Bellhousing number

[Jeremy Hedges]

I have aquired a bellhousing that is numbered 444, does anyone know what this is for, year it is for, and what clutch size I need.

Thanks

Jeremy Hedges

[Joe L.]

Re: Bellhousing number

Jeremy-----

What you have is a GM #3872444. As far as Corvettes go, this bellhousing is applicable to all 1966 Corvette with 427 and, possibly, very early 1967 Corvette with 427 (except L-88). This bellhousing was also used on 1966 Chevelles with 396 and some other 1966 passenger cars with 396 and 427 engines.

This bellhousing is designed for use with a 14", 168 tooth flywheel and an 11" clutch. It can be used for either small blocks or big blocks.

The 3872444 bellhousing is virtually identical with the later GM #3899621 bellhousing which was used for 1967-68 big blocks(except L-88) and most 1969-81 Corvette manual trans applications (except L-88 and ZR-1). The only difference between the '444' and '621' bellhousings is the configuration of one of the bellhousing reinforcing ribs at about the 10 or 11 o'clock position as viewed from the transmission end of the bellhousing. On the '444' bellhousing the rib is narrow and "high"; on the '621' it's wide and "flat". Apparently, this change was made to accomodate some chassis application that the '621' bellhousing was going to be used on. It's irrelevent for Corvette applications, though, and the '444' and '621' can be used interchangeably.

The '444' is one of the more rare and valuable Corvette bellhousings due to its use on 1966 big blocks and the fact that it was only used for about one year. It was replaced for SERVICE by the '621' as soon as the '621' became available and so not too many SERVICE examples of the '444' were ever sold. 1966 Chevelles provide a fairly large used "pool" of these '444' bellhousings, though.