8BA without trans bell housing?

[Ziggster]

Came across this this for sale, but I'm confused as it lists it as a 54 8BA, but I see no trans bell housing. Is this a weird Canadian truck configuration?

[Ziggster]

More pics.

[Ziggster]

Lat pic.

[skidmarks]

Looks like all the 49 and up motors

[Marvin/TN]

Bell Housing is a seperate piece on 8ba Flat heads. It consists of a ring and a starter plate

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by Ziggster

Came across this this for sale, but I'm confused as it lists it as a 54 8BA, but I see no trans bell housing. Is this a weird Canadian truck configuration?

'48 was the last year that the bellhousing was integral with the block. Canadian Fords were blessed with the flathead for one more year beyond us Yanks...1954 last Canadian flatty! DD

[Ziggster]

Damn. I forgot that it was the 48 and later that didn't have the integral bell housing. Senior moment...

[Desoto291Hemi]

Speaking of bell housings.
Did any of the early 50’s Mercury Flatheads take a transmission that was a New Process unit?
I have seen some pics of what looked like a Flathead bell housing that took what looks like a Mopar tranny bolt pattern?
Just checking to be sure.

Tommy

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by Desoto291Hemi

Speaking of bell housings.
Did any of the early 50’s Mercury Flatheads take a transmission that was a New Process unit?
I have seen some pics of what looked like a Flathead bell housing that took what looks like a Mopar tranny bolt pattern?
Just checking to be sure.

Tommy

Don't know what a "New Process" unit is but late '51 used a 4 bolt bell housing and also the 4 bolt bell housing that fit the Merc-O-matic the same year.

[Desoto291Hemi]

Sorry,,,the new process ended up in Mopars later.
A different design,,but still a new process style.
Just asking.

Tommy

[Tim Ayers]

Question is how much?

[rotorwrench]

8BA family had a lot of differnt half bells and bell housings. The Mercury used pressed steel half bells from 1949 thru early 1951. The pickups & trucks used them through 1952 but they were cast iron so that they could accept the larger 11-inch clutch if needed. The Fords used a full pressed steel bell housing from 1948 through 1951. Ford used cast iron bells from 1952 thru 53 and Mercury from late 51 thru 53. Pickups made a big change in 1953 for the F100 series intro.

Canada did a lot of things differently. I've seen transmissions in some Canadian trucks that had no half bell due to it being an integral part of the transmission. There is a lot of stuff I don't know about the Canadian trucks which is what that engine seems to be from. The oil pan appears to have the structure for the aluminum dust seal that the trucks had. In Canada, it can be from a Ford or a Mercury truck too since they had a full line of Mercury trucks as well as the Ford line up.

I don't know if New Process was even making anything for light or intermediate Ford trucks in that era. They certainly have made a lot of transmissions and transfer cases in the modern era for light & intermediate trucks/pickups. The NP435 transmission is one. They were under Chrysler control after 1954 or so but everything is different now days. New Venture was joint deal between GM & Chrysler.

[Desoto291Hemi]

You sound like a reasonably smart man,,,,,is that you in your avatar next to the 17 ?
If you fool with aircraft,,you are pretty good!

Tommy

[1952henry]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

8BA family had a lot of differnt half bells and bell housings. The Mercury used pressed steel half bells from 1949 thru early 1951. The pickups & trucks used them through 1952 but they were cast iron so that they could accept the larger 11-inch clutch if needed. The Fords used a full pressed steel bell housing from 1948 through 1951. Ford used cast iron bells from 1952 thru 53 and Mercury from late 51 thru 53. Pickups made a big change in 1953 for the F100 series intro.

Canada did a lot of things differently. I've seen transmissions in some Canadian trucks that had no half bell due to it being an integral part of the transmission. There is a lot of stuff I don't know about the Canadian trucks which is what that engine seems to be from. The oil pan appears to have the structure for the aluminum dust seal that the trucks had. In Canada, it can be from a Ford or a Mercury truck too since they had a full line of Mercury trucks as well as the Ford line up.

I don't know if New Process was even making anything for light or intermediate Ford trucks in that era. They certainly have made a lot of transmissions and transfer cases in the modern era for light & intermediate trucks/pickups. The NP435 transmission is one. They were under Chrysler control after 1954 or so but everything is different now days. New Venture was joint deal between GM & Chrysler.

AFAIK, New Process did not supply Ford transmissions. They did supply the transfer cases to Chrysler for the WW2 Dodges.

[Desoto291Hemi]

I think the NP435 was a Ford tranny.
NP stands for New Process.
In the early 60’s I think?

Tommy

[tubman]

There's probably now chance that what you are referencing could happen. The 8BA transmission bolt pattern was used by Ford through the 1964 model year and then changed, so the chances that a later transmission (even if for a Ford) would fit. I believe the top bolts have the same spacing, but the bottom bolts are much further apart. Then there is the difference in the center bell housing register diameter being different, and the you have the difference in bell housing depth. Since the 8BA bell housings are pressed steel, it is possible to weld "ears" on them to catch some other transmission mounting bolts, but I think you are "whistling in the dark" on this.

I could be wrong though. Try matching them up; it might work. That's what "hot rodders" do.

[Ziggster]

I just remembered that my engine had the the same rebuild plate from Edmonton, Alberta. Mine was #13370. This one is #25116. That's a difference of 11746! Could it really be possible they rebuilt that many motors?

[Eagle43]

Engine Rebuilders in Edmonton rebuilt a lot of Ford motors, transmissions and torque converters. My oldest son worked there for about 4 years rebuilding torque converters in the late eighties and early nineties. They closed down quite a few years ago since engines are now built to last much longer and there isn't much demand for rebuilding engines.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Ziggster

I just remembered that my engine had the the same rebuild plate from Edmonton, Alberta. Mine was #13370. This one is #25116. That's a difference of 11746! Could it really be possible they rebuilt that many motors?

Sure. Millions were made, so that is a small fraction.

[rotorwrench]

Originally Posted by Desoto291Hemi

You sound like a reasonably smart man,,,,,is that you in your avatar next to the 17 ?
If you fool with aircraft,,you are pretty good!

Tommy

That was my Pop next to the Miss-U in late 1944, Italy. I went the helicopter route when I was in the military but I just work on them. Pop was copilot on that aircraft.