Pistons

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:41 am

The rear end plate is usually trapped by the flywheel so it usually goes with the engine. The flywheel also usually goes with the engine since they were balanced to that crank at the factory and most rebuild shops keep them mated. The bell housing on these tends to stay with the tranny or as a stand alone item.

The spring and plunger controlled camshaft forward/aft float since excess floating would be tough on the chain. The gear drive blocks have a retainer plate that bolts to the front of the block for that purpose.

Xamon · Post by **Xamon** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:09 pm

so if I found the correct engine this bellhousing would work? or would it have a different bolt pattern?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:53 pm

The Willys early and late L134's and the F134 can all interchange bell housings and back plates. There are small problems with some switches.

1-Early bell must use early plate and late bell must use late plate. The starter attachment is the main problem here.

2-Early L134's have only the main bell housing bolt holes on the rear flange of their blocks and later L134's and F134's have the four main 3/8" holes and 3 addtional 5/16" holes on each side. This can be ignored.

3-The very early bell housings often are not large enough inside for the late 129 tooth ring gears.

4-When using the early bell/plate on the later reinforced rear flange blocks will require a wee bit of grinding where the timing window is located.

It's a lot easier to just use the correct combination of parts and engines.

As for the bell that came with that engine fitting the later M38 L134's that depends on which bell and plate you have with this engine (post photos) and which M38 L134 block and flywheel you intend to use. Early M38 L134 blocks have only the 4 3/8" bolt holes and later M38 L134 blocks have the additional three 5/16" holes on each side. Also small flange starter must be used with early bells and large frame starters with the later bells.

Xamon · Post by **Xamon** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:02 am

That gets complicated. Sounds like I am farther ahead, if anyone ever buys this engine, to send the bellhousing with it and get whatever if I find the correct engine.