modify bellhousing??

[racerbob]

A sI mentioned in an earlier post I have SB aluminum bellhousing with a 4.3" bearing retainer hole and a transmission with a 4.8" bearing retainer.

Where I work we have access to numerous machine tools and people I work with some very talented machinists. We have looked over the bellhousing and it has plenty of material in the area of the bearing retainer center hole to allow for overboring it to the 4.8" diameter. My machinists friend feels he can bore the new within .001" off the location of the original hole.

Does it seem reasonable to go ahead and enlarge the hole ?

Bob

 

[mcodecuda]

It's a lot easier to just turn down the OD of the retainer.

 

[RedFish]

If there is plenty of material there they may be all made from the same casting blank.
Any machinist should be able to indicate the original hole center then open it up.

 

[JohnRR]

A sI mentioned in an earlier post I have SB aluminum bellhousing with a 4.3" bearing retainer hole and a transmission with a 4.8" bearing retainer.

Where I work we have access to numerous machine tools and people I work with some very talented machinists. We have looked over the bellhousing and it has plenty of material in the area of the bearing retainer center hole to allow for overboring it to the 4.8" diameter. My machinists friend feels he can bore the new within .001" off the location of the original hole.

Does it seem reasonable to go ahead and enlarge the hole ?

Bob

What bearing is UNDER the bearing retainer ? If it's a 307 bearing you can just BUY the 4.3 retainer , get a billet one from passon , brewer or liberty

 

['64 Cuda]

I talked once on the phone with Brewer's about putting an OD trans in my car (early A). They said you have to switch to the 4.8" retainer on the trans & then machine the opening on the bell housing larger to accept the larger retainer. I know this isn't the exact same situation as yours but the info about machining the hole in the bell would still apply. If you've got access (free?) to the machines & machinist, I'd go for it.