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Old 09-19-2020, 06:58 PM
flamedabone flamedabone is offline
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Default The Browell Tool

If you have never tried the Browell tool, it is a life changing event.



Stick this part on the crank.



My bellhousing was about .014 off in one direction, so a pair of Lakewood offset dowels got her dialed in.



This tool was about 150 bucks and well worth the cash. No more dicking around with a dial caliper, it is either go or no go.

-Abone.

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Old 09-19-2020, 07:02 PM
flamedabone flamedabone is offline
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Here is the car with the engine mocked up. I don't post it much because it is a F**D, but she will have a nasty little blown Pontiac which makes up for it.



-Abone.

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Old 09-19-2020, 07:19 PM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
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Thanks for the pics of the tool set-up on the engine. That's very slick. So I assume you dial the bellhousing around until the black ring slides smoothly through the register hole?

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Old 09-19-2020, 07:37 PM
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I liked the endless hours on my back under the car trying to get some duplicate numbers a few times in a row. Dial indicator every time....

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Old 09-19-2020, 07:57 PM
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[QUOTE=mgarblik;6180134]Thanks for the pics of the tool set-up on the engine. That's very slick. So I assume you dial the bellhousing around until the black ring slides smoothly through the register hole?[/QUOTE

BELLHOUSING/TRANS REGISTER HOLE CENTERED ON THE TOOL "RING" (YOU CHECK THAT USING FEELER GAGES AT THE DIFFERENT POINTS AROUND THE RING).

I have used that tool, from the time they first offered it, on many different makes of vehicles.
We had to make a few custom sliding rings for the research engines.

Tom V.

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Old 09-19-2020, 10:34 PM
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What centers the tool on the crankshaft?

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Old 09-19-2020, 11:04 PM
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There is a "register" on the end of the tool that is bolted to the crankshaft.
That locates it precisely with the centerline of the crankshaft.

The tool is then attached using two of the flywheel bolt holes in the crank and proper length fasteners.

A very good design for the tool.

Tom V.

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Old 09-19-2020, 11:04 PM
flamedabone flamedabone is offline
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The tool locates on the flywheel register and the two bolts snug it down.

-Abone.

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1933, 1934, 1936 and 1940 Fords, also Pontiac powered.
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Old 09-19-2020, 11:21 PM
PontiacJim1959 PontiacJim1959 is offline
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I have one myself when the time comes to assemble my engine/trans. The TKO trans uses taper bearings and it is very important to have the bell alignment right on the money or it can cause premature wear of the bearings, and I was told by the guy who sold me mine that you can have shifting issues.

I could have probably done the dial indicator route, but this seemed so much easier and faster.

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Old 09-20-2020, 12:37 AM
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Why am I not seeing the pics?

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Old 09-20-2020, 08:00 AM
Murf Murf is offline
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Cool tool ! How do you use that tool to check for “parallel “?

Thanks
Murf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Old 09-20-2020, 09:21 AM
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242177P 242177P is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Baker View Post
Why am I not seeing the pics?
Because Photobucket?







And the '33 must be seen. (I'm still going to *pretend* to hate it. Yeah! If I had to
see it, then you have to see it as well. So there... )
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Old 09-20-2020, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf View Post
Cool tool ! How do you use that tool to check for “parallel “?

Thanks
Murf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
It doesn't really do that. You still need a dial indicator for that.

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Old 09-20-2020, 01:36 PM
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That Ford is badass! You should definitely post more of it.

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Old 09-20-2020, 10:29 PM
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Seems like the only weakness would be centering the tool. It needs to center tight on the crank recess or it could be off sideways, or even slightly cocked if there was any imperfection under it.

But yes, I really don't want to spend any more hours twisting the crank with the dial gauge on the flywheel over and over again. I'll buy one if I set up another bellhousing.

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  #16  
Old 09-21-2020, 12:29 AM
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Brian Baker Brian Baker is offline
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I see your pics, thank you. And that '33 is the bees knees.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 242177P View Post
Because Photobucket?







And the '33 must be seen. (I'm still going to *pretend* to hate it. Yeah! If I had to
see it, then you have to see it as well. So there... )

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  #17  
Old 09-21-2020, 12:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lust4speed View Post
Seems like the only weakness would be centering the tool. It needs to center tight on the crank recess or it could be off sideways, or even slightly cocked if there was any imperfection under it.

But yes, I really don't want to spend any more hours twisting the crank with the dial gauge on the flywheel over and over again. I'll buy one if I set up another bellhousing.
I spoke with one gentleman, years ago, who purchased a offshore crankshaft, where the crank was "On center" but the hole register was slightly too large. therefore there WAS some slight "slop" in the Browel set-up.

What we did with him was we had the end of the Browel tool that registers the tool reduced in diameter (he had access to a GOOD machine shop) and two "Donuts" with the different register diameters made.

One for the "screwed up crank" register and one with the correct Pontiac diameter register. A couple of hours on a proper lathe got him back in business again. He was on a time line to get the parts installed properly. From that point on he installed his special donut in the end of the crank before installing the Browel tool.
I may actually have my Browel Tool modified the same way as then I know I am truly on center with the tool.

So if you are a sharp guy you can basically fix any pontiac or aftermarket
crank issue as far as the Browel Tool register.

Tom V.

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  #18  
Old 09-23-2020, 12:58 PM
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Their website doesn't have much info. Probably have to call them. I see pix above for the 4.685" OD ring to match the GM transmission bearing retainer size, which is nice.

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