 with 43k miles. Before that it had a 4speed trans that was installed in 1958. I guess it's possible that the bell housing was changed at that time, but I can't imagine why. The fact remains that the casting date is correct for my vin, and it had a 3 speed (GR) originally.

Tom

OK, good info.

Does it have the clutch fork ball stud that screws in from the front or the ball stud that screws in from the rear (which has an allen head bolt on the rear of the bell housing)?

[Thomas G.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

OK, good info.

Does it have the clutch fork ball stud that screws in from the front or the ball stud that screws in from the rear (which has an allen head bolt on the rear of the bell housing)?

I can't remember which way the stud went in, but the allen socket screw is visible from the rear as it should be. I remember that the casting number (which I recorded on disassembly) is not visible on the assembled chassis. Where is it located? I'll bet that's one reason you haven't received many responses.

I'm very interested to see other responses even if it's just confirmation of the ball stud and casting date. Also, I presume that if a passenger car bell housing was found on a Corvette it would have holes drilled in the mounting bosses. Can anyone confirm that?

Tom

[Edward M.]

Re: Bellhousing dead horse

The bell housing for Corvettes is the same as the bell housing for passenger cars with single four barrel and dual four barrel engines.

The ball stud with the allen head is considered correct for this application.

Just to make sure we are on the same page, you have a 922 bell housing, with an allen head ball stud, dated H 6 6, that you believe is original to your car.

Is all of that correct?