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Topic: Bellhousing centering

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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Bellhousing centering (1/19)
 12/27/08 2:21am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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I need to test the centering of my bellhousing

Does anyone have a dial indicator they could loan me

I would only need it long enough to test for centering then if needed I'll order the offset rowel pins and then set

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Bellhousing centering (2/19)
 12/27/08 1:03pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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I have one of These
I'd be happy to send, if no-one closer steps up...

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Bellhousing centering (3/19)
 12/28/08 3:16am
Gale Banks 80Lifetime Member
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 You might try a local rental shop. If You go to Use-enco.com or ebay you might find that they are cheaper that you thought. What Bellhousing do You have? If its a Lakewood then the Hole is just Stamped out and not round anyway. If its a Mcleod then its Machined so poorly that the  Indicator will jump around and You will find its not round either. If its a reproduction 621 thats CNC machined you will find its near perfect and won't need any offset Pins providing that Your Block hasn't been Aligned Bored. Do You have a Didital Caliper?  Bolt something solid to the Flywheel that Pokes out of the Bellhousing an Inch or so away from the surface and just measure the distance in Four places as You turn the Engine.

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Bellhousing centering (4/19)
 12/28/08 5:29am
stingrayjim jrLifetime Member
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harbor frieght has them for $10....  :)   the magnetic stand is about the same price
 
dial indicator:
 
 
stand:
 
there is a store in Little Rock..
 
LITTLE ROCK, AR 5820 ASHER AVE. STE 7D-E 501-562-6262
stingrayjim2008-12-28 02:31:17

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Bellhousing centering (5/19)
 12/28/08 8:28am
tuxblacrayLifetime Member
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Our local Auto Zone rents them out too. My only concern would be how accurate the are with all of the different folks using them.

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Bellhousing centering (6/19)
 12/29/08 12:33am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

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69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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I checked autozone and they dont have any dial indicators.  also advance auto parts, oreillys, all of them are same story...  no indicator

i guess i could goto harbor freight.
 
I am using factory bell housing from m-21  in theory it should all be lined up.. i just dont trust the build qualioty 40 years ago and i want to double check it.
 
 


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Bellhousing centering (7/19)
 12/29/08 10:21am
tuxblacrayLifetime Member
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Greensburg, IN - USA

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Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...


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Bummer..... do you have any friends that work in tool / die / machine shops? They would all have them and a few good mechanics (rite Joel) might keep a set handy too.

Maybe they would let you borrow them. Or, if you have the bellhousing out and available or can mock a template of the dial positions take it to them to be checked.

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Bellhousing centering (8/19)
 12/29/08 1:59pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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I'm sendin mine to Ben...

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Bellhousing centering (9/19)
 1/2/09 10:14pm
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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it arrived today..  i need some advice from the master.
 
i cant get the darn thing centered.  i come back to the same reading at 0,90,180,270 everytime.. the problem is that they are consisently off centered. i can readjust the dial and make it less off centered, which usually makes tghe other axis more off center.  is there a trick to getting the dial centered in the whole or just lots of trial and error.
 
 


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Bellhousing centering (10/19)
 1/2/09 11:04pm
gurtz
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baton rouge, LA - USA

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Ben:
 
Have you ever looked at the Classic Chevy 5 speed install videos on their websitefor the TKO's.  They have a good one on centering if I remember correctly.
 
LOL
Bellhousing centering (11/19)
 1/2/09 11:11pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Well, sorta...
There is a specific attachment that makes doing this a lot easier. Of course, I don't have one anymore.
Otherwise, it is just a matter of getting the magnetic base as close to the center of the crank pilot as possible, then setting the dial by turning the engine, taking the measurements at 4 points, then moving the dial to get it to an average at 90deg North/South-East/West.
If you have a machinist's rule, you can measure the opening in the bellhousing to find center, then center the dial off of that. If that makes any sense at all.
I will add this...in all my years of fooling with hot-rod/racers, etc., the only time I've ever actually needed to "center" a bellhousing was on aftermarket scattershields, most of which are stamped steel, and prone to be off just a wee bit...like 1/4"!!!. On a stock, cast bellhousing, with a regular standard trans, the hole in the bell would have to be off by a great deal to create any issues with the trans not shifting properly, or causing pre-mature bearing/bushing wear. If the engine dowels are in good shape/new, and there is no wear on the dowel holes in the bell, I can't see needing to align it any better than Chevy did. If there is wear in bell holes, there is a repair for those, that bores out the worn hole, and then you put in a steel insert. I have done that on a few in the past...

