I'm not a metallurgist, didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, but I would be REALLY surprised if that bellhousing is magnesium. There's no reason for Toyota to use that as opposed to aluminum. I've certainly laid hands and eyes on the R150/5VZ bellhousings before, and never had any inkling that it was anything other than normal cast aluminum.
5spd grenade...
- Thread starter D'arce
- Start date
mtbtim
Elite Member
I'm with [MENTION=148218]JZiggy[/MENTION] that the bell housing is cast aluminum. I've had my own battle with the bell housing bolts when filming the clutch replacement videos below. I stupidly guessed that the bell housing needed to come off to replace the input shaft seal. I have since learned removing the bell housing isn't necessary. 3 of the bolts broke off. There's something with dissimilar metals going on with this application. The bolts were welded in the case of the transmission. I had to drill and retap those 3 bolt holes. What a nightmare that was. If you can get away without replacing the bell housing, I'd do it. You'll have to know how to weld aluminum though.
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brillo_76
Elite Member
Well someone mentioned on this thread they might be above my thread. Being magnesium mostly looks different and that all the Bell housing I have seen are cast aluminum. Plus it's expensive as hell I just wanted to verify....
Maybe they has a custom made bell housing to save weight heck if I know.
I never seen anything toyota casting made magnesium.
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Maybe they has a custom made bell housing to save weight heck if I know.
I never seen anything toyota casting made magnesium.
Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk
I know Borg Warner used magnesium cases...theres one in my Ford van.
I found a fellow to weld it up for me. He said it was no problem it just has to be super clean before he welds it. He was surprised to see the spring sticking through the side. Told me a story about how race cars have scatter shields to protects the drivers feet from shrapnel when they blow. I had no idea. I found another guy who was willing to rebuild the w59 for me for 1500 bucks. Passed on that one lol. Marlin's rebuilt is like 1200. I got new front and rear seals for it and a short throw kit to tighten it up a bit. I am going to take a stab at rebuilding the VF1A. I've done other transfer cases before so hopefully its not too different.
I found a fellow to weld it up for me. He said it was no problem it just has to be super clean before he welds it. He was surprised to see the spring sticking through the side. Told me a story about how race cars have scatter shields to protects the drivers feet from shrapnel when they blow. I had no idea. I found another guy who was willing to rebuild the w59 for me for 1500 bucks. Passed on that one lol. Marlin's rebuilt is like 1200. I got new front and rear seals for it and a short throw kit to tighten it up a bit. I am going to take a stab at rebuilding the VF1A. I've done other transfer cases before so hopefully its not too different.
You have a VF2 transfer case not a VF1.
phattyduck
Elite Member
Yup, you either get a steel guard around it or a steel bellhousing replacement. They have to be SFI rated to use in many motorsports. Also look up driveshaft loops - same deal, though to protect your body instead of feet/legs! Not something we have to worry about on our trucks though...
-Charlie
CougarHound
New member
I guess the OEM bellhousing worked since OP still has his feet. I am most likely going to get a Mcleod shatterproof bellhousing for a Ford 302 that I plan on putting in my vintage MGB. It's a very common mod.
Well, in this case it was just a small(ish) part of the pressure plate coming off, then getting pile-driven through the bellhousing. Not the whole massive flywheel coming apart at high RPM's. That's what sends chunks through the bellhousing, through the sheet metal, and through any body parts in the line of fire.
I've seen cars that were totalled after a flywheel blew up. No injuries due to the layout of the car (flywheel not in line with the feet/legs), but the chunks went through several layers of sheet metal and just shredded everything in the vicinity.
CougarHound
New member
Were they racing? I don't plan on racing but the layout of these sports cars puts the bell housing right next to my feet. Lol.
Yeah, it was in a Volvo with a motor boosted to the moon. Luckily enough for the driver, it was a 700 series and the flywheel is *just* in front of the place where your feet are. Chunks went through the bellhousing, trans tunnel, dash wiring/HVAC box, cowl, outer sheet metal.
I have a turbo LS swapped into my Volvo 240, and the flywheel is in line with the pedals. I just wasn't thinking when I first built it and used a stock GM Camaro aluminum bellhousing, even though a steel scatter shield bellhousing would have only been a couple-a grand more.
But I don't plan on revving that motor too high. The Volvo was being revved pretty high, 7500 or so, and the flywheel chunks had all sorts of bluing on them from a bit of clutch slip under power, pouring heat into a chunk of cast iron like that can certainly help cracks propagate.
I ordered a rebuild kit off Rockauto for the transfer case. It showed up and when I compared the output housing to the gaskets in the kit, they didn't match. They are being a pain about taking it back. I went through this once before and swore I'd never use them again lol. I was told my case is a VF1A. Any stickers on the case are long gone. Is there any way to verify either way and identify it?
Other than the Rockauto drama I did get the bell back, its all welded up. Looks kinda gnarly. Battle scars I guess. I also removed the pilot bearing with the grease/dowel trick and resealed the oil filter housing with fresh orings. Waiting on seals for the transmission and I have flywheel bolts on order at the local dealer.
brillo_76
Elite Member
Oh good, I was wondering how you are were making out with your project.
brillo_76
Elite Member
Is it possible your case was swapped out?
I only had to return a radiator to Rock Auto. Mostly, they are not bad to deal with. surprised you are getting drama.
I wish i could help on your identification issue but sadly I cant answer that one.
[MENTION=8262]badluck[/MENTION], I am wondering if somewhere his Transfer was swapped out?
Or is Rock Auto just sending him the wrong parts.
I mostly used OEM Gaskets and seals if possible on my projects. However, I get it that might not be in the price range or even an option on some projects. Or sometimes not even available.
VF1 was never available in a 3rd gen. The normal j-shift transfer case is a VF2A, and the multimode transfer case is a VF3AM. Whoever told you that you have a VF1 is wrong.
He just bought the parts for the wrong transfer case. 3rd gens never came with a VF1 transfer case.
Thing is, I didn't specify the case. On RockAuto you only input the year/truck/engine and trans. I couldn't select any other parts but what I got.
brillo_76
Elite Member
If that's the case, Rock auto information is wrong and they sent you the wrong parts.
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I trust rockauto as much as I trust any of the parts store people. Very few of them actually know anything more than what their computer tells them.
