Cadillac 331 bellhousing question

[40coe]

I am working on putting a Cadillac 331 in a 1936 Ford. I am wanting to use a 1955 331 engine which has the shorter, closer to the flywheel casting verses the extended casting on the 49 - 54 engines.

Dose anyone make a bellhousing for the 1955 331 engine to the manual Laselle transmission?

[Bob C]

Don't know if this will help but Trans-Dapt KD-37 is what you are looking for, was $69.50 list in 1965.

[Newc]

There was a 'make up' bellhousing extension for the later 'early OHV Cads, but REAL hard to find. Trans-Dapt is best now. Newc

[deuce5wndw]

Speed Gems still makes adapter for that engine but I couldn't find the LaSalle transmission.

[38 coupe]

I think you will get more help over on the HAMB site, the Ford Barn Early V8 forum is dedicated to flathead V8s, not replacing them with later engines.

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by 38 coupe

I think you will get more help over on the HAMB site, the Ford Barn Early V8 forum is dedicated to flathead V8s, not replacing them with later engines.

"38 coupe" ...... Everything you state is true, but what some of you guys that keep harping on this subject don't consider is the fact that many of us here on The 'Barn are old "hotrodders" from the '50s & '60s that fooled with (or still do) this old junk back in the day, and we are a valuable source of knowledge that is slowly dying-away. Yeah, the H.A.M.B. is definitely a source for some of this outdated info, but don't insinuate that this site is nothing more than a bunch of stuck-up old Ford restorers with nothing more to offer. There's plenty of valuable knowledge here on The 'Barn just begging to help with some of this obscure stuff. And don't lose sight of the fact that MANY of the old Fords now owned by FordBarn members (and others) were saved from the crusher years ago by many of us old "hotrodders".

Coop


.

[Ronnieroadster]

Coop your spot on about the knowledge this site has with the fellows like yourself who can guide others along. Someone who God forbid may not be asking a restorers question thus
giving "38 coupe" a reason to post in a not so helpful way. Its a fact old Fords were Hot Rodded well before the were ever restorers. This fact has helped greatly in saving so many old Fords so that restorers can enjoy restoring them as time goes on.
Heck my new Deuce three window project was saved by a Hot Rodder who found the car in 1950. From 1950 until two months ago it has been hidden away. I'm happy to say it will see the light of day once again but its going to stay a Hot Rod forever.
Ronnieroadster

[drolston]

If you have problems finding adaptors for the Cadillac engine, consider the '57 Buick nailhead at 364 cubic inches, but about 30 lb heavier. The Buick is easier to adapt to the stock Ford transmission and motor mounts. But don't pop the clutch. I went through one transmission, a drive shaft and an axle before I gave up drag racing that engine in my '48 coupen in 1963.

[40coe]

Thanks to all for the great tips. Seems like adapters for other transmissions but not the Laselle trans.
I did do a trade recently for what I thought was a 55 Cadillac bellhousing to Laselle trans. It is an early aftermarket made from aluminum. (Maybe JC Whitney). Turns out it is for the early Cadillac block, (should be about 3" longer). I still think it was a good trade being made from Aluminum. If I can't find one then I will cut this one and add a 3" section.
If it doesn't fit make it fit!
Photo shows factory cast iron bellhousing and early after market aluminum one.

[Tony, NY]

An old thread with the same question on the HAMB. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-done.1071944/

[40coe]

Thanks for the link to the Hamb article. Seems like there may not be anymore of these out there? Probably some laying in the dark corners of garages that have long been forgotten about. Was hoping my thread might jolt the memory of someone who might have one.

[Gene1949]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

"38 coupe" ...... Everything you state is true, but what some of you guys that keep harping on this subject don't consider is the fact that many of us here on The 'Barn are old "hotrodders" from the '50s & '60s that fooled with (or still do) this old junk back in the day, and we are a valuable source of knowledge that is slowly dying-away. Yeah, the H.A.M.B. is definitely a source for some of this outdated info, but don't insinuate that this site is nothing more than a bunch of stuck-up old Ford restorers with nothing more to offer. There's plenty of valuable knowledge here on The 'Barn just begging to help with some of this obscure stuff. And don't lose sight of the fact that MANY of the old Fords now owned by FordBarn members (and others) were saved from the crusher years ago by many of us old "hotrodders".

Coop


.

