Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-17-2022, 09:27 AM   #1
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I recently took in some parts. In the stash, was a model A trans. I offered it for sale complete, but had no takers. I took the gears out and sold them.

My space is limited and my question is it worth saving the empty case, top, & bellhousing? All parts are greasy, but rather nice. The case seems perfect.

I was planning on bringing them to Hershey and selling them cheaply, but I'd rather not lug around stuff that isn't going to sell.

Thoughts?

Please note, I hate scrapping parts, but I'm also a realist and want to avoid an ever increasing parts stash.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 10:26 AM   #2
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,355
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I'm told it's rare to find a bell housing that isn't cracked, so if yours is in good shape, there's a market for it.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-17-2022, 10:44 AM   #3
old ugly
Senior Member
 
old ugly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: alberta canada
Posts: 585
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

i think the tranny case if it is the later style would be a core for the place that does the syncro conversions. fyi the later style case would have had no shims on the cluster gear.

i have given lots of stuff away because it is too hard to deal with idiots over a low priced item.
i advertise and then sit stuff in the alley. first come first serve. i don't like wasting my time over a two bit item either.

that way the stuff gets used and doesnt impact me.
__________________
old ugly

my old father-in-law told me. "listen close when people tell you how to do stuff they may know something. then do it the way you want."
old ugly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 10:49 AM   #4
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexiskai View Post
I'm told it's rare to find a bell housing that isn't cracked, so if yours is in good shape, there's a market for it.
Thank you. Can you tell me where they generally crack so I can look?
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 10:50 AM   #5
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by old ugly View Post
i think the tranny case if it is the later style would be a core for the place that does the syncro conversions. fyi the later style case would have had no shims on the cluster gear.

i have given lots of stuff away because it is too hard to deal with idiots over a low priced item.
i advertise and then sit stuff in the alley. first come first serve. i don't like wasting my time over a two bit item either.

that way the stuff gets used and doesnt impact me.
Thank you. It is the later style then. It had no shims.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 10:55 AM   #6
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,355
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Ayers View Post
Thank you. Can you tell me where they generally crack so I can look?
I'm sorry, turns out it's the flywheel housing that frequently cracks. Never mind.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 10:58 AM   #7
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexiskai View Post
I'm sorry, turns out it's the flywheel housing that frequently cracks. Never mind.

I may not be calling to the right thing. The part I am calling a "bell housing" is the part that bolts to the front of the trans, the pedals hang on them from the shaft and it has the cross shaft for the clutch release.

In the Model A world, is that the flywheel housing? I'm a V8 guy, so I'm still learning Model A's.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 11:14 AM   #8
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,046
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

A empty transmission case makes a good doorstop.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 11:15 AM   #9
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by katy View Post
A empty transmission case makes a good doorstop.
Haha. Is a good complete top worth lugging around?
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 11:20 AM   #10
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,355
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Ayers View Post
I may not be calling to the right thing. The part I am calling a "bell housing" is the part that bolts to the front of the trans, the pedals hang on them from the shaft and it has the cross shaft for the clutch release.
Yeah, that's the bell housing. The flywheel housing has the engine mount surfaces on each side and a hole for the starter. It's part of the engine, it wouldn't be on a transmission.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 11:24 AM   #11
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexiskai View Post
Yeah, that's the bell housing. The flywheel housing has the engine mount surfaces on each side and a hole for the starter. It's part of the engine, it wouldn't be on a transmission.
Got it. Thank you. Are bell housings worth selling cheap or is it scrap fodder?
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 12:10 PM   #12
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,963
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

If you are thinking of scrapping it, why not just offer it free to the hobby? There should be someone wanting the parts. Mitchell overdrive company is the one that may need the trans case.
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 01:46 PM   #13
jak
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 279
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I cannot tell you how many transmission cases and bell housing's i've sent to the scrapper. They are like rabbits every collection i buy has 2,3,4 or more of each. I pick through them and keep the best to try sell them to anybody looking. But even at that i have a stack of bell housings 3-4 feet tall and at least one pallet of empty transmission cases. Even trying to give them away i've had no luck. And because of the weight and the size of the box required nobody wants to pay the shipping.
jak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 02:46 PM   #14
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,791
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

scrap it Tim. I tried giving away a complete rear, drums brakes and all-guy only wtd a certain model/year. yes it was free.
got 20. at the syracuse scrapper. didnt want to do it, but dont have 3 yrs to sell it.....
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 02:48 PM   #15
jack backer
BANNED
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Chenango Bridge NY
Posts: 433
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Hold a flywheel housing with one finger, tap it with a wrench if it rings it’s good, if it clanks it’s cracked.

Empty A case and bellhousing? nobody pays up for anything…don’t agonize,scrap it
jack backer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 04:02 PM   #16
daveymc29
Senior Member
 
daveymc29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Danville, CA
Posts: 1,554
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

Try Mitchell's in Williams, CA. The want a core for building the syncro tranny. Sure they'd like to have it if it is good, the tower also maybe?

I have stitched up a few of the flywheel covers. Not sure how good they were but the didn't ring like an uncracked one. If yours will ring when suspended on a wire and gently struch with a wrench that should indicate no cracks. New ones are around $500. If throwing away, bear that in mind. Points restorer guys like originals. (Cracked ones make a "thus" sound, no ring.
daveymc29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 04:40 PM   #17
JBill
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 702
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I only discard Model A parts if I know they are being reproduced by reputable folks, and even then only when they are in very rough condition. Pretty sure bell housings and trans cases are not! Someday someone might be very glad to have them.
JBill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 06:28 PM   #18
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

If I get time to de-grease them, I'll bring them to Hershey. I'll ask $5.00 a piece. Of course, everything is negotiable at Hershey.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2022, 07:42 PM   #19
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,496
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I makes me cry to hear you guys telling someone to scrap those things. I grab every part, even gearbox cases and bell housings when I can - especially bell housings. RHD ones are not so easy to find and many are damaged and worn around the A frame ball socket. As for sending a complete rear end to scrap - that would never happen here but for me to even take it for free, it would be expensive by the time I got it home. Why don't you guys move a little closer!!!
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2022, 08:12 AM   #20
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,181
Default Re: Is it worth saving an empty trans case and bell housing?

I'll throw this out there. If anyone wants the case and bellhousing, come pick them up. I'd be happy to pass them along to someone who can use them.
Tim Ayers is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:17 AM.