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Cracked Bell Housing

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by billm006, May 31, 2020.

  1. May 31, 2020
    billm006

    billm006 Member

    Honeye Falls, NY
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    I have a 1975 CJ 5 with a 232/T 14. While poking around under there today, I noticed what looks like a rock bash crack in the bell housing. It is about an inch and 1/2 long. It is not displaced and otherwise doesn't look bad. Do people think I have anything to worry about?
     
  2. May 31, 2020
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Show us what you are seeing.
     
  3. Jun 1, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Like Jpflat2a said. Hard to know what you are dealing with without seeing it. Not hard to find replacement bellhousings for this application though.
     
  4. Jun 1, 2020
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

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    My 304 /np435 has a chunk missing right in the middle on the bottom has been for a few years, I just missed the oil pan. Hasn’t grown any
     
  5. Jun 1, 2020
    billm006

    billm006 Member

    Honeye Falls, NY
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    Now that I've looked at it I think it grew! IMG_20200601_103949337.jpg IMG_20200601_104001572.jpg
     
  6. Jun 1, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Mmm looks to me like it fell on a jackstand or something else rigid. It would be hard to hit it and break it like that otherwise. I expect you could put a jack under that spot and lift the whole Jeep - they are not weak.

    Or maybe whipped by a broken driveshaft?

    The bell you want was used in lots of different Jeep applications. Jeep PN 3215152.
    All CJ-5s and CJ-6s, 1972-75
    All Commandos with a manual transmission, 1972-73
    All big Jeeps (wagons and trucks) 1972-79 with a manual transmission except 1972 V8 with 3-speed

    As Nick mentioned, easy to source because they only fit these Jeep transmissions and AMC engines (no swap potential).
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2020
  7. Jun 1, 2020
    Norcal69

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

    Northern California
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    That's allot of work for one crack. I would drill a hole in the end and get a welding shop to weld the crack up. Remove the inspection plate on the front and flush the crack out with brake cleaner, then grind a little V into the length of the crack so the weld has some strength to it. It looks easily repaired in place to me.
     
    georgecj6 likes this.
  8. Jun 1, 2020
    billm006

    billm006 Member

    Honeye Falls, NY
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    Never thought about weld/fix in place. I've found several bell housings. Tell me-how big a project is it to remove and replace?
     
  9. Jun 1, 2020
    hooliganrick

    hooliganrick Sponsor

    San Diego, CA
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    stop drill it and keep an eye on it.
     
  10. Jun 2, 2020
    billm006

    billm006 Member

    Honeye Falls, NY
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    Timgr- I think you are right. You can almost see the imprint from the bottle jack. Might drill and watch, might cut and weld and how many steps are there to a replace?
     
    Keys5a likes this.
  11. Jun 2, 2020
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
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    Looking at your pictures, you have two cracks. One crack from engine block mating surface and the other front transmission mating surface. To try and do an effective weld repair, especially in place will be a real PITA. It would be much wiser to replace with new part.
     
  12. Jun 3, 2020
    DrDanteIII

    DrDanteIII Master Procrastinator

    Milford NJ 08848
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    Replacement isn't any harder than a clutch replacement. remove the floor/cover from inside the jeep, Drop the driveshafts, disconnect the starter, disconnect the clutch linkage, drop the cross member, unbolt the bell from the engine, then the trans and t-case are out. Then 4 bolts hold the bell to the trans. Do the clutch and resurface the flywheel while you are in there. Estimate about 4 hours for removal if you've never done it before.
     
  13. Jun 3, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    On a Jeep, I would go in from the transmission side, as DrDanteIII suggests above. Jeep advises this route as well (see the TSM). Especially with a T-14, which is light enough to muscle down by hand if needed. BTDT. Put the Jeep up on four jack stands (one under each axle corner / spring plate), support the back of the engine with a jack, and use a floor jack or transmission jack to remove the cross-member, transfer case and transmission as a unit. Remove bellhousing, do your clutch service as needed, and put it all back together.

    If you prefer, you can split the transmission and transfer case, lower the cross-member and transfer case together, then remove the T-14. A pro would remove it all together, but they work flat rate and want to go as fast as possible. Separating the trnsfer case from the transmission is pretty easy, and leaving the transfer case on the crossmember makes it easier to handle with a jack.
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2020
  14. Jun 3, 2020
    billm006

    billm006 Member

    Honeye Falls, NY
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    All good info! Thanks!
     
  15. Jun 3, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    now if it was me . I would just replace it
    problem solved
    I've learned over the years it's much easier to install trans with bell on it
     
    45es likes this.
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