corvettethomas67

Dear CF Members,
After rebuiding a correct '57 engine to place in our '60 restoration (in front of a date-correct T10) I confinced the mrs. that we should consider a bell housing that doesn't look like the late '50's, early 60's cast iron housing with frame mounts included -that it is!!!

Question: what would be the numbers-correct aluminum bell housing for the late '60 model vette with the 283/230hp set up?

Your advice and assistance is appreciated.
Respectfully,
Tom and Judy Spurgeon
corvettethomas67

Donald #31176

The correct aluminum casting bellhousing for 60 C-1 is #3764591. This one will be particularly difficult to find as I think not absolutly sure that this one was used only in 1960.

DZAUTO

Tom,
Don is on the money, these alum housings are scarce and $$$$$$.
BUT, here is some additional info. First, there are TWO of these housings that you are inquiring about. There is a 60 ONLY, and then there is a 61-62 (and 63). I'm at work and not at home where I can look at the casting numbers of both. If the above number is for a 60 housing, then if memory serves me right, the 61-2 housing ends in 553. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL FROM SIDE BY SIDE COMPARRISON, the only difference between the 60 and 61-2 is the size of the hole for the clutch fork. Otherwise, these alum housings are an open bottom twin to the 58-62 cast iron housings, without provision for side mount, as used on pass cars.
The 60 alum housing was used on 1960 passenger cars with a hi-perf 348 engine and ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 60 Vettes.
The 61-2 (and 63) alum housing was used on hi-perf 348 and 409 engines in pass cars (including 63 409 cars) and ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL 61-62 Vettes. In 63, the Vettes used the full enclosure alum housing.
Thus, the 61-62 (63 409 cars) alum housing will be a little more common-------------------BUT STILL SOMEWHAT SCARCE AND $$$$$$. The two alum housings that I have were bought back in the 60s when they weren't so pricy. I have a 60 housing on my 56 and a 61-2 in the attic. I gave about $40 for each. Today, they will bring $200-400.
Hope this info helps.

rustyacres2

Hi, Do they get painted orange? Thanks

JohnZ

The one-year-only '60 housing is casting #3764591, and the '61-'62 is #3779553 (with the slightly larger fork opening). Bellhousings were in place when the engine was painted, and at least the front 3" or so should show orange paint.

DZAUTO

Yep, they got overspray! But that was because they were assembled by GM workers! I absolutely do not allow overspray (even though it is restoration correct) on my parts such as manifolds, etc!!!! That includes alum bell housings (paint on iron manifolds and bell housings is OK).

DZAUTO

Here is my alum housing (553) next to an iron 57 housing (with side mounts).

jroutt

While you're on the subject maybe you can shed some light on my problem.

The block in my 61 vette is casting # 3756519. I am using a 3729004 flywheel, a 3779553 bellhousing and a 1107889 starter. The starter # is correct in the documentation that I have but it will not line up/ bolt up to the engine. Any ideas?

Thanks,

John

Plastic Pig

It doesn't bolt to the engine. It bolts to the bellhousing.

jroutt

The aluminum nose on this starter bolts to the block and it was on a 2870 block where it did in fact bolt to the block with two different length bolts that were installed perpendicular to the length of the starter. There are no bolt holes that are parallel to the length of the starter as there would be if it bolted to the bellhousing. Is it possible that this starter has had the aluminum nose changed. It will not even slide into the bellhousing flush.

Plastic Pig

Somebody changed something. The nose of your starter should look like this. There are no provisions to mount it to the block on a correct 61 starter.







IIRC the late model starter will not work with an original bellhousing and dust shield.

jroutt

The nose of my starter looks nothing like that. It was bolted up to a 2870 block with a lightweight flywheel and a scattershield so they probably did a bubba job on this starter to make it work. Where would I find a source to get the correct parts ?

Thanks for the feedback!

jroutt

Duntov, there is a starter on e-bay (item # 230037302318 ) that appears to be like yours in the picture. It is minus the part # but if it is the same starter I could use the nose on my correct starter housing. I guess it depends on what I would have to pay for the starter to take a chance on it working. Your thoughts?

Plastic Pig

I don't know about changing things around maybe DZ can help you with that.

I may have a starter with the parts you need. Let me look tomorrow. I had a few of those old starters under the bench. If they are still there you can have one for cheap if not free.

Another good resource is to look in the ph. book for rebuilders. They seem to keep stuff forever.

That starter on e-bay is where I swiped the pictures LOL Googled corvette starter and there it was.

jroutt

Any help is greatly appreciated and I will wait to hear what you may have on the shelf.

Ironcross

I have um,

AZDoug

I believe the original flywheel was 14" OD, If your flywheel is the ~12" version, yes a different starter nose would be required. IIRC, there are three starter noses, the bell mounted one for the large flywheel, and two block mounted noses, one for the large flywheel and the other for the smaller one. All intercahnge on the different starters

I don't see why a block mounted starter nose wouldn't fit into the original bell using the smaller flywheel, but I an strictly guessing on this. I knew the answer 30 years ago when I put my ZL-1 flywheel in and switched to Lakewood scattershield, but I forgot it since.

Doug

Ironcross

All GM V8 car engines used a cast iron nose 3 bolt starter attachment to the bell housing through 1962 whether it is a cast iron bell housing or that of aluminum used in the 61/62 model years. The aluminum nosed starters will not fit in the early bell housing even if the block would accept it because of its shape.

jroutt

I.C. My flywheel (3729004) which is commonly referred to as a 14" flywheel, would be the larger one. Since I have the correct starter (1107889) it looks like I just need the cast iron nose. Let me know if you have one and a price. I assume you would know the correct part # for my application.

desertpilgrim

It IS a "591" for 1960 Corvettes and HP '60 348a. Call 480-991-9280
and ask for Allen the price will be $325.