Broken Bellhousing

[dean88]

I just snapped my first bellhousing, car (76 Fleetwood) has zero trans tunnel or any sheetmetal in that area around it. Trans snapped on a moderate hit, but nothing crazy. But last show in Utah, passenger frame rail pushed in really hard and trans yoke was pressed into the driveshaft tunnel pretty bad. I didnt see any cracks or anything after Utah and drove the car around 10-15 minutes after I straightened the frame.

Anyway is it likely the trans was damaged from previously being put in a a bind even though I didnt see any physical damage?

[Landshark007]

I would say it was broken before you started

[Luke Wells]

What are you running for a trans mount?

[noser23x]

Depends how they are held down, even with rubber and chain I have seen them break. But you could have had some stress cracks in it from being wedged in, even after you straightened it the shock from a hit could have finished the job.

[owen11x]

I've seen them break from even pulling the front down if you left tail bolted down during straightening it, the weak spot would be the bell so very likely it was stressed prior to the run

[dean88]

I dont mount the trans. I have a piece of inch thick of rubber mounted to the crossmember the trans just sits on.

[dean88]

Thats how much my passenger frame rail pushed in Utah. Wish I had a pic of the trans yoke, but it chewed threw the brace under floor where the seat bolts through.

Im assuming it was damaged from then, but didnt know if cast aluminum could "crack" without being seen and break off just from the force of a moderate hit.

[cheezwhiz31]

i'd say cracked before. Dam caddies love to eat bells with them holes on the passenger rail....

[dean88]

This one was plated over the passenger side holes, frame buckled right in front of the outer brace on the S curve