Bellhousing/throw out fork problem

Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
The old fork is MIA, but I swear it was identical to the new one. It is a big piece of angle steel, and the shapes are the same with no difference in bend. Except the old one had a broken lower clip,

While the old one did work, the clutch was bad (but driveable) when I got it Since the car had just been put back together by the PO, who knows what he did. I can share that a LOT of what was done was done poorly.

If I could pivot the Arm, when clipped correctly in place, down a bit more, the TO end would go up and it would be at the centerline.......I hope.

The bellhousing I have has motor mounts at the bottom, taking up a lot of space that appears to be open in the correct one

Thanks again everyone

Chip
 

Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Here’s photos of the bellhousing and TO arm.

427John describes What I think is the problem, though I am unaware of various styles of the TO arm. The “slot” In the bellhousing just does not allow The arm room to pivot lower, which raises the TO end of the arm, and would align it in the centerline.

And, it did work when I took it apart. The TO arm securing clip was broken, so I replaced it with one from Showcars. The TO arm could be crammed into an incorrect position, breaking the clip and allowing it to align, which I kinda think is why it worked, and doesn’t wok now.

Thanks

Chip
 

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Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Th slot is about 40mm, or 1,58”

06D2D79A-31EC-4F43-98D4-2F52255EFE1F.jpeg
 

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DonSSDD

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
I have a BH with the side mounts in my 409 now, I have a fork like yours that takes the bolt and pin to connect to the clutch rods. I think your BH is likely OK, it must be that you have something else wrong.

I can't measure the opening on the BH in my car, but I have one from a 58 348. I used it in my 59 with the 409 and the 283; and also had it in my 62 and used the same clutch, pressure plate, fork, and bearing. It is number 3741311 and the slot is about 4 inches long and about 1.6 inches high.

Mayb the ball your fork sits on is the wrong one? Or the fork is wrong.
 
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DonSSDD

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Here's a 59 with a correct clutch fork. Not my car, but the same fork I have. You likely need a fork like this one, which Show Cars show as a 58-61. Change your fork or change your bell bousing?

3574.jpg


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vtran24.JPG
 
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DonSSDD

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
In looking online at pics of 61 up BH's, they have a much larger opening for the clutch fork.
 

Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Thanks - the hole is half again as big on the correct one (66mm vs 40mm), and if I had that much room, it would pivot into place on the correct centerline. The one I have is a 55-57 Chevrolet bellhousing WHo knows how it got there....

In my case, nothing changed except I replaced the fork because the clip was broken. I got it from Bruce at Showcars. I think the PO just broke off the clip, allowing him a temporary fix, without resolving the problem. I can think of no other reason.

thanks again for sharing your thoughts and experience

Chip
 

Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Both forks were identical. I am certain - except the broken lower clip. And of course I threw the broken one into the trash months ago.
 

Hoyt99

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
I have a 553 bellhousing coming form a member in the beautiful state of GA. “When all else fails, go back to the basics” Having the known correct housing and fork just has to fix it. “What else could possibly go wrong?”
 

Don Jacks

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 3
I have a 553 bellhousing coming form a member in the beautiful state of GA. “When all else fails, go back to the basics” Having the known correct housing and fork just has to fix it. “What else could possibly go wrong?”
You are old enough to know better than to ask a question like that!!!!!!!!!!:mock It's a car,of course something will show it's head.:juggle
 

63 dream'n

Well Seasoned Member
Supporting Member 4
You are old enough to know better than to ask a question like that!!!!!!!!!!:mock It's a car,of course something will show it's head.:juggle
You are old enough to know better than to ask a question like that!!!!!!!!!!:mock It's a car,of course something will show it's head.:juggle

That right there is what they call........ a loaded question......:guns...!!!!!
 

El Rat

Well Known Member
Well you can change the bell housing or the fork or heat and bend the existing fork to accommodate!
 
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