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During the dis-assembly of my project, I noticed that someone had previously modified a transmission support to accommodate the transmission mounts.
During my research to determine what was going on, I've noticed that there are different depths to the bell housings.

Mine measures approx, 8" deep and I measured another at about 7.5". This would account for the extra holes drilled in the support bracket.
I've looked for casting/part numbers for identification without much success.
I'm looking for a way to determine what is correct.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,

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In 40 they were having clutch supplier issues and were switching between Long and Borg & Beck as suppliers. From what I see that switching was mostly on the junior models but if I recall there is a later article where they mentioned some engine number suffixes. From my recollection I think there might have been some senior models that also got involved with the clutch changes. There are also some articles stating incompatibility with trying to swap between the two when servicing because of fitment issues and cautions to make sure to replace with what was originally used.

According to the parts manual there was only one bellhousing for the 40-41 Super 8 engines but that is somewhat confusing with the way they are listing 41. It has a housing list for juniors with 41 different than 40s because of the swap issue but with one labeled for supers being listed with a different number than is given for the supposedly same 40-41 senior item. I am wondering if that could be the possible Borg and Beck issue and they did use a different senior bellhousing.

You might look thru the parts listings for flywheel housings at 5.0603 and 5.06030 and see if you can determine what they are doing. Also check thru the service index and then 37-42 clutch articles for the various Long & B&B descriptions. Possibly your car is one caught up with the issue.

Thank you Howard,
All I can say is WOW..............It sounds like I need to do some research.
How does the transmission fit into this? If the housing is 1/2" longer , what impact does this have with the transmission mounting up?

Thanks for the input........

Just from scraps of information I've gathered over the years:

1939, Motor# suffix "A" = Borg & Beck clutch substituted.
1942-47, Motor# suffix "A" = alternate clutch and clutch cover.

Parts lists several rear mounts but essentially one used for seniors and another for juniors. Nothing appears to be different for the various clutch and bellhousing combos.

From what I understand transmissions used the same case and were the same overall size for all. Difference being that senior cars with the super engine had a larger diameter input shaft and clutch plate. Both were slightly smaller for junior cars.

Someone more familiar with prewar blocks will have to say if bellhousings were interchangeable between blocks but if that is the case I wonder if possibly someone had to change a transmission. If bellhousings will interchange it might be that a junior trans and clutch assy including bellhousing was all that could be found and was bolted up to the larger engine with the overall length being different.

The actual input shaft diameters are posted somewhere in other threads if you want to do a search but as I recall the senior shaft is well over an inch -- maybe about 1 1/8" and the junior is right at 1" or slightly less. If you have the trans out you might check that the proper assy is in the car.

Thanks again Guys,

I've created more questions than answers so far..........

I've noticed in the parts book there are a couple of bell housings being noted, but I haven't found any answers on the difference.

So examining what I currently have:

The only markings on the transmission that are apparent are R9A-1. The spline dia. is 1.375" and the pilot shaft: 1" (.985")
The length from the face of the transmission to the end of the pilot shaft is 6.5".

I haven't been able to remove the bell housing as of yet to investigate, but it appears from the photo the pilot is not fully engaged into the bushing.

The depth of my bell housing is 7.875" and the one measured on another 160 was 7.5". So I'm wondering if it's as simple as swapping out the bell housing or is this going to interfere with other components in the clutch assembly.

Still looking..................

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While planning an engine stand, I took some measurements and wrote notes of my bell housing. The one prewar housing I have is about 7-1/4" but may not help you much as it is from a junior model. It is also smooth (without the ridges) than that in the posted photo has and which postwar models have.

Thanks Don,


I'm still trying to find out what's going on..........

Just a an FYI, this is what I built when I rebuilt my 110

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Very nice stand! I took length measurements of both late prewar 6cyl and postwar 8cyl engines along with standard and Ultramatic Bell housings in the hopes of piecing together a universal Packard rotating stand. However, my very rural shop has only an extension cord for power so it all must be fabricated outside and I've not had the time or money to get it done. Someday, though.

I do not know if this helps or adds to the confusion.

The 1940 Preliminary parts list calls out a P/N of 341881 for Housing Assy, Flywheel 1800-- 01 - 1A with the Long Clutch LHD. It calls out 354630 for use with the B & B Clutch LHD .

Now the lower housing list 300173 for 1800-1-1A, 333656 W/Econo Drive for the 1800-01-1A and also 341689 for the 1803-3A-4-5-6-7-8.

Fred D