TH350 question

tlongwel · 07-25-2012, 11:10:36 PM

Hey fellas,

I put the 350 in recently but I am having trouble with a few things. I can't get the last 2 bolts from the top of the bell housing into the block. All others went in fine and the pins are in place so it is lined up correctly but those last 2 do NOT want to fit in there. It's like the bolt hole isn't there but I can't see it. Any one have experience with this?

Also, there is a ground wire that came off of one of those bolts, anyone know which one?

Thanks Tayler

ls777z · 07-26-2012, 07:04:08 AM

Have you tried shorter bolts ? If the other 4 are in then the top 2 should be perfectly lined up. Only other thing that it could be is you have a non-chevy turbo 350. I have no idea if they're all the same but there might be some little differences. I think the ground went to passenger side.

tlongwel · 07-26-2012, 12:45:42 PM

I haven't tried shorter bolts, but it shouldn't make a difference. I can't even get them to begin threading. I thought the same about how if the other 4 are in the last 2 should go in easy but I guess not? It definitely should be a Chevy 350, it came out of a '76 Camaro. I think I did notice some of the bolts were a tiny bit shorter but I figured it doesn't matter if they don't thread anyways. I guess I'll play around with some of them and see what happens but if anyone has any more tips I'd appreciate it.

ls777z · 07-26-2012, 06:40:07 PM

well...you could always pull it back out and see if the holes in the back of your block are threaded...

bigblockbird75 · 07-26-2012, 08:13:14 PM

Does the bell housing come to a point at the top or does it have a dip in it between the top holes? If it has the dip in it its a B.O.P bolt pattern and won't bolt up without a case swap or adapter plate.
Does the converter spin freely(assuming it's not bolted to the flex plate already)? If not you may have the trans cocked or being held out on top by something. With the trans barely supported try loosening the rest of the bell bolts, make sure the gap is equal all the way around the bell and shove it forward then hand thread one bolt per side in to keep it there, then try the top two.
If still no luck you may have to pull it out and check the holes in the block to make sure they're still threaded, no broken bolts, etc.

the ground strap doesn't really matter where it goes as long as it has good clean contact with the bell housing. I believe it goes on one of the two side bolts on the passenger side of the car.

tlongwel · 07-28-2012, 02:31:21 PM

Thanks for the replies,

Yes the bell housing comes to a point at the top. And the top point where the bolt should go lines up perfectly with the point on the block. The converter does spin free as well. I tried sticking a piece of thin wire into the hole to see if it would go through and down the bolt hole on the block but I is as if nothing is there? Idk whats going on here....the trans should definitely be in straight...

I will post a pic of it soon.