FE Engine Swap Bellhousing/Fork Questions

[emorrison96]

Hey guys - doing an FE swap into a 65 mustang.  I already have a truck bellhousing C5TA-7505 and based off of the research that I have done the truck bellhousing is a little deeper than a car bellhousing, but a small block transmission will bolt to it and engage the pilot bushing perfectly because the input shaft is a little longer.  Can anyone confirm if this combination will work?

Additionally, since the 65 was not available with an FE I plan on using a 68 428 equalizer bar and associated linkage.  Since the fulcrum for the clutch fork is sitting about 1/2 further back will the cobra jet linkage be able to compensate for this or will there be geometry issues with the linkage and if so does anybody know a work around?  Will some other linkage work?

Thanks in advance!

[Lenz]

I was originally running the same bell that you've got with a late 70's 3 speed overdrive, worked fine.  When I rebuilt I went with a top loader and had to rework the fulcrum point in my "new" bell out of an older car as it was about 1/2" off. 

Plenty of meat on the mounting pad in the bell, I measured the fulcrum location carefully on the truck bell, drilled and relocated the fulcrum on my replacement to match.  I went thru all of this because I have a narrow case top loader and the truck bell made no provision for that trans.  I have heard that you can run a truck or car bell, suppose that's got to be true if you've got the right pilot bushing for the job.

Hope some of this helps, either that or I missed the question............

 

[emorrison96]

That helps.  I suppose I could eliminate all problems by tracking down a shallower car bellhousing but those tend to be quite a bit of $.  I would then have to shorten the input shaft on the transmission, but that may be easier than playing guesswork mixing and matching parts.  I was mainly concerned that if the fulcrum point moves farther back due to the deeper bellhousing does that mean the stock linkage won't work.  I hadn't even thought  of what would happen if I use the deeper bellhousing and go to a diaphragm clutch as those are shorter than the long style; the fulcrum might be way back then.  If you were using this bell with a small block or truck transmission then I do know there are parts inside the bell available that will work; just need to figure out the linkage maybe.

Thanks!

[ScotiaFE]

The blue one is a C60A-6394-D and is 6 7/16" deep.
The rusty on is a C5TA-7505-B and is 6 13/16" deep.
Not sure if that helps you.

[emorrison96]

That does help a lot.  Those doing the TKO swaps with the longer shafts are apparently using bellhousings well over 7" in depth, hence the need for fulcrum spacers, etc.  At 3/8" difference between these two i don't think I'll have any issues.  Thank you for taking the time and effort to post those pics!