85 CJ T5 Bellhousing Dilemma

Won't go into detail on all the other problems the last guy who worked on this created, got those pretty much straightened around. The ball that the clutch release fork pivots on was, lets just say inadvertently left off or miss placed. This is what I found when the bell housing was removed.





Have found a source for the ball, hoping there's enough left that it's not going to go flying out of there. Thoughts? Ideas? Keeping in mind this is not my Jeep, it belongs to a friend of my uncles so I don't want to be pulling it apart a week after I get it back together. Also T5 bell housings are not plentiful in this area but I guess if that's what it takes I'll have to get one somewhere.

 

my buddy is working one his CJ8 project , but running gear is 79 . his ball socket isn't much better . but I would just take a bur on a drill and clean up the socket . if ball is half in should be good to go . use some grease to hold it in . and install bell housing back on transmission to install , much better way to go

 

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking as at least half of the socket is still there and from what I can see the ball itself doesn't need to move. If worse comes to worse I've got a selection of push in ball studs so I could always drill it and use one of those.

 

Why not just buy a good used bellhousing? I can not imagine that it would cost more than $50 plus shipping for a good one.

 

Been looking local but not a lot of CJ people in my area and if you do find someone they usually think their parts are gold plated. Going to keep checking the Detroit/Port Huron Craigslist since I have to go to PH to pick up my other parts next week.

 

I would either drill and tap for a ball stud, or replace the bell. You could add a little weld to keep the ball in place, but I don't think a T-5 bell is scarce enough to warrant anything that heroic.

Apparently these bells are available as new replacements - http://www.quadratec.com/products/5...oglemerchant&gclid=COPgqaLT0MYCFUcXHwod5MEPDw - I'd present that option to the owner and see what they say. They are getting your labor cheap or free (I presume), and shouldn't complain if the repairs need parts. They are fortunate that a new replacement bell is available.

 

Here's a used one that looks ok - shipping to USA only, if you can work around that http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jeep-CJ-T4-T5-SR4-Bellhousing-Bell-Housing-MA3-/261896630385

 

Got feelers out with a couple of kind of local guys I know that scrap a lot of Jeeps, hoping someone might have one. Looking at close to $400 to get a new one this side of the border. Any luck someone will come up with a used one.

 

Canadian dollars? 0.79 USD per loonie.

 

Yup. Great when selling parts, not so great when buying .

 

I'm surprised at how the exchange rate has gone up and down, and is currently so low. Maybe 15-16 years ago I recall going to Toronto and the exchange rate was great for a visitor - everything was really cheap - saw Jeff Healey (RIP) at his club, which was "Healey's" at that time I believe. Then the CD became stronger than the dollar, and it's down now. I expect it's because of the global strength of the USD - and the global oil glut.

 

Around here you are very lucky to find one in good shape for that. At the shop we were buying them for that, having to typically fix stripped bolt holes, then supply new arms, ball pivots, springs, etc. Then re-selling for in the $150 range...

Point is, location makes a huge difference on what parts are available and the cost.

 

So true. CJ's are getting fewer and fewer in my area so if anyone has parts they tend to want to hold on to them, something like me and Jeepster parts.

 

I think I have a t5 bellhousing.......I will look to see if I still have it. If I do, its yours for $50+SH.

 

Thanks, I'll keep you in mind, there's a local member on here that might have one too. I did get the new pivot ball the other day, cleaned up the edges where it sits and now that I've seen it installed I don't foresee any problems if I have to use this one. Considering all the other questionable things a PO did I'm probably being just a little over cautious because it's not my Jeep.

 

Sounds like you have things under control but if you do need one I do have a one complete with ball and fork.