Saginaw 4-speed and V8 Monza bell housing question

[robert123]

Got a stock '73 Vega gt hatchback, 4cyl, 4speed, stock rear end.
The engine, trans and bell housing and driveshaft are all removed.

Going to put in a mild SBC and use the stock 4speed, driveshaft and rear end.

Some guys here say a V8 Monza bell housing is needed to match the SBC to the Vega 4-speed.

Questions:

1) Will a-n-y V8 Monza bell housing fit the SBC and Saginaw 4-speed? (Don't know if Monza's came with 4-speed and 5-speed.)
2) Do I have to get a SBC flywheel, clutch, pressure plate etc.? Or .... can I re-use the Vega flywheel, clutch, pressure plate etc.?

Thanks

[spencerforhire]

1- Any v8 or "Iron Duke" 2.5 liter Monza bellhousing will fit. Vega 4-cyl. and Monza V6 will not.
2- You really should get a V8 flywheel and a decent size clutch; the Vega stuff will fit but not last.
Other issues-The V8 engine mounting position is farther back than the 4-cyl; you will most likely have to get the driveshaft shortened.
The 4-cyl Saginaw has a super low first gear; fun for sure, but it makes the trans weak.

[cjbiagi]

Yes, the Monza V8 bellhousing will fit your stock saginaw trans. Vega's used a small 9 1/8" clutch that will not hold behind a V8, especially one that has any decent power. So, you really need to upgrade to a 10.5" clutch setup which will require a new flywheel, pressure plate and disc.

[hammerdown7]

I believe the Vega 4-cyl Saginaw had a 3.11 first gear, not the higher ratio 3.50 that some Saginaw's have. I don't know what engine the 3.50 ratio was mated to.

Dick

[Smiley]

V8 Monza bellhousings only accept the 153 tooth 10.5" flywheels or smaller.
L88 type Low Mass 16 pound flywheels are reproduced now for the 10.5" clutch and they are good for V8 Vega use with a mild motor and small street tires.
The stock 73 rear end will probably break before the Saginaw trans.
an early (1963 to 1970) M20 or M21 Muncie 4 speed will fit where the Saginaw is if you upgrade later.
Later Muncies and Super T10's have larger input/output splines and slightly longer tail shaft.

[dadhad1]

Man, you can learn a lot from this forum...

I love you guys.
And that's not the alcohol talking either.

Mike

[robert123]

Thanks guys !

[duckblaster67]

Spencerforhire: Don't forget the shorter V8 torque arm as well!

[zotarajohn]

I just bought a bell housing off eBay,pt.# 360162 advertised as a v8 bell but from I'm reading off one of the sites,the 4 cyl has the extra bolt hole on the left side, mine does not! Mine is missing. The normal sixth hole normally located above. The locating pin.! Which bell do I have and can I use it with a basically stock small block and say a late 70s camaro 4speed Saginaw???? I have no plans on running it at the track, just a cool daily driver.I'm also looking for brake and clutch pedals to fit my 76 Vega project, anybody????? Thanks in advance for any help,!! Although I have always wanted a. V8 Vega, I really don'tknow much about them. I m from buffalo so not a lot of nice days before winter again to get some of this work done..

[cjbiagi]

Your info is a little confusing, 360162 is the 4 cyl bellhousing that has the extra bolt hole. You said you have this number but it is missing the hole? The V8 housing number is 354496 which has that mounting hole missing because of clearance issues. So, if you have the 360162 and it does not have the mounting tab someone may have already cut it off. Either way, what you have will work. The housings are essentially the same with the difference being that mounting tab above the LH locating pin on the engine is not there on the V8 applications.
People list the 4 cyl versions all the time as V8 bellhousings. Many people are not aware of the bolt hole difference between the two housings.

[hammerdown7]

Clyde, The Vega bell housing is unique to the Vega 4 cylinder. I believe the Iron Duke bell will work with the SBC. Maybe that number relates to the Iron Duke, 360162. Didn't want any one trying to match up the Vega Bell to the V8.
Dick

[cjbiagi]

Thanks for catching that, I am not up on the 140 and 151 differences that much. 360162 fits the 151's (iron duke?) The 140's used 6270026 bellhousing. If I am not mistaken the 140 bellhousings have the clutch fork coming out at the 9 o'clock position and the 360162 come out at the 7 o'clock like the V8 Monza. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.......
I guess his main question was regarding the absence of the mounting tab on V8 housings,

[zotarajohn]

Dam your good! Guess I should have taken a closer look. It was cut off,you can see wherethey left a bit of iton. Now all I need to do is find somebody to sell me a brake and clutch pedal assy. I do need the whole assy. And not clutch pedal itself,correct? Thanks again!!!!!

[cjbiagi]

I believe you will need the entire brake/clutch pedal setup. I don't think you can add a clutch to the existing assembly. Maybe someone else has done the swap who knows for sure.