Ford and Mercury Bell Housing Adapters
1948-1953
(Late Style Flathead V8 Motors)
When Ford changed the design of the V8 engine in 1948 to the new 8BA/8RT type motor, they provided a separate bolt-on transmission bell housing adapter. This part (basic #6392) is known in the parts manuals as a "Housing Assembly). Along with this part is a stamped sheet metal part (basic #6366) which they referred to as a "Cover Assembly".
To those of us in the restoration hobby, the Housing Assembly is often called a bell housing or a transmission adapter. The Cover Assembly is generally called a starter plate, since this is the part that the starter bolts to.
The confusion exists about these adapters because Ford produced about 6 different starter plates and 6 different bell housings. The important thing to know is that each bell housing adapter is designed to be used with a particular starter plate. The chart below shows the various adapters by part number. As further information is available, we will include pictures of the actual pairs.
The early truck bell housing was a cast iron adapter used strictly on the light trucks. Ford also produced a stamped metal bell housing with the same bolt pattern for the transmission. This was the large round opening with 8 bolt holes, used with the 1932-48 three speed passenger car trans, the 1942-50 open drive three speed truck transmission, and the 1949-50 Mercury passenger car.
The other stamped sheet metal bell housing used was manufactured with 4 bolt holes for mounting the newer type three speed transmission. Finally, for 1952 Ford began using a cast iron bell housing which had the side opening for the clutch release fork assembly.
|
Model/Year |
6392 Bell Housing | 6366 Cover Assy (starter plate) |
| 1948-50 Ford Truck | 8RT-6392 (cast iron) | 8RT-6366-A (3.25" radius crank opening) |
| 1953 Ford Truck | (not listed) | 8RT-6366-C (2.12" radius crank opening) |
| 1949-51 Ford Car | 8BA-6392 | 8BA-6366-B |
| 1951 Ford Car | 1BA-6392 | 8BA-6366-B |
| 1952-53 Ford Car | AC-6392-D | EAB-6366-A |
| 1949-51 Mercury | 8CM-6392 | 8CM-6366-B (see note a) |
| 1951 Mercury | 1CM-6392 | 8CM-6366-C (see note b) 1CM-6366 (1951 only) |
| 1952-53 Mercury | AC-6392-D | EAB-6366-A |
| Note
A: the 8CM-6366-B is replaced by the 8CM-6366-C along with
8CM-6825 bracket Note B: the 8CM-6366-C is used with the 8CM-6825 bracket |
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Click on a picture for enlargements. Two matched sets are shown.
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