V8 bellhousing

I don't know what you're talkin about with the "split". I guess year models? If so, I don't know about that, but as I said earlier, I have lots of things to take pictures of. These first two are factory small block bellhousings. The top one is a dual pattern (3 and 4 speed) non overdrive bellhousing. I've had people tell me they didn't exist, Chrysler never made them. Well there one is. The bottom one is a standard OD bellhousing with the dual bolt pattern (3 and 4 speed). To my knowledge, all of the OD bellhousings were dual bolt pattern....I could be wrong about that.

The last picture is the slant six OD dual bolt pattern (3 and 4 speed). Although it is a high starter mount for a truck, they also made a dual pattern for the slant car. I have one under my 63 Dart. Chrysler of course also made dedicated 3 and 4 speed bellhousings, although I have never seen a dedicated 4 speed slant six bellhousing. All of those I've ever seen were dual bolt pattern. Of course, you might have to swap around the front bearing retainer in some cases. The OD bellhousings all had the 5.215" bearing retainer hole, but those are readily available.

The hole for the bearing retainer is what they keep talking about. They say one bellhousing is too small to accept the other transmission because of the large bearing retainer. So is there a smaller bearing retainer that will bolt on to the tranny that has the large bearing retainer? Is it safe to use a small bearing retainer with the large opening bellhousing or is it like the rearend hubs on wheels where it should fit snug to keep centered? Is the bolt patterns the same between od and non od trannys?