MCM38 bellhousing

[Scrounger]

Does anyone have a pic of the correct bellhousing for the MCm38? Is it the same as the M38A1?

[Cacti_Ken]

I took some photos of the late type Bell Housing for my M38.
http://m38bellhousing.mypicgallery.com

[Ryan_Miller]

Great pictures Ken.

Here is a photo of the early style bell housing.

[wesk]

To answer your question. The late M38 and the M38A1 use the same bell housing. The ways to tell them apart (early M38 vs late M38) is the early bell has an unthreaded drain hole, a 2 bolt inspection cover and the starter mount bolts are 3/8" and the late bell has a threaded drain hole, a 6 bolt inspecion cover and the starter mounts with 1/2" bolts.

An important consideration is weather you have the early or late M38 block casting 641087. The later block has a reinforced rear flange on each side and some additional bolts. Even though you can make either bell fit either block style you will have a problem that requires metal removal if you try to put the early bell on the late engine.

[Scrounger]

Thanks for the pics and info. I've got 2 m38 tranny tcase combos and both have what appear to be early bellhousings. Only one of which was mated to a M38 engine. Would it use the same inspection cover plate as the civilian or was it different? Also, does anyone have a Milspec # for the lifting shackle pin?

[wesk]

I believe the early inspection plates are the same mil or civvy.

The pin #'s are:
Pin, Straight, Headed, S, cd or zn plzted, 3/4 x 2 11?16".
Ord 7697490
WO 800337 (Willys #)
CC 126854Z (Chrysler #)

From ORD 9 1955, pg 276