Bell housing

Bellhousing (aka bell-housing or bell) is a colloquial term for the component that aligns and connects the transmission of a vehicle to its engine, and which covers and protects the flywheel/clutch or flexplate/torque converter. It derives its name from the bell-like shape that those internal components necessitate. The starter motor may mount to it, and it may support clutch and/or shifter linkage.

A Bellhousing may be a separate housing bolted to the gearbox, or it may be an integral portion of the transmission housing, particularly with front wheel drive transmissions. An integral bell has a front bolt pattern that matches the engine to which it will be paired, and a divorced bell additionally has a rear bolt pattern that matches the gearbox to which it will be paired. The use of different bellhousings on a transmission allows the same transmission to be used on multiple engines in multiple applications.