Method of making a bellhousing

Abstract

A method of making an engine transmission bellhousing includes the steps of making the pattern for sandcasting a bellhousing having an engine attaching flange portion shaped to cover the engine bolt holes in a plurality of different engines, and making a mold using the pattern for sandcasting a bellhousing. Then selecting an aluminum alloy having the strength and characteristics selected to eliminate a bellhousing flexplate, which aluminum alloy includes aluminum alloyed with either zinc or silicon and selected other elements in lesser quantity and then casting the engine and bellhousing in the sand mold made with the bellhousing pattern. A plurality of flange bolt holes is formed in the flange of the bellhousing either as part of the casting or by a separate drilling operation with the predetermined bolt holes positioned for alignment with the engine bellhousing bolt holes in any one of a plurality of different engines with the remaining flange bolt holes not in alignment with the particular engine bellhousing bolt holes so that a cast bellhousing eliminates the flex plate and fits a plurality of different engines.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.