Bell housing question?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 3
From: charlotte N.C
Bell housing question?
I am working on cleaning up the engine bay on my 76 vette. I bought a paint stripper and cleaned up the aluminum parts like the bell housing. When I did this, I noticed a very small crack but long. 
My question is, is there a way to repair this like welding or something or would that make it to weak. I have a 68 project with a 327 could I use the bell housing off the 327 on a 350?
My question is, is there a way to repair this like welding or something or would that make it to weak. I have a 68 project with a 327 could I use the bell housing off the 327 on a 350?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
Yes, aluminum parts like this one can be TIG welded easily. ( This process uses argon gas )
Just clean the part thoroughly before you give it to the shop, so you will not have to pay for it. ( Inside + outside ).
Any remaining oil, paint or deposits near the welding zone can reduce the welding quality ( it makes microscopic bubbles including foreign materials ).
If you want your old part to look like a new one, the welding can be grinded before painting.
As your bell housing is not yet broken, the flat surfaces are probably not distorded, so they won't require milling.
But they should be checked after welding. A good shop will check it for you. Your welded part will be as strong as a new one.
In my country, this kind of job would cost you about $50 ( € 35 ), if you already did the cleaning work ( doesn't include any milling job ). In any case, this is what I would ask you for doing it...
Just clean the part thoroughly before you give it to the shop, so you will not have to pay for it. ( Inside + outside ).
Any remaining oil, paint or deposits near the welding zone can reduce the welding quality ( it makes microscopic bubbles including foreign materials ).
If you want your old part to look like a new one, the welding can be grinded before painting.
As your bell housing is not yet broken, the flat surfaces are probably not distorded, so they won't require milling.
But they should be checked after welding. A good shop will check it for you. Your welded part will be as strong as a new one.
In my country, this kind of job would cost you about $50 ( € 35 ), if you already did the cleaning work ( doesn't include any milling job ). In any case, this is what I would ask you for doing it...
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Oct 26, 2009 at 02:58 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I do Tig Welding and could Weld up this Crack. Only problem is that by the time I ground out each side of it and cleaned it and heated it and Welded it (looks about 2') and checked to see how much I warped it and milled it straight again I'd have about 8 Hours into it. The 621 Bellhousing is avalable in Reproduction and is CNC Machined and is better that New.
