66 MT fit on mid-70's 302 was AT

[pa0101]

We've got a mid-70's 302 that had AT until recent surgery. We've got a 66 MT and all associated parts from a 289. Unexpectedly, the bell housing doesn't match up.

Anyone know what's going on here and the easiest way to work around the problem?

I'm also concerned about the flywheel not being the same - number of teeth or counterweights?

I've looked in the "How to Rebuild Small Block Fords" book and can't see any reason for all this trouble - the book seems to say it should all work out but I may be missing something important.

 

[Luminox]

I believe the balance 66 Flywheel is 28 oz and 157 teeth.

 

[tweet66]

Are you using the flywheel from the 66? If so it should bolt up. Is the trans not fitting the block or sitting flush? I had the same problem with a friends 67 and found that the pilot bearing was not letting the input shaft go all the way in.

 

[pa0101]

We're just to the point where we can't even put up the bell housing - the MT housing from the "66" doesn't mate up with the block ...

 

[tweet66]

Are you sure its a small block bellhousing and not a FE or small 6cyl tranny bell? All 289(except the early 5 bolt), 302, 351W & C, and I believe the 351M use the same bolt pattern, but don't hold me to the M. Double check by taking a couple of measurments off the bell and block at common points, i.e. the alignment dowels, upeer bolt spacing, etc...
Ken

 

[D.Hearne]

I'll bet he's got a 5 bolt bell, he's trying to bolt on that 70 block. Otherwise the only other reason it wouldn't bolt up would be if he had a 164 tooth flywheel and a 157 tooth bell.