1978 Oldsmobile Omega

So I began getting my Saginaw 4-speed ready because I had some spare time, when i started mocking where the bellhousing would go on to see if the clutch fork I had would fit. It snapped on but had clearance issues with the bellhousings fork hole.
The trans was off of a chev motor including its fork and housing and I am using the trans with my 350 olds so I got the shown BOP housing cheap to mate up.
My question is, if I buy a new fork, will it be different? The forks on summit say they fit olds AND chev, so shouldn't this one, or do I need to find another housing. any knowledge I can get will be appreciated.

1978 Oldsmobile Omega

Another picture

1978 Oldsmobile Omega

Aaand another

RandyS

Is there more than one hole in the BH for the ball stud to screw in to? As in, can it be moved up? I believe that all of the forks are generally like the one you have in the pic. If the ball stud cannot be moved, then you need a different BH, or relieve the bottom of the opening for clearance.

1978 Oldsmobile Omega

There seems to be no other hole, I really don't want to try and find another housing and certainly don't want to buy a housing new. Would you think that if I make clearance in the fork hole that it will line up and be the correct fit?
Thanks for your help

RandyS

I would tend to think that would work. I would probably try a small grinding wheel in that area, and finish it off with a file so it is nice and smooth (you don't want it to look like you took an air chisel to it.........) There is virtually no up/down movement at the end of the fork as the Bearing rides on the transmission collar so you don't need to go much past where the fork clears the hole.

4speed

You have a G body bellhousing, it takes a special fork. It is sorta rare and worth more than the bellhousing you need. If you grind on it you will ruin the value. I would find the correct housing and sell that one for profit.
Russ

1978 Oldsmobile Omega

Hey thanks, I didn't even think about the applications, I don't like to cut up old things and was searching for a bellhousing. Would you happen to know what sort of value I am looking at, Canadian-wise, things just seem to have higher prices in Canada probably the Supply and demand factor, thanks for your help

Oldsmaniac

You need a BOP bell housing which is what yours appears to be, an Olds fork. Chevy forks are not the same. You probably need the short throwout bearing.

1978 Oldsmobile Omega

What exactly is the difference? Because for a different fork to work it would need to have an off-centered clip for the pivot ball or be a strange S shape. The housing has an indent above the pivot ball where the pivot ball needs to be for my application, wouldn't what Russ said make sense? That it is just for a different model(s) and there were two locations for the pivot ball and this one is the wrong one? I wish it had a code so I could at least look it up

Oldsmaniac

I was thinking in A body terms and what I said may not be true with the Omega. With the A body there is a certain shape fork that they all used with Olds engine. The Z bar changed some over the years but the fork did not at least from 64 to 72. I thought all the bell housings were basically the same so then the forks would be too....?? Could be wrong, have no Omega experience.