Cover on the bottom of transmission housing

[Skidmark]

I'm embarrassed to be asking this question, but I just don't know where else to find the answer.

On the bottom of the bellhousing, where the trans meets the block, there's a open space about 1" by 4" or so. Through it you can see the flywheel (I think, maybe is something else). I saw this space and said, "that doesn't seem right." So I fabbed a little panel and popped it on there to cover it up. Well, I'm now wondering if that's supposed to be a vented cover or no cover at all (my '67 camaro had a similar opening and exposed flywheel or whatever that was).

What's supposed to be there? Anyone have any undercar pics I can use as a reference?

[OldsD88]

I do not have a pic for you, only an opinion. Since you do not state I assume yours is an auto tranny; as manuals are more than rare. It is my belief there was in fact a cover there from the factory. Did you note any threaded screw holes around the periphery of the opening? If so, that would confirm it.

[toolbox]

IIRC there are two threaded holes on opposite sides of that opening in the corners...there were two little bolts that held a sheet metal cover on there. As OldsD88 said, check for the holes (they're probably plugged with crud). The cover is just to keep dirt out of that area. I'll check my shop manual just to be sure...I'm going on memory here.
-Scott

[Skidmark]

IIRC there are two threaded holes on opposite sides of that opening in the corners...there were two little bolts that held a sheet metal cover on there. As OldsD88 said, check for the holes (they're probably plugged with crud). The cover is just to keep dirt out of that area. I'll check my shop manual just to be sure...I'm going on memory here.
-Scott

Yup, two holes on the sides. I fabbed up a cover and screwed it in there - I can't help but wonder if that cover isn't supposed to be vented. I have a whacky theory that this "vent" is where the road draft tube exhales.

[OldsD88]

The draft tube should be on the right side of the engine, running along the side of the bellhousing. It just vents to the atmosphere. Actually, the passing air flow results in a vacuum, drawing out the fumes. That is why it is called a "draft" tube.
It would not have vented via the cover plate.

[Skidmark]

Check out what I found on an ebay auction, a nice shot of the underside of a '60 88. This one's a convertible, but its pretty much identical. See the missing cover I'm talking about? Is that how its supposed to be?!?!?

[OldsD88]

No, that is not how it is supposed to be. What I see are:
1- A missing cover
2- At least one bolt hole for the cover plate in the upper right corner as you look at the picture.

There is no venting there, or any reason for such.

[toolbox]

WoW That thing is clean!! . Looks like someone took a steam cleaner to the underside. I don't even see any sign of any undercoating on it (maybe it never had it though).
But, yep...the cover is missing. Looks like someone got happy with a 1/2 ratchet and broke off one of the bolt heads...then they just left the cover off. Unless you drive in dusty conditions, it's probably not that big of a deal, it's just there to keep crud out of that area. OTOH, it would only take about 10 minutes to fabricate a new one out of some 16 gauge metal... You could just make a posterboard template, cut it out of metal, and drill the holes. The bolts are probably easy to find...coarse thread, probably 3/8"? If you got enough dirt/dust up in there it might affect the life of your front transmission seal I suppose...

[Skidmark]

So I found a pic of a similar cover, and as it turns out - its supposed to have a few louvers punched in it for ventilation!

[super88dan]

Yep, that's even cleaner than mine! The knucklehead that painted my car (sorry Ford, I really can't blame you) undercoated our car! Undercoating, aftermarket stuff anyway, makes it seem like you have something to hide.