How to mate a 8BA to a T170?

[36coupe]

I plan to mount a T170 od transmission to a 8BA for my 36 coupe project.
I have the t170, 8BA and a cast (ford) bell housing

I know i need a hogs head or an adaptor.

should I look for a 46 and up 4 speed truck adaptor OR
a 8BA adaptor?

If I use a 46 and up adaptor will I have to weld on tabs to mount the transmission?

Would the 8BA truck adaptor have room to drill and belt the transmission to the adaptor?

This is all new to me and I am trying to buy local used parts instead of getting nailed on exchange rates by buying new all.
Can you make T5 adaptors work like the ones speedways sell?

[51504bat]

I was going to install a mid '60's Ford 4 speed toploader from a Mustang with a Jeep shift tower in my '39 pickup with an 8ba using either a stamped steel Merc 1/2 bell housing or a cast iron 1/2 bell from a truck mated to an adapter from Model Engineering (MEC). The MEC adapter is a quality product and allows the toploader to bolt right up. I think the T-170 would be the same but I'm not 100% sure. You could give MEC a call and they'll answer all your questions. Good people to deal with IMO.

[36tudordeluxe]

Ditto on the MEC adapter and Merc half bell, it's what I used in my '36 and you have the added advantage of being able to use the stock clutch linkage.

[Ol' Ron]

I used the stamped bell housing, bored out the register hole to match the T-170. then welded on some tabs to bolt the trand up. Took a skim cut off the housing and that's it. I likes how easy it was to add a hydrolic cluch cilinder to the housing. Works like a char. We also adapted a Toyota 5 speed truck trans the same way, but that needed a 1/4" spacer.

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

I used the stamped bell housing, bored out the register hole to match the T-170. then welded on some tabs to bolt the trand up. Took a skim cut off the housing and that's it. I likes how easy it was to add a hydrolic cluch cilinder to the housing. Works like a char. We also adapted a Toyota 5 speed truck trans the same way, but that needed a 1/4" spacer.

Ron
I picked up a 52 Mercury 8BA tester and it came with a flywheel and stamped bell housing to use with my T170.

I was planning on seeing if I can have the flywheel resurfaced.

I need to order a clutch and pressure plate. I am wondering if I need to order a specfic clutch and pressure plate. Not 11" but doses it have to be for a 52 mercury only or will a early 9" work?

Does the throw out bearing need to be for a T170 or flathead?

[Ol' Ron]

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All 49-53 Ford and Merc flywheels are interchangeable. Does this flywheel need resurfacing?? I used the stock clutch linkage and throw out bearing. You'[ll need a milling machine to bore the regidter.

[flatjack9]

If the transmission has the tall narrow bolt pattern, you can mount it directly to the Ford full bellhousing. A lot of those transmissions had both the old and new bolt patterns.

[Steve/IL]

I also recommend the MEC Adapter and suggest that you use a full Mercury stamped steel bell housing. However. other 49-53 bell housings will work. Be sure to get the accompanying starter plate. The MEC Adapter comes with a sleeve so you can use a stock early Ford throw out bearing. Use a 49/53 Ford Flywheel as they have the more common bolt spacing for the pressure plate (Mercury flywheels have 6 evenly space mount holes for the pressure plate). I used a late 70s Ford Granada 10" Clutch and Pressure Plate. You will also need to take approximately 1/4 to 1/2" off the length of the pilot on the T170 input shaft.

[rotorwrench]

Ford T85/86 and early Ford T-10 were narrow Ford BW bolt pattern like those old Ford 49/53 and Merc 51/53 bell housings. Tremec 170 RTS should have the more modern standard wide pattern. The MEC adapter with the stamped Mercury or cast F1 pickup half bell should do the job. The The Merc flywheel uses Borg & Beck pattern clutch & Ford used Long 9.5" pattern for cars & Long 10" pattern for F1. Clutch is adaptable. T/O bearing might need to be adapted to use the old Ford style equalizer set up. It depends on the T-170 input diameter and spline count as to what clutch would work best. Someone likely knows the best combo for this. There are several threads on this site for T-170 conversion and at least one member has insight as to what works best for early Ford. There is a guy that does torque tube adapters for them in one of those threads if a search is done.

