VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 clutch cover / bellhousing

I have two 1938 clutch covers / bell housings. They are supposed to be cast 838689 yet both are cast on the rear face top LH side GM, bottom LH side 1791 and bottom RH side 452. Any thoughts? I just want to make sure that they do actually belong in a 38. Thanks.

Terry,

Group number 0683 in my 29-50 parts book lists the following:

38-39 ALL PASS (casting No. 838669) Part number: 602955.

38-47 ALL COMM. and UTILITY (casting no. 839257 (w/35/8 lever slot) Part number 3847361.
NOTE: When installing 3847361 on 1938-39 jobs discard fork ball supt. and assemble ball to housing.

The book used didn't mention LH, 1791 or 452 cast numbers although I expect GM would be on there somewhere.

Note from me: The clutch cover bolts to the pressure plate and the bell housing bolts to the rear of the block and therefore covers and protects the whole clutch assembly. I don't remember seeing a number on the covers but they are the same except for 9 inch pressure plate, disc and flywheel. The covers are the same for all pass from 38-50 for all pass (6 bolt) and all pass and all comm and util (exc. 1/2 ton) and all pass and 1/2 ton comm (hvy duty.(9 - bolt))

Best,

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. Forget the clutch cover; slight misunderstanding on my behalf. Back to the bellhousing. For some time my gearbox has dropped out of top on overrun. Used to do it all the time but ultimately down to twice a day. I accepted that but friends maintain that it is not acceptable and are building another gearbox. In all of this someone once had a car that was always dropping out and they had the wrong bellhousing. Swapped over and all is well. I actually have a 38 roadster fitted with a 48 motor and also a 38 gearbox and 48 motor that came out of a car that was rodded. I believe the bellhousings are 38. They have the brackets cast for the foot starter. Just can't seem to get those numbers to align. Somehow they seem to have parts made in Canada that used different numbers. Who knows.

If the gearbox isnt aligned correctly will cause dropping out of top gear as well.
Tony