New 200 build and bellhousing issues.

[Quick 8]

I am going to upgrade fro a fordomatic to a C4. I need to determine the bellhousing I need.

The block that is currently in the car is a 200 out of a 65 falcon. In the near future I plan on building a 200 turbo engine using a block (yet to found) from a 65-72.

The problem is, I am not sure I understand the bellhousings available that will work. It sounds like there is one bellhousing that will work for 64-66 200s, and a different larger one for 67-78 200s, and then a third meant for low mount starter v8 pattern blocks like the 250.

Is this correct? How do I identify them? And, is there one I can use now with my nat. asp. 200 and then still use with my higher horsepower (350hp/400ft-lb torque) engine later?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
~Jim

 

[mach1 mark]

Quick, that is correct on your knowledge of bell housing. I believe the 68 and above 200's used a lower mount starter, and the 250's used a v8 bell.
You can look on e-bay, but you ussually have to buy the whole transmission, just make sure its the right bell.

Did you buy the c4 yet? If not use a 71 -78 C4, just better, make sure you get the torque-converter,(26 spline), nobody repops those as I understand, and they can be rebuilt.

Good luck.

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

the early motors had the small bell. then came the dual bell motors (drilled for both small bells) and then came the 81+ big bell low mount starters.

really any low mount block after 66? will work for ya. the later ones just had no road draft tube hole in them (they also have more mounting bosses on them I think) 78-80 is the same casting number and that is what I am running in my fairlane and have to more that I am building up.

 

[Quick 8]

Would this bell work for my application?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 967&rd=1,1

 

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know about the bell housing you can use on the early single bolt 170 that allows you to use a larger flywheel and clutch? This on bolts up from inside the bell housing. I understand it came on cars with a taxi package
L.D.

 

[Quick 8]

turbo_fairlane_200,

Also, what did you mean by "road draft tube hole"?
And by what you said, it sounds like the 65 engine doesn't have one?

Thanks,
~Jim

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

I can't remember the cut off eyar but in like 69 or so the eliminated the road draft tube hole. about 1 1/8" hole in the block under the #1 plug hole. this was used as a crankcase vent.

 

[MustangSix]

All "Falcon" sixes had a small-pattern bell thru 1965. After the C5 castings, there was a change to a dual pattern to accomodate a larger bell for manual transmissions. The C4 autos continued to use the small pattern, leaving the upper two holes unused.

When the 250 came out, it had the same small block ford pattern. Different engine.

In 1980, Ford released the -BB casting that had 2/3 of the SBF pattern and a low mount starter.

It's the transisiton years that give people trouble with the swaps. Depending on when the car was built during that model year, a 65 could have a small pattern (early) or a dual pattern (later). All C6 and later castings have the dual pattern.

 

[Quick 8]

Thanks. All of this great info has really helped alot. I have two more quick questions though.

What is the normal torque converter diameter and also the number of teeth on the flexplate for a '65 200 w/ C4?

Thanks again,

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Jim, I am using the 1980+ "BB" block so I could run a V8 bellhousing and torque converter.

It makes parts much easier to find (especially Tq conv)