63 galaxie 428 questions

[galaxie427428]

I have a 63 galaxie box top that i'm restoring and I have a 428 industrial short block that I want to build for my car. I'm converting my car over to a BW T-10 4 speed and the problem i'm having is bellhousing choices. Do I need to get the original style long starter bellhousing or can I use one of my pickup truck FE bellhousings and have the narrow bolt pattern holes drilled and tapped? Can I use a 428 flywheel with the old style bellhousing? Will I run into clearance(depth) issues with the truck style bellhousing? I'd rather not buy an aftermarket bellhousing and have a scatter sheild. Thanks. Bob

[Tom Kirkham]

The truck bell housing is deeper than the car bell housing. With a Top loader transmission the transmission input shaft will not reach the stock pilot bearing. You might be able to get a longer input shaft T-10 (Chevy?) and/or a custom pilot bearing (simple lathe work) and make it all work. The easy way to tell the bell housings apart is the truck bell housing has ribs, and the car bell housing is smooth with a bulge.

[Barry_R]

As Tom said - you can create and machine parts to make it work. Or just acquire a car bellhousing and be done with it. Some battles are worth not fighting...

[Bobcat]

Just curious why you want to use the T10 in it .... unless it`s because you already have one . I have a 63 1/2 427 Galaxie and the original T10 was replaced with a toploader ( original owner raced it and exploded the T10 ) . The T10 `s aren`t that strong and will come apart on you under hard use . The toploaders hold up much better .
Since you`re replacing the engine with a 428 , originality is already lost and no one will see that you have a toploader unless they go under the car .
You might also go to the FE Forum and do a search on that subject and see if anything comes up .

[galaxie427428]

I already have the T-10 and it was rebuilt with all new parts. I'm not planning on racing it or burning off the tires or anything like that. When I bought my tranny the bellhousing that came with it is for a car 6 cylinder. I'm trying to figure out what will work and what will not. Bob.

[Clois Harlan]

Where are you located? I have some racing friends that probably have what you need. And, you can get it from them for cheap if they have it.

Clois Harlan

[galaxie427428]

I live in central wisconsin. I've been calling some of the salvage yards around where I live and they said they have gotten rid of all the old stuff when they went to a you pull it yard. Didn't figure getting a bellhousing would be this tough. Hopefully I will get lucky and come accross one. Bob.