big bell or small bellhousing C4?
 

well guys i've got the motor for Marissa's car now... next question is big or small bellhousing C4 ? i've got an 85 302 roller motor out of a GT & was wondering what one would be best to go with? I'm putting the engine in the 92LX body she bought. this is the last pice to the puzzle as i have everything now but a trans & converter. thanks for the help guys!

novamoation

Greg,

I'm pretty sure you need to use the big bellhousing. The AOD's that come in those cars use the big flexplate.

Earle

You can use the small bellhousing and several manufacturers make the proper flywheel, B&M , Ford Motersport and others . the large bell hits quite a few brands of headers.

Go with the small bellhousing and change the flexplate accordingly.

use the small bellhousing with a 157 tooth, 50oz flexplate. convertor bolt pattern won't work with a large bellhousing, large flexplate.

thanks guys ! the motor had an AOD behind it so it has this... spacer thing? it also has a flexplate bolted to it .....but i don't know what it is? (I"m a chevy guy....or that's what i know the most about anyway) I'm going to buy a new trans & converter so i can buy what ever flexplate i need. this is one of those deals where i want to buy the right stuff ONCE & do it right the frist time.

novamoation

I like the smaller bellhousing, simply because it gives some extra room around the trans tunnel. Be aware however, that the smaller bellhousing has a smaller convertor bolt pattern, and also the steel plate between the bellhousing and block are specific to the bellhousing used. This plate is required, as it locates the starter motor. I think that Ford switched to the larger bellhousing around 1978 or so, and the 50 oz flexplate imbalance around 1980 or 81. So if you want to use the smaller bellhousing, you will also need the appropriate block plate, as well as a flexplate with the 50 Oz imbalance, and small bolt pattern convertor. To muddy the waters even more, there is a really small bellhousing/flexplate combination, that was only used in the V8 powered Mustang 11`s.

We run the 164 tooth bellhousing. This uses the stock AOD flexplate and engine seperator plate. A FOX body mustang has NO clearance issues with the big bellhousing because it is the same dimensions as the AOD.

The C-4 I used to use was a 1979 with the big bellhousing. I also used the 164 tooth flexplate. Like others have said, the small bellhousing is easier to work with in regard to header clearance, but if you use a big bell, make sure you get long tube headers for a stick car. They are made to clear bigger bellhousings liike Lakewood's, etc.

Earle

Thanks guys! Earle thanks for the stick shift header trick. like i said the engine had an AOD bolted to it...they left the flexplate on the engine so i have that...thing is it has no weights on it ..is this right? also if i have the right flexplate & shim thing.. all i need is to buy a big bell trans & converter? I'm sure i'm going to have more "Ford" questions. oh one more thing (i'm thinking way ahead here ) what one would handle a trans brake better? or would it make a differance?

novamoation

I also run the small bellhousing. 157 tooth w/tci flex plate.
Performance Automatic makes the spacer plate that works great. Make sure you get 50 oz balance componets.

I may be wrong, but if you use a case fill trans, you probably have to use the small bellhousing to get a dipstick to fit. I believe most of the large bellhousings came on the pan fill type.

The flexplate should have a counterweight welded to it from the factory. (Not sure why yours wouldn't) From a transbrake perspective, I don't think it would matter what trans you use. The valve bodies are interchangable. I have both a small bellhousing C-4 that is case-filled and a large bellhousing C-4 that is pan filled and both worked fine.

If you're only going to bracket race it put a powerglide in it. Lots cheaper in the long run.

I would like to believe you are only joking about the powerglide.

Put and AOD in it and a 456 gear in the the rear end and drive it on the street also.

Well here's the "PLAN" ....I'm going to put on a set of E7TE heads that I have that have been ported. Add the C4 the 8.8 & let Marissa drive it /race it for a year or two. Then I'm going to let her buy her a new Mustang GT conv & I'm going to take the little car & make a GT/MA car out of it. That's the plan anyway.......

novamoation

sounds like a good plan to me.

Are you going to put the original 600 cfm Holley on it?

Yes sir!

novamoation

I've seen no pictures my Polhill! mgfulk@yahoo.com

novamoation

small...same as me

small...same as me