Question on the BW bellhousings

[My427stang]

I am doing a snotty dual quad 397 for a 63.5 Gal with a BW 4 speed.  I haven't done one I don't think, even back in the day

Can the bellhousing take a standard starter with the correct ring gear and flywheel?  Can the bell fit an 11 inch Long clutch?  Any other tricks or advice to use the bell in a street car?

[Nightmist66]

Any details on the engine build?

[My427stang]

.040 over 10:1 hyd roller motor, 284/291 230/236 108 LSA on 104, .557 lift, C3AE-C with bronze guides, 11/32 CJ sized SI valves, beehives, no porting but a good bowl cut and guide relief, and dual 600s.  Owner is on the fence med riser or low riser intake, he has both.  I would like the med riser on the engine with the black 63.5 and a bubble hood, but he may save it for a big build, and I can't really blame him if he does.

It won't be a big number engine, but with the 3.89 4 speed it should be a stout little monster

[Nightmist66]

Didn't want to derail, but was curious. Thanks. Yeah, should still be fun. 

[Gregwill16]

Assuming you are talking a C3 bellhousing, yes and yes. Just use a block plate and rotate engine after assembly to make sure. I just put one together myself using a C3 bell and 11" Long clutch setup and had plenty of room.
But I had to take back apart because I'm using a 65 up toploader which will not work with the early bell due to the larger input bearing retainer.

[Henrysnephew]

Greg, I believe you can chuck that bearing retainer up in a lathe and turn the flange o.d. to match that of the T10 size hole in the bell.  Randy M

[Gregwill16]

Randy I debated machining the bellhousing, but Lance fixed me up with a C5 bell. Access to a Bridgeport is almost a must working on these old Fords.

[Rory428]

As mentioned, the earlier FE bellhousings had a smaller diameter front bearing retainer bore size, as well as only the narrow transmission bolt pattern. I have a 1961 bellhousing behind the 428 CJ in my 59, as well as a Toploader 4 speed.I could have either had the Toploader (1966 model) bearing retainer turned down to the right diameter, or looked for a 1964 only Toploader retainer, but I chose to have the hole in the bellhousing machined to the proper bore size. I used a later 184 tooth flywheel and starter, as well as a 65 & newer steel block plate, to locate the starter, The early bells used the long shaft design starter motors, which did not use a block plate, as the early starters had a machined ridge, which fit into a corresponding recess in the bellhousing itself. It works just fine with a Mcleod 11" Long style clutch.

[My427stang]

Thank you very much, I haven't run across an early one, and was worried the owner may get stuck.

We'll go 184 tooth flywheel, starter plate, and he is considering a mini starter, but we'll see where we end up. Appreciate everyone sharing their experience with detail

[GJCAT427]

My 63 427 galaxie has the early bell housing in it with the 11 long clutch, a later flywheel  and block plate and a mini starter. I`m running a big in/out toploader and it fits the early bell. I did machine the bell ring to accept the toploader throwout nose. I did use a later clutch arm and had to modify the linkage accordingly Haven`t had any problems with it and I`m not easy on it. I was told when I first investagated doing this, I could`nt fit the 11' clutch in the early bell, people told me it would hit or rub the bell. Well low and behold it did fit and it has plenty of room for the clutch, throw out brg and clutch arm.