[flatjack9]

Many of the T-170's come with both bolt patterns. No need for any kind of adapter. I've had one in my 39 with an 8BA for over 20 years now. Steel bellhousing.

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by Steve/IL

I also recommend the MEC Adapter and suggest that you use a full Mercury stamped steel bell housing. However. other 49-53 bell housings will work. Be sure to get the accompanying starter plate. The MEC Adapter comes with a sleeve so you can use a stock early Ford throw out bearing. Use a 49/53 Ford Flywheel as they have the more common bolt spacing for the pressure plate (Mercury flywheels have 6 evenly space mount holes for the pressure plate). I used a late 70s Ford Granada 10" Clutch and Pressure Plate. You will also need to take approximately 1/4 to 1/2" off the length of the pilot on the T170 input shaft.

Use the full steel Ford bellhousing and you do not need any kind of adapter. Use the clutch fork that comes with the bellhousing.

[rotorwrench]

This thread has some good info but doesn't answer all questions. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...70+torque+tube


This one mentions a Long type 10-inch clutch with a disk to fit the transmission. I don't know if the front bearing housing will fit the old T/O bearing but I'm sure it could be made to do so. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ht=clutch+T170

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

All 49-53 Ford and Merc flywheels are interchangeable. Does this flywheel need resurfacing?? I used the stock clutch linkage and throw out bearing. You'[ll need a milling machine to bore the regidter.

I have the flywheel off being resurfaced. It has 12 bolts holes 3 pairs of two on the outside and 3 pairs of two in board a bit.
The same shop is going to cut the hole larger the merc steel stamped bell housing. Only about 4mm has to come off to match the T170 bearing retainer.
I have the clutch fork for the bearing retainer.
I will need clutch, pressure plate throw out bearing and pilot bearing I think.
Can I use all early ford parts for this or do I need a clutch disc and TO bearing to match the T170?

[36coupe]

I am now wondering if I had a truck bell housing if that would line up with the 39 pedals I plan to use in the 36?

[51504bat]

Give Ft. Wayne Clutch a call. They'll fix you up.

[flatjack9]

Pilot bearing is the same. The clutch disc has to match the transmission.

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by flatjack9

Pilot bearing is the same. The clutch disc has to match the transmission.

If they are both 10 spline is that enough? or do i need a T170 10" clutch?

[rotorwrench]

The Ford 8BA manual transmissions had the 1-inch diameter 10-spline input shaft. The Mercury cars from 1949 thru early 1951 had the 1 3/8-inch 10-spline input which changed to same as Ford in February 1951 or so depending on assembly plant. I don't know what the T170 has for an input but you need a disk to match that and what ever clutch cover you use. If you use an 8BA 9.5 inch Long type cover then the disk has to fit that or if 10-inch Long, it has to fit that, etc. The throw out bearing can be either the early Ford type from 1942 up to 1948 (10-inch clutch) or the later 1951 Mercury type on the 10-inch but it has to fit the sleeve on the transmission input retainer. I've seen folks cut a sleeve on a lathe to fit the bearing retainer and work with the old style T/O bearing on other transmission applications. I don't know the outer diameter size on that T170 front bearing retainer so I don't know if it will fit any of the T/O bearings that might work for your application. The type of throw out mechanism will also dictate what you have to use whether it is a rotating fork or a later type fulcrum lever arm.

You mention removing material from the bell. I don't quite understand what has to be removed from it or why if you are using an adapter on it. The 1949 thru early 51 Mercury half bell pressing or the cast iron 48 thru 51 F1 type half bell just has a large opening for the old style transmission flange to bolt up. There is no input retainer bore application there. The late 1951 Mercury cast iron bell does have an opening for the retainer to fit in. Is that what you have or is it a Ford truck 4-speed hogs head bell housing?

[flatjack9]

You do not use the 1/2 bell on this conversion. The opening for the bearing retainer has to be opened slightly to fit this transmission.

[rotorwrench]

The one in this link from MEC should fit a half bell. https://www.modelengineeringco.com/bellhous.htm