Transaxle questions 1974 TCS

[kram350kram]

Couple of questions: 1) What is the numerical designation of a stock 1974 TCS 4 speed transaxle.... 336, 352, etc...?  2) I have a Renault 395-00 5 speed with a totally different bell housing configuration than the stock four speed.  Will the bell housing of the stock 4 speed bolt to the 5 speed transaxle and align properly ? Stock 4 speed on left, 5 speed on right. Thanks

[BDA]

The 4-speed trannies for the TC and TCS was 336 or 352. I think the 336s were in the earlier TCs. It is my reasoned opinion that almost any small Ford 4 cylinder motor can be joined with any Renault tranny meant for Renault motors of similar output. It makes life a lot easier for Ford to have a standard bell housing bolt pattern and distance between flywheel face and bell housing mounting face because it would be easier to mix and match and it’s a few less details that has to be derived for future models. Similarly, it makes life easier for Renault to standardize the tranny/bell housing interface.

My car is an example of that. My BDA motor (“Kent” block similar to the TC, Pinto, crosflow, etc. engines) hooks up my NG3 tranny using the regular TC bell housing. No adapters are necessary.

All that is to cover my a$$ because I don’t have specific knowledge of the 395 but I would be astounded if bolting one to a TC is any different from bolting a 365 or NG3 to a TC.

[jbcollier]

You can use the Lotus-made, TC bellhousing on the 395 transaxle.  It was made to clear a 365’s gears so it should be fine with the 395s.

The Renault-made bellhousing from the 336 will not fit on a 395 or 365.

Ford 4 cylinder engines do not all have the same bellhousing bolt pattern.  Crossflow, Lotus TC, BDA, Zetec, etc will bolt up to the Lotus TC bellhousing.  Later engines will not.

[jbcollier]

395s have a few peculiarities.  First, there is a big gap between 3rd and 4th.  Second, early versions have also have a very small gap between 4th and 5th — you can fit a later 395 5th to solve this.  Third, later 395s have a stump puller 1st.  Basically, it’s not an ideal mix of ratios for a Europa.  It is, however, an inexpensive way to get 5 gears and the issues are not deal-breakers per se if you are not too fussy.

[BDA]

You can use the Lotus-made, TC bellhousing on the 395 transaxle.  It was made to clear a 365’s gears so it should be fine with the 395s.

The Renault-made bellhousing from the 336 will not fit on a 395 or 365.

Ford 4 cylinder engines do not all have the same bellhousing bolt pattern.  Crossflow, Lotus TC, BDA, Zetec, etc will bolt up to the Lotus TC bellhousing.  Later engines will not.

Thanks for clarifying that. That’s interesting and surprising to me!