Small Block Bellhousing That Fits 4.8" 4 Speed Bearing Retainer

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Rocket

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Are there any stock small block bell housings that could accept the larger 4.8" input shaft bearing retainer? Has anyone machined the small block 4.35 retainer bell to the 4.8" retainer size?

If not then I guess it is an aftermarket bell housing only if I want to run a 4 speed with this larger bearing retainer.
 
I was lucky enough to find a Lakewood scatter shield that had a 4.8" retainer hole. They are out there. Good luck
 
Swap the 4.800 bearing retainer for the 5.125 overdrive bearing retainer and use an overdrive bellhousing, they are easier to find.
 
Thanks for the replies. If I understand the yes and yes answers then there are 4.8" stock small block application. What are they? I am familiar with the aftermarket options.
 
Rocket said:
Thanks for the replies. If I understand the yes and yes answers then there are 4.8" stock small block application. What are they? I am familiar with the aftermarket options.
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Crapped if I know. But I have had a BUNCH of them in the past.
 
I just bought a Lakewood small block 4.8 bell housing for $60.00 off Atlanta's Craigslist. It did NOT have a block protection plate. You just have to look and be lucky.
 
I used the 5.125 housing and had a ring fabbed by a local shop, to center the retainer, then dialed the housing, to center the hole to the crankshaft.Maybe not the cheapest, but now can use any tranny.
-The last new scattershield I installed for a customer, provided a PN for the ring. It might have been a Lakewood; dont recall.
 
Basically if its a 23 spline trans its a B-body 383 trans with the 4.80 bearing retainer, but the good news is the 4.35 retainer will bolt right on because both trans. use the 307 small input bearing. If its an 18 spline trans it has a 308 large input bearing in that case find a lakewood bell, most of them came with the 4.80 bore and a shim ring to neck the 4.35 retainer up to the 4.80 bore. Hope this helps.
 
Rocket said:
Are there any stock small block bell housings that could accept the larger 4.8" input shaft bearing retainer? Has anyone machined the small block 4.35 retainer bell to the 4.8" retainer size?

If not then I guess it is an aftermarket bell housing only if I want to run a 4 speed with this larger bearing retainer.
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No stock small block bellhousing had the 4.8 bearing retainer. Aftermarket 4.8 is common. You can go the OD bellhousing route and just swap retainers. What transmission are you using? Are you sure you have the 308 bearing large bolt pattern?
 
On the over drive trans only 1975 trans used the 5.125 retainer with the small 307 bearing all others as far as I know used the 5.125 retainer with the 308 large bearing. So the first thing you have to do is find out what input bearing size you have before you can pick a bearing retainer.
 
Why does everybody do stuff assbackwards? The easiest thing to do is find the right bellhousing. They made a boatload of them.
 
Sorry to say but I don't think they made a small block bellhousing with the 4.80 pilot hole, but I could be wrong. I have never seen one.
 
19DART66 said:
Sorry to say but I don't think they made a small block bellhousing with the 4.80 pilot hole, but I could be wrong. I have never seen one.
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They did not make a factory small block bellhousing with the 4.8 pilot hole. Aftermarket, Ansen, Lakewood, yes.
 
66fs said:
They did not make a factory small block bellhousing with the 4.8 pilot hole. Aftermarket, Ansen, Lakewood, yes.
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I have had at least two factor ones in the last year. I should have recorded the casting numbers. I guess it's possible they could have been enlarged.......but two so close together?
 
RustyRatRod said:
I have had at least two factor ones in the last year. I should have recorded the casting numbers. I guess it's possible they could have been enlarged.......but two so close together?
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Both gone? I checked the Brewers site, not that they all knowing, and I've had 340 Dusters and a 72 340 Cuda. They were all the small bearing retainer. Big blocks are another story...
 
I was looking at an 18 spline with the 4.8 retainer. This is why I asked. Have decided after my research to stick with the 23 spline. Should serve me well if I do not do track time or slicks.

Thanks to all that responded.
 
66fs said:
Both gone? I checked the Brewers site, not that they all knowing, and I've had 340 Dusters and a 72 340 Cuda. They were all the small bearing retainer. Big blocks are another story...
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Yeah I looked there too. would imagine if there were any with the 4.8 hole, they wouldda had some. Strange. Evidently mine musta been modified.
 
Rocket said:
I was looking at an 18 spline with the 4.8 retainer. This is why I asked. Have decided after my research to stick with the 23 spline. Should serve me well if I do not do track time or slicks.

Thanks to all that responded.
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4.8 can be a 307 or 308 bearing. If it is a 307 bearing you can swap bearing retainers, and be good to go.
 
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