I need to find 4 bolts to hold the transmission to the bell housing on my 68 since I'm pretty sure GM didn't use Dorman bolts in it from the factory. I see some are 1-1/2 & some are 1-3/4. I put a 1-3/4" bolt in the bell housing & threaded it to the end of the threads with a lock washer in place & then measured the space between the lock washer & the bell housing. It measured 1/2" which is the same thickness as the ear of the transmission. Does anybody know for sure what length was used from the factory in 1968? Thank you, Joe
JohnZ posted on camaros.net that the Muncie transmission bolts were 1/2"-13 x 1 3/4":
https://www.camaros.net/threads/bellhousing-bolt-sizes.35958/
Perfect. Thank you....Joe
I used to put studs on the bell housing to make it easier to install the transmission. Even using an alignment tool to center the clutch assembly, sometimes the spline on the transmission would hang-up. Other times, the transmission would just slide in.
Quote from: GMAD_Van Nuys on April 16, 2026, 05:51:21 PMI used to put studs on the bell housing to make it easier to install the transmission. Even using an alignment tool to center the clutch assembly, sometimes the spline on the transmission would hang-up. Other times, the transmission would just slide in.
I might have to do that. I used to put it on my chest & lift it in place. At age 69 I don't know if I can do that today :( Joe
Joe - I used to put the transmission on my Craftsman crawler, roll it under the car on ramps, and use a scissor jack to raise the transmission. I just flushed the brake fluid on my 1979 Trans Am and 1970 BOSS 302 and used my Craftsman hydraulic jack to get under the cars. I'm a few years older than you and know that things used to be a lot easier when we were young. I used to pull the engine & transmission out of my 1966 Mustang by myself, rebuild everything, and then put it back in. When you had only one car and little money, this is what you had to do. No way I could do such work today! - Mark
I bought a piece of threaded rod at HD and cut some studs. Twist them out one at the time and install the bolts. It really does help, I am 72 wiggling a Muncie to align things just ain't like it used to be.
We try to work smarter...not harder...Joe