Well said, Coop

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 40coe

Thanks to all for the great tips. Seems like adapters for other transmissions but not the Laselle trans.
I did do a trade recently for what I thought was a 55 Cadillac bellhousing to Laselle trans. It is an early aftermarket made from aluminum. (Maybe JC Whitney). Turns out it is for the early Cadillac block, (should be about 3" longer). I still think it was a good trade being made from Aluminum. If I can't find one then I will cut this one and add a 3" section.
If it doesn't fit make it fit!
Photo shows factory cast iron bellhousing and early after market aluminum one.

[Henry Floored]

There’s something about the golden age of Ford vehicles ‘28 - ‘53 where even the enthusiasts advocate for gutting the Ford heart out of them and shake the Pom poms for putting brand X, y, or z engine from every bitter rival that FoMoCo has ever competed against.

I doubt Henry would like what has happened to his dream.


Why do people forget that Ford also built OHV’s since 1952 and even earlier if you consider the conversions like ARDUN’s.

But hey I got chewed out for bringing this up before so never mind what I say. It’s just one man’s opinion.

[38 coupe]

Coop and Ronnie, with respect, this is not a forum for other than flathead V8 era Ford vehicles with stock block type engines. Please stop telling everyone I am wrong. The boss says so in the first post of the sticky at the top of this forum.

Originally Posted by Ryan

I've gotten a bunch of private messages as of late about this and thought I had better speak up.



All that said, I understand there is some overlap. A great example is a guy with a '40 coupe that he likes to drive quite a bit. For drivability, he might stick a dual carb intake and maybe even some heads on his mill. Advice on such modifications is, of course, welcomed.

I realize (and I'm sure you guys do as well) that there is no broad line of separation between hot rodded and stock early Fords. This would be easy if there was... But it's important to remember that the Ford Barn focuses on the stock restorations while The Jalopy Journal focuses on hot rods and customs. Sure, we will have some "sidebars" on each site covering more bases, but the general premises remains.

Also, please be aware I appreciate well done modifications. I am a member of the HAMB forum. I don't post much there since I am not anywhere near as knowledgeable on Y-blocks, nailheads, early Cadillacs, etc. as either of you and the majority of the group there. Both of you are knowledgeable, and I appreciate that. I do prefer this forum stay dedicated to flathead and flathead adjacent topics, like Arduns and T5s in a converted woodie. I drop by the HAMB for the dedicated hot rod topics.

[Automotive Stud]

I think you need an Offenhauser #5018, that basically converts the 55 and up block to the earlier 331 style bellhousing. I assume a Lasalle would bolt right up to that?

[Gene1949]

By the time any of us children of the ‘50s could afford a Ford the anemic flathead was pretty much worn out. Most of them in wreaking yards were pretty used up also. In my area the Oldsmobile were plentiful. We had an economic choice, rebuild the flathead or repower with an OHV drivetrain. Since most of us hung out at wreaking yards or the local dirt tracks repowering was the more viable choice.
In my case, our neighbor wreaked his low mile 54 Desoto. I got the entire car for working at his dairy one summer. Stuffed it into a ’40 Desoto coupe. The only kid in our circle who could stay with the Desoto was a kid with a J-2 Olds in a ’50 shoebox

[Newc]

'Automotive Stud' has it right. I found mine after 20yrs of searching. Think of an automatic bellhousing '55 newer, they are half right; a machinist with a mill could cut it and weld on a 1/2" plate then machine the old bellhousing pattern. Cad ring gears changed 6v vs 12V also. I have an extra automatic bellhousing for just that idea. $50 +shp Newc [Oregon]

[40coe]

Newc, thanks for the idea of maybe using an automatic bellhousing. I will have to look at that as possible. Although I would not weld to cast iron, I would rather machine and bolt.
Thinking I would modify the bellhousing at the transmission side to accept the manual Laselle transmission.>

[tubman]

Given the mounting problems, as well as the scarcity and cost of LaSalle transmissions, I would consider a BW T85 or T89. These are as strong (probably stronger) than the old LaSalle's and much easier to come by. They have the same bolt pattern as all '49-'64 Ford transmissions, so adapters are common. There are some minor problems with different sized bell housing register holes and pilot bearing dimensions, but they can be easily handled. T89's were common in Ford pickups from the late fifties and early sixties and came from the factory behind FE's (352, 360 and even 390 ci). They also have one thing you'll probably not find on a LaSalle and that's a Borg-Warner R-11 overdrive unit; not the wimpy little 3 pinion unit of an R10, but a rugged, 4 pinion unit designed for truck use.

Unless you are on some sort of nostalgia kick, the choice seems obvious. And, for the guys complaining about the "hot rod" aspect of this, the T89 is also a Ford product.