Machined Sm465 Bearing Retainer?

I thought I heard mention of an SM465 bearing retainer that had been taken down to 4 11/16th's?

Novak or Advanced adapters?

I see one for a T18, but not for the GM transmission to buick. is it because they want to sell their Buick 225 V6 bellhousing with 5.25ish diameter machined into it?

Anyone have a link or maybe clarifying info?

(BTW, I'm not asking related to BOP bellhousings. that's been covered ad nauseum on this forum. I'm looking into using the existing Fireball 198 that's in my rig. )

 

An SM465 will bolt right up to the buick bell housing. Both are GM components.

 

yup, I couldn't find on their site where those are listed. Maybe I just need to call?

 

Alas, my research tell me that the SM465 requires a larger opening for a larger bearing retainer, than say, the SM420. I'm still hemming and hawing about which transmission I'd like to use. Pro's and con's to each, but one of the issues I have to deal with on the SM465 is either opening up my bellhousing to 5" +/-, or turning down the bearing retainer (or locating one that's been turned down to swap in)

 

I don't think you can physically take the bearing retainer down to fit the standard bell housing 4-11/16" you have to bore the bell housing out 5" as the 4.995 is the smallest you can safely turn the bearing retainer down to.

 

Ahh, thanks for the clarification.

i have a bellhousing with the correct opening for an sm465. That’ll work just fine bolted to my 4.3l. Only problem is that i’m seeking to find out if i can use my 198, for the time being, since that is a much easier trans/tcase swap.

can anyone confirm that the sm420 bearing retainer is the smaller size?

 

According to Novak i is the smaller size.
The Novak Guide to the GM Muncie SM420 Transmission
Jay

 

No. The case bolt pattern works but the front bearing retainer is too large due to the large input bearing diameter.

 

Been covered here before but if you want to use a BOP bellhousing most people machine the front bearing retainer of the transmission and the bird of the bellhousing to use an SM 465 transmission. If going to an earlier Chevrolet V-8 or V-6 then the bellhousing that came with the SM-465 works fine.

 

Not covered much, actually. I have a 198 not a 225. it's not the standard "valley" BOP bellhousing, but I'm getting very confident that it has the same 4 11/16 index opening and GM pattern on the back.

What I'm hearing though, is that it's my Fireball Bell that would need to be machined to fit the bigger 465 bearing retainer, which is good to throw in the idea hopper.

Again, this is if I decide to run the 198, which I'd like to. I'm not intimidated by the 4.3l swap, it's just SO much more downtime, compared to pulling the T90/D18 and installing the Trans/Tcase.

I really like both the 420 and the 465 for different reasons - just mulling my options. Both would go to a big hole D18 because I want to retain the option of an overdrive.

 

I had my 225 bellhousing machined to fit the sm465 bearing retainer by a local machine shop. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it was a long time ago. I think I also had to clearance some holes or use socket head bolts due to some reinforcing ribs that were in the way of the mounting bolt (maybe i had them machine those too???) It was before I kept notes...but I do remember it not being as 'plug and play' as I remember.

Edit: now that I think about it, I took both the retainer and the bellhousing to the machine shop so they didn't have to rely on my measurements.

 

That’s a solid plan if i’m going to run a SM465, think.