Just my opinion.Adams' Apple2009-01-02 20:12:10

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Bellhousing centering (12/19)
 1/2/09 11:34pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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Is you clutch installed? If so remove it. Take a piece of fine sandpaper and lightly run it around the bellhousing opening to remove any dirt or burr's.
 I just got the magnetic base affixed to the flywheel. It doesn't have to be dead center. Then line up the dial indicator with the pointer aimed at the 12 o' clock position and dial zero'ed out. With an assistant slowly turning the engine.. take measurements as soon as the dial moves. Record the reading at it's peak reading. Then continue on until the dial moves again and record.  Once you made a complete revolution compare your readings.
 If for example you have a reading of  +.005" at the 3 o' clock position and then a reading of - .007" at the 9 o'clock position. Your offset is .012".
 
I did my measurements 4x's til I was satisfied. So be patient.
 
 
 
 
(Fixed math error)
 
 
 
Sarge812009-01-05 18:20:22

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Bellhousing centering (13/19)
 1/3/09 12:33pm
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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clutch is off...i need to do some smoothing, i think i found a burr on the engine facing, the upper right side. and I need to remove some overspray on both engine and bellhousing.

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Bellhousing centering (14/19)
 1/4/09 10:41pm
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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all done..  joel your gauge is in the mail tomorrow, I put some S&H in the box.  Thanks again for the loaner.
 
everthing is documented here
 
if you looked at this before make sure you see the transmission and the alignment chart, if not, hit refresh.


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Bellhousing centering (15/19)
 1/4/09 11:27pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Glad ya got it figured out, Ben!
It all looks really nice! It's getting closer, eh?

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Bellhousing centering (16/19)
 1/4/09 11:34pm
ranger3Lifetime Member
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Everything is looking good Ben. I envy your talent and patience.

Scott
Bellhousing centering (17/19)
 1/5/09 12:36am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


Joined: 4/24/2004
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my fever finally broke this morning

Been sick since 12/31

Wrenching while sick not a good idea

Suddenly brain started working again

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Bellhousing centering (18/19)
 1/5/09 8:27pm
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3231

 
[QUOTE=Sarge81]Is you clutch installed? If so remove it. Take a piece of fine sandpaper and lightly run it around the bellhousing opening to remove any dirt or burr's.
 I just got the magnetic base affixed to the flywheel. It doesn't have to be dead center. Then line up the dial indicator with the pointer aimed at the 12 o' clock position and dial zero'ed out. With an assistant slowly turning the engine.. take measurements as soon as the dial moves. Record the reading at it's peak reading. Then continue on until the dial moves again and record.  Once you made a complete revolution compare your readings.
 If for example you have a reading of  +.005 at the 3 o' clock position and then a reading of - .007 at the 9 o'clock position. Your offset is only .002.
 
I did my measurements 4x's til I was satisfied. So be patient.
[/QUOTE]
 
one small thing..  the instructions that came with my centerforce clutch kit say that the +.005 and -.007 that you mentioned would be .012.  the instructions from keisler say same thing.
 -.005 and -.007 would be .002, and +.005 and +.007 is .002
 
cthulhu2009-01-05 17:28:29

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Bellhousing centering (19/19)
 1/5/09 9:17pm
Sarge81Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.


Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Oops, typo... my bad. Embarrassed 

I shouldn't try to type fast late at night
I'll fix it. Sorry 'bout the confusion.


______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26
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