Bellhousing

[Jerry Clayton]

The 1964 289 was one reason that I started running scattershields---One day in mid 1965 at Pheonix City Ala dragstrip I was the next car in line to run behing Hubert Platt in his AFXer with all the STUFF back then---After all the rosin spreading, burnouts, sweeping tracks---he did a gigantic wheelstand because he had put his tool box in the back edge of the trunk for a little more traction and the hope of a mild wheel stand---it stood straight up, toolbox came out the glass deck lid and scattered stuff everywhere--

After a lengthy cleanup it was my turn---and---the clutch assy came apart at the 1-2 shift point---another long clean up==

It was a 5 bolt block and the block was ok except it tore 2 corners off the trans, tore up both exhaust headers, debries flattened one rear tire---

After that----bellhousing scattershield adapters---no more shields welded up around the clutch trans

These days I would not use a 289 5 bolt for anything but a date correct rebuild and before I spent the money for a 5 bolt shield I would use the later 6 bolt block for oem roller cam stuff and then a 6 bolt shield

And above all else it would have the engine plate with the extra bolts between every stock bolt into the block and around the bottom .
Specs allow 7 inches between bolts and thats enough to allow trimming the bottom for some ground clearance.


I believe that Ford went to the 6 bolt because of plans for the block in trucks and heavier equipment