Big Block Bellhousing swaps

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eschroeder1

eschroeder1

A-body Freak
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Question to the gurus. Will a 70-71 B/E Body aluminum big block bellhousing (513 casting number) be a direct swap for an A body big block car. In other words, can I still use the factory BB a-body Z bar and linkage set up without having to modify anything?

Thanks

Eric
 
It will work with the factory bell crank but it does have the bigger hole for the bearing retainer. So to use it with an A body 4 speed you would need to change the bearing retainer to the large one.
 
No that bell will not work, you need the correct 372 or 370 with the spacer and the bracket with the ball stud. If other bellhousings would have worked do you think they wouldn't have used them from the factory? People have tried to use the 513 before and found out the hard way...
 
HemiSSDart said:
No that bell will not work, you need the correct 372 or 370 with the spacer and the bracket with the ball stud. If other bellhousings would have worked do you think they wouldn't have used them from the factory? People have tried to use the 513 before and found out the hard way...
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How about an explanation why and this 513 bell wasn’t made when the factory was installing big blocks in a bodies so naturally they wouldn’t be able to use it.
Just change the front bearing retainer to the 4.80 and it will work as intended I have one in a 67’ barracuda so I know it works.
 
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I don't have to explain anything, you do! How did you get the factory mechanical linkage to work? I tried 30 years ago to use one, and the angles and length of the bellcrank were all wrong.
 
If its a big block 11" bell in an a body, you will have to either use a hydraulic system or cut and modify the z bar to work. I built the ball stud bracket to be in the correct horizontal position then cut a reg a body z bar to size and re welded the clutch pivot to align with the clutch shaft adjuster. Brewers had no product to fit. The 11" bell was out of a truck, I believe. Also changed the bearing retainer. Brewers did have that.
 
It’s a 10.5 and the factory spacer and ball stud bracket along with the bell crank works fine so far. Not sure what kind of explaining I need to do.
 
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cudascott said:
It’s a 10.5 and the factory spacer and ball stud bracket along with the bell crank works fine so far. Not sure what kind of explaining I need to do.
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I never know why someone is questioned after they have done something and knows it works. And is good enough to share. Thanks!
 
cudascott said:
It’s a 10.5 and the factory spacer and ball stud bracket along with the bell crank works fine so far. Not sure what kind of explaining I need to do.
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When I tried it the bell crank was at a different angle and would bind up with the factory A-Body big block parts. It was in a 69 Dart GTS and all I know is that it would not work. Can you provide a couple of pics?
 
Not at the moment I have the whole drivetrain out doing a resto on the car. I never had a problem with
the setup as is and now thinking about it I’m pretty sure brewers even offers a new 513 bell for an a body big block application and offers it in both large and small retainer openings listed for A,B and E bodies.
Brewer's Performance - Mopar A833 4-Speed Transmission and Component Specialists
 
And another important part of this swap is the engine has to be in the factory location. I used a late model V8 spool K member and modified the passenger side
mount per Jim Lusk s measurements.
 
cudascott said:
And another important part of this swap is the engine has to be in the factory location. I used a late model V8 spool K member and modified the passenger side
mount per Jim Lusk s measurements.
Click to expand...
If I’m using the Schumacher bb conversion mounts, does that maintain the factory position of the engine?
 
All you need to do is bolt down the engine with the transmission on the factory trans mount and that will located the engine in the proper position...
 
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