E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

I might have made a mistake.  I just rebuilt my big block A833 transmission,  it is a big block one. I was under the assumption I just needed a smaller bearing retainer housing to make it work in the small block bellhouseing. But the smallblock retainer one doesnt line up with the bolt pattern on the tranny or fit over the bearing. What are my options here? Bellhousing is smallblock 1971 transmission is 1970 big block

So, you would need a small block bell housing with the larger bearing retainer hole ??

How big is the bearing retainer ? The next size hole up for a small block housing would be a 5 1/4" for an overdrive transmission. Your bearing retainer is likely only around 4 3/4"  :dunno: Maybe there's an adaptor available ?

I think a call to Brewers is in need @Dan Brewer (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/dan-brewer_3110) ?

Quote from: anlauto on April 21, 2019, 10:51:42 AM
Can you take your bell housing to a machine shop and have the hole made larger ?

I had to do this once...Once.

The trans uses the 308 front brg the bellhousing with the 4.35 hole is for trans using the smaller 307 front brg so the smaller retainer will not fit , so you can either machine the bellhousing out to 4.8 or find another bellhousing with the larger hole , it is also possible to use the OD belhousing on any small block & use the 5.125 front brg retainer which will bolt onto the trans you have with the 308 front brg

I might be able to get a overdrive one from a friend . Who sells the retainer ring to adapt to it?

You might find a used one fairly easily taken from an OD to fit a normal 4.80 bellhousing

@Chryco Psycho (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/chryco-psycho_4) I'm not sure I'm following. Are you saying some overdrive bellhousings have the 4.80 and will fit the big block retainer or the over drive ones can be found cheap and machined out to fit

Quote from: Shoooter on April 24, 2019, 08:49:02 PM
If I get it machined out there wont be any other problems? It's not cheap around here 250-300 to have it enlarged

That's nuts! Too bad you don't live close by. Easy job , coffee and while you wait would do it. It's like a half hour job at most. Find another shop!

That was all 3 shops in town! I agree is shouldn't be that much. My friend has a milling machine but he isnt sure he could get it as accurate on it. I'm guessing it needs to be pretty accurate

For about $50 you could mail it to Brad and have him do it  :yes: .....Not sure how you would mail the coffee though  :looney:

Quote from: Brads70 on April 25, 2019, 02:37:57 AM

Quote from: Shoooter on April 24, 2019, 08:49:02 PM
If I get it machined out there wont be any other problems? It's not cheap around here 250-300 to have it enlarged

That's nuts! Too bad you don't live close by. Easy job , coffee and while you wait would do it. It's like a half hour job at most. Find another shop!

No other problems.  We charge $45 to machine an alum bell from 4.354" to 4.807"...$250 is insane.

250 plus 12% taxes

Quote from: Shoooter on April 25, 2019, 05:46:14 AM
That was all 3 shops in town! I agree is shouldn't be that much. My friend has a milling machine but he isnt sure he could get it as accurate on it. I'm guessing it needs to be pretty accurate

Does he have a boring head? R8 shaft? If not you could borrow mine , we could mail it back and forth?

I'll find out what all he has

What's the tolerance allowed on the hole? I haven't got over to his place yet to see what kind of machine he has. Does the bellhousing hold the retainer or is most of the support held by the transmission bolts to the bellhousing. I know you don't want slop in the hole.

the tolerance is not too bad you want the hole a .002 loose so you don't have to force the retainer into the hole in the bell  , BUt it has to be centered , the input shaft into the rear of the crank has a runout of approx .005 after that you have to use offset dowels to center it or it can become hard to shift

Agree with @Chryco (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/chryco_49) Psyco with the numbers noted.
As you have current bellhousing measure its diameter to see what numbers it is oversized to the nominal dimension. Make yours within the same.
Be sure hole is centered and the mounting face is flat to machining plane.
Any decent cnc can cut it exacting.
No cnc, it can be bored straight thru on standard mill. With creativity boring tool could be hand made.
Manual mill and manual rotary table will also work with more creativity mounting it.
I suspect the fork bracket will get milled also to clear. Bolt locations should be ok to remain.
Mike.