bell housing for SBF

[redzula]

i bought a bellhousing on ebay that was supposed to fit a C4 to a 289. when i got it the top two holes on the bellhousing are an inch or more too close together. i cant seem to find anything on ebay. I may be getting ahead of myself because i dont have a flexplate or a TC yet because im not sure which i need. there is two different tooth # and two different widths for the flexplate i would need. i need to know how to figure out which i need. and I know I know i need to forget the C4 and go top loader or something like that but this is what i got.




The block shows 5 1/2" center to center
The bellhousing shows 5"

[fast Ed]

Not sure what the bellhousing you bought fits, but SBF blocks are either 6 bolt, or 5 bolt on the very early ones. Looks like you have a 5 bolt, which makes it a bit tougher to find. I'm guessing the one you got off evilBay is maybe for a V6 or 4-cyl. Ford.

Is it an OEM or aftermarket housing? Are there any numbers stamped on it?


cheers
Ed N.

[redzula]

Ford is stamper into the housing so i assume its not aftermarket. i looked at the numbers but in my infinate wisdom i neglected to write them down.

what does the 5 or 6 bolt refer to bellhousing to block or to trans?

[fast Ed]

5 or 6 bolt is at the block to bellhousing attachment. If you have an 64 / early 65 289, it will have the 5 bolt pattern, which is tougher to track down stuff for.


cheers
Ed N.

[redzula]

the engine came out of a big body ford. I have the serial # off of it somewhere i need to find it but my car was a factory straight 6. what makes the 5 bolt different from a 6 bolt what is the difference

[fast Ed]

The block casting is different, so if you have a 5 bolt block, that's what you're stuck with for the matching bellhousing.


cheers
Ed N.

[redzula]

i got mine for like $50 but the 5 bolt is like $200+. are they all going to be that expensive. what about a scattershield.

[fast Ed]

Not sure if anyone offers a scattershield for that pattern or not, I'd guess no. Check McLeod, Lakewood, etc. The other issue with a scattershield is that you could be in to header and exhaust clearance issues, and it certainly isn't going to be less than $200, unless you find a used one.


cheers
Ed N.

[redzula]

thanks for your help. i guess i should have done this research before i bought the engine. and saved on that. do you know if when rebuilding the engine is there anything else that is 5 bolt block specific?