Flatthead bell housing

Gav73

Gav73

Junior Member
I was at a hot rod run the other day and saw an 8BA with the starter on the left hand side (US drivers side). It was on a RHD car and I was thinking that this might have been something specific to RHD countries to get the starter away from the steering box.
Has anyone seen this before?
 
yes I've had a couple in the past,always car ones,one of them came off a car imported from Singapore by a guy in the army, if that means anything. I've often thought about modifying an early sump the same way,to get a bit more clearance.Cheers Tony.
 
Fairly easy conversion even without a righthand drive bell housing by using a Chev gear drive starter. They bolt to the pan rail.
We do it quite often with 4 bangers to get the starter away from the steering.
 

Attachments

  • 4 banger starter.jpg
    4 banger starter.jpg
    52.9 KB · Views: 110
It is my understanding that that particular configuration [starter on tother side] is found on Canadian export models in 1954.
 
All Australian manufactured 1949-1954 RHD sedans and utilities had the starter motor on the left hand side of the bell housing as the clutch fork was on the right hand side.
The gear box selectors were on the left side of the gear box though and the action was transferred from the right hand side of the box via a Heath Robinson type device of brackets, rods & levers which was very susceptible to wear and you could easily jam the box in 2 gears at once! Neil.
 
Good old Ford Barn, post a question and a few hours later you've got all the info you need.
Thanks for the help.

Now to find one....
 
I've done a bit more research and I probably didn't give enough information in my first post. I'm wondering if the 3" bellhousing/adapter that mates an 8BA and a 32-39 (18, 48 or 78) 3spd toploader. I've heard that 49-52/3? 1/2 ton trucks and some of the mercs around the same vintage had these bellhousings. Do any of them come with the starter on the left hand side of the engine?
 
I've got a 78 xxxxxx case that will take a starter on the drivers side ( 4 cylinder ) or a starter on the right side passenger side V-8 #s are *9C-100731*.
 
I've only seen the half bellhousings for the 49/52 trucks with the starter on the right hand side and only one bellhousing is listed in the 49/54 Ford Australia chassis/body parts book and that has part no. 8RT6392, although the full bellhousing for the 53/54 trucks has the starter oh the left hand side like the sedans & utes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top