307 vs 308 bearing retainer

-

rumblefish360

I have escaped the EVIL Empire State!
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2005
Messages
49,120
Reaction score
22,850
Location
Grant Valkaria, Florida
My dilemma is ether a bell housing for a OD 833 or maybe swap bearing retainers? Is this possible? TIA FABO
 
i think I read on the Big Block Dart site that the larger retainer has the same bolt pattern as the huge OD trans. retainer. So you can have the OD retainer turned down to fit the "normal" bell housing. Or just swap to the Normal one if you've got an extra one. This is great news if you want to run a blow-proof bell too!
 
What exactly are you trying to do? Adapt a 307 bearing & case to an OD bellhousing, or?
upload_2020-6-11_21-2-4.png

@ brewers
 
I have a OD trans with the wide retainer bolt pattern with the big 5.125 diameter.
The above pictured (I think) retainer is the wide retainer bolt pattern but has the smaller (or middle sized) bearing retainer.

Can these be swapped without issue?

As mentioned above, I do happen to indeed have a Lakewood bell. Though I’d like the aluminum one for this endeavor.
 
I've not done this, but it makes sense. Get a 4.80 diameter retainer that'll fit your bearing, either size. Or get a machine shop to turn your OD retainer down to the 4.80 size. and then enlarge the hole in your aluminum bell to fit. Or use the aftermarket bell, they come with the 4.80 sized hole. Let us know what you do!
 
I have a OD trans with the wide retainer bolt pattern with the big 5.125 diameter.
The above pictured (I think) retainer is the wide retainer bolt pattern but has the smaller (or middle sized) bearing retainer.

Can these be swapped without issue?

As mentioned above, I do happen to indeed have a Lakewood bell. Though I’d like the aluminum one for this endeavor.
Yes, the different diameter retainers can be swapped as long as they're for the same bolt pattern and bearing number. The big 5.12 retainer on the OD trans can be safely turned down to the 4.807 diameter and used.
 
Finding a machinist so far that will do this, turn down the bearing retainer or enlarge the bell housings hole, hasn’t been fruitful and there all behind if even open due to the COVID-19 shenanigans. This is why I wondered if I could just swap bearing the retainers. 307 - 308.

Brewers lists a 4.80 diameter large bolt pattern unit with the same size snout. It would be great just to swap parts and go.

If I could or had to swap bearings themselves, if there is a difference? Then I’d do that as well. No problem.
 
Ok back up the bus;
What hole size is in your bell? and
what bearing is in your trans?

The standard A-body bell has a 4.35 hole, and there is no way to put a 308-bearing retainer into it, which come in two flavors; 5.125 and 4.80.
AFAIK there is only one combo that cannot be matched which is the smallest hole (4.35) to the biggest retainer(5.125); both would have to be machined. ...And
The big bearing 308 case, cannot accommodate the small 4.35 retainer; there is just not enough physical room.
also AFAIK, the overdrive box always comes with the big 308 bearing. But you have two choices of retainers to use with it; namely the large (5.125) and the medium(4.80).

The sweetest combo is the 5.125 big-hole bell; you can put any retainer into it , just by fabbing spacer rings. And the best part is that they cost peanuts. However; it can be tricky fitting that bell into your A-body, with the various Z-bar anchors, forks, and fork pivots. The parts are all available, you just have to choose carefully.
 
Last edited:
AJ, I’ll take pictures and exact measurements s of the OD trans and list the parts Brewers has I was wondering about. (I’m at work right now.)
 
Finding a machinist so far that will do this, turn down the bearing retainer or enlarge the bell housings hole, hasn’t been fruitful and there all behind if even open due to the COVID-19 shenanigans. This is why I wondered if I could just swap bearing the retainers. 307 - 308.

Brewers lists a 4.80 diameter large bolt pattern unit with the same size snout. It would be great just to swap parts and go.

If I could or had to swap bearings themselves, if there is a difference? Then I’d do that as well. No problem.

yes you can swap the smaller 308 bearing retainer onto a OD trans just did it on the one I recently rebuilt. Oil hole and bolt holes line up no problem.
 
-
Back
Top