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Aftermarket Bop Bellhousing?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Peter Dorey, Sep 30, 2021.

  1. Sep 30, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    Does anyone know of an aftermarket BOP manual transmission bellhousing that would work in a CJ?

    My Jeep currently has a Buick 231 with an Advance Adapters adapter plate, with a T90/D18 combo behind that.
    The other night while driving to get some Chipotle, my clutch pedal fell to the floor. I got under the Jeep with a flashlight and the pivot stud had come loose. I had the Jeep towed home and took a closer look the next morning.
    I have not removed the bellhousing yet, but I know it's all messed up. Someone had welded a bunch of "stuff" around the threaded hole where the pivot stud is inserted and there is also a brass sleeve in there that is loose.
    I am going to take the Jeep to a shop to get this fixed, not because I can't do the work, but because my wife needs me to work on the house and she will murder me if I am caught under the Jeep again.
    I want to just get a new bellhousing to get back to square one. This Jeep has been F'd with by many different people since 1956 and I just have no idea what I am working with any more!

    Thanks guys!
     
  2. Sep 30, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    Why do you need an aftermarket bellhousing? There are two factoy Jeep versions, as well as factory Buick, Olds, and Pontiasc versions. What bellhousing do you have that is messed up?
    You could always consider something like a Lakewood scattershield if you insist on going aftermarket.
    -Donny
     
  3. Sep 30, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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  4. Oct 1, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    here's something I learned with the BOP bell . it doesn't fit well with a frame dual master cylinder
     
  5. Oct 1, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
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    If you can find one, the 1971 Jeep Dauntless bell housing, which was used with the T14/T86 can be drilled and tapped to mate to a T90. I have had two Jeeps which had the V6 conversion using this type bell housing. It eliminates the need for an adaptor, and works very well.
     
  6. Oct 2, 2021
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    What kind of material is it? Find a local welder to weld it up properly and have it repaired the right way, or send it to me.
     
  7. Oct 2, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    Thanks for the responses guys.
    I guess I am just getting tired of dealing with stuff other people have mucked up... was hoping to start fresh.
    As I mentioned, the Jeep is going to a shop this time. I am concerned that they won't take the time to measure things properly and order the right clutch fork, bearing, and repair the bellhousing.
    I should probably just try to find a used one to have on hand as a backup, but it seems like used ones in good shape fetch a decent price so if I could get a new one for just a few bucks more I would definitely go that route.
    I think there is enough room for the dual starter bumps on that bellhousing. My master cylinder is the OEM style one with the through the floor pedals.
     
  8. Oct 2, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The central idea here - the exclusively-Jeep 1971 housing has no market other than other 1971 V6 CJ-5s. The BOP bell housings work for many passenger car applications, which normally supports an aftermarket for a new cast aluminum part at ca $250. Seems likely that the availability of these Jeep bells will be higher, now that the aftermarket parts are somehow in short supply.

    If you can't find one of these bells here or on the other Jeep sites, you could try www.car-part.com and possibly find one in a wrecking yard. Also (a long shot IMO) is to try the earlier years and car applications at car-part.com. Maybe you'll find a seller that does not appreciate the market for these.

    The T-14/T-15 pattern is basically a larger rectangle than the T-90. I don't know if the top two bolts line up - maybe - that would make drilling new holes even easier. Anyway, I have heard of this strategy before. You could then sell your T-90 adapter for something. Probably not worth a whole lot, since it would still need an aftermarket long input to be usable.
     
  9. Oct 2, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

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  10. Oct 2, 2021
    Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

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    Advance Adapters appears to have some bellhousing options.
     
    dnb71R2 likes this.
  11. Oct 2, 2021
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

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  12. Oct 8, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    dnb5853,
    Do you have any pictures of that bellhousing bolted up? I don't want to change out the 3-speed original transmission.

    I was crawling around under the Jeep again tonight and the casting number is 1249599, which seems to be used on cable actuated late 70s cars. The fork operated completely different on these cars, pulling from the engine side. There is no pivot ball, so someone welded/pressed in some sort of a brass insert into my bellhousing.
    I don't mind spending the money on a new Advance Adapters bellhousing... I just want to know it will all work!
     
  13. Oct 8, 2021
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

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    masscj2a likes this.
  14. Oct 9, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    dnb5853,
    I see you are using a T18. I wrote Advance Adapters to see if their bellhousing will work with my T90.

    Below are some images I found on the interweb of the 1249599 bellhousing. Note that the fork pivots on the far side of the bellhousing and there is no pivot ball.

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  15. Oct 9, 2021
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Why not return the bell housing to operate in its proper configuration. You will have a much softer clutch pedal than the traditional jeep configuration.
     
  16. Oct 9, 2021
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

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    I’d have to agree with others. If you’re retaining the T-90, just keep it all stock.

    The aftermarket bells are for 4 speed or 5 speed mods.
     
  17. Oct 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  18. Oct 9, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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    Why not return the bell housing to operate in its proper configuration. You will have a much softer clutch pedal than the traditional jeep configuration.
    I was trying to keep the Jeep as close to OEM as possible given it's current state. The Jeep Farm re-installed the original floor mounted pedals, clutch linkage and OEM non-tilt steering etc. A lot of effort was put into making the Jeep OEM+.

    Fireball,
    Thank you! $410 for a used bellhousing is pretty steep... that's kinda why I was looking for an aftermarket alternative. If there is a crack or the bellhousing was modified I could be in a whole new pickle and may not even recognize why.

    So far the two bellhousing castings that I have come across that are known to work are:
    9974035
    10008979

    I read somewhere on the forums that there was a list of known good bellhousing castings out there...
     
  19. Oct 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Even better, it looks like someone has new repos in stock again for less money and free shipping: 1965-79 Buick / Oldsmobile / Pontiac All Aluminum Bell Housing | eBay
     
  20. Oct 10, 2021
    Peter Dorey

    Peter Dorey Member

    Vista, CA
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