Bell Housing alignment

[zimmy]

For all of you that remember a recent thread concerning the misalignment of Lakewood bellhousings, I am writing to attest to the fact. Elder and I spent the better part of the day (including the mandatory tool trip to Home Depot) working on mine.

First, we started by measuring the housing with it bolted up to the block using the standard alignmnet dowels. It appears that it was off center by about 11-13 thousandths. The spec calls for no larger than 5 thou.  

We then had to remove the stock dowels and replace them with the longer adjustment dowels. We also had to enlarge the dowel holes in the housing and block plate by a sixteenth of an inch. You then bolt the housing up, take a measurement, slightly loosen the bolts, adjust with soft hammer, tighten bolts, remeasure, loosen bolts, adjust, retighten bolts, .....  (you get the picture).  

After a lot of patience and many tries, we finally got it down to being within 1.5 thou.    Now all we have to do is to weld the alignment washers to the bell housing over the dowels.

Does anyone have a 120V welder that we can borrow to tack weld the washers??  Elder 's is a 220v and I don't have any 220 in the garage.   :  :

[Billet]

Zimmy,

How far is your garage from your clothes dryer? It might be worth it to buy a long extension cord for 220.

[Wade Chamberlain]

Sorry Zimmy, mine's 220 too.

[kellerscobra]

John Wilkins has a 110, but as you probably know, he is out of town for a few more days...

Rentals Unlimited on off of 606 in Sterling rents 110 welders ...

[asmith2u]

So, Caskie asks: How far is your garage from your clothes dryer? It might be worth it to buy a long extension cord for 220.

Alan asks:  How will getting the clothes dryer closer to the car help?

[zimmy]

Alan:

I think you have been waiting for your car a little too long.................... :twisted:

[zimmy]

Billet:

Elder already suggested that and actually had bought an extension cord - didn't work. Wrong plug or wires or something. He gave up on the idea.

I may try the rental or wait for Wilkins.  

[Scott Harrison]

Dryer plug is 40 amp, welder plug is 50 amp, the two have different pin layouts, one or the other would have to be changed. Also would still need a 50' long 220V cord ($100+/-) which I don't have. Cheaper to rent a welder than get all that stuff.

Zimmy, let me know if you want me to weld that this week.

[Billet]

Elder,

Once again, you're way ahead of me. I tell you, it's an honor just to go down the same dead end road as you.

Zimmy,

If he gets out any air tools, call the authorities; there's no telling what mayhem he could cause with those things. In his hands they become WMDs.  

[D Tox]

Zimmy,

Give me a call at work, 703-620-8051 or at home at 703-430-1912, as I have a 110V wire-fed if you can use it. I am in Sterling.

John

[SchmidtAl]

I have a 110 and am in Lake Ridge. It is not wire feed, so won't weld much thicker than heavy paper, but you are welcome to it. Contact info is in contact info...
CC

[tfarhood]

I can't believe that after all these replies, nobody suggested JB WELD :twisted:

[Scott Harrison]

.....Zimmy,

If he gets out any air tools, call the authorities; there's no telling what mayhem he could cause with those things. In his hands they become WMDs.  

Hey I used the air die grinder to clearance the BH washers without any mishaps!

Air tools rule!

[maclube]

I have a 120V wire feed here in Manassas.  You've gotta' come here though. I don't get out much since starting chemo and getting pandemonium.

Jim Mac

[Don Gaboury]

Guys;;;;   Just put the engine with bellhousing in the back of a pick up and take it somewhere and have them weld it!!!!!! You would have had it done by now..   When Wade did some welding for me we rigged a plug up from 3 vice grips, worked just great...  hahaha