VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum 37 Chevy Truck - Removing bell housing

I am trying to remove the bell housing from a 37 Chevy 1 1/2 ton 216 engine to repair the clutch. I removed the 2 top bolts and loosened the 2 bottom bolts inside the bell housing. It will not come off. Are there bolts I cannot see that need to be removed. I need instruction and cannot find any on line. Please help.

Hello DanJ,

I have a '37 MD with the 216. Aside from the trucks having a 10" clutch disc, I believe the bell housing is the same. I checked my spare engine and the bell housing is held in place with 6 bolts, 2 outside and 4 inside.

If the flywheel is still attached to the crank, you will not see the bolts as they are in line with the lower bolts but above the crankshaft center line.

Hope this helps. ( you may get a faster response if you post in the truck section.)

Thanks, I saw 2 places on the block casting that suggested a threaded hole. These bolts are not accessible without removing the flywheel. The reason I am doing this is because the clutch disk is stuck between the pressure plate and the flywheel. The truck has been in a damp storage area for around 20 years.

Hello DanJ,

Using your favorite penetrating fluid, soak the heck out of the disc and you may be able to pry it loose.

You could create a puller using the edge of the flywheel as the anchor point. Not sure I could describe it without getting wordy, but if your interested, I'll do my best. (that is if you haven't got it off by the time you read this.)

Dan
You may be able to loosen the clutch by removing all bolts holding the pressure plate to flywheel and using a soft faced hammer gently work the pressure plate side ways while rotating the flywheel. Be ready to catch the parts as you do this.
Tony

Hello DanJ,

If the clutch is the original, the flywheel will be of dog dish design (my description) and will work to your advantage.

You will need a piece of angle iron long enough to span the flywheel.

The next piece will be determined by the size of the hole in the disc. A threaded rod of your choice with a 90 degree bend long enough so the threaded rod can not be pulled thru the input hole of the disc.

Drill the required hole size in the center of one of the angle flats.

Work the 90 degree bend of the threaded rod into the input hole of the disc.

Next pass the threaded rod thru the hole of the angle iron and add the correct nut and tighten.

If you soaked it well enough, the tension from this "puller" should work.

We have decided to remove the clutch without removing the bell housing which requires removing the flywheel tomorrow.

We successfully removed the pressure plate and clutch without removing the bell housing. We have a pressure plate and clutch disc from a later model as well as the throughout bearing and fork arm. The clutch disc was stuck to the pressure plate after 30 years of storage in a damp environment. The disc was easily removed from the pressure plate with a little pressure on a beveled paint scraper. Fortunately the clutch disc is in very good condition with little wear. The pressure plate was cleaned with a wire cup on and angle grinder. We will clean the flywheel and reinstall them as soon as we get the disc centering tool.
Thanks to everyone for their advice.