I've been thinking a bit about heating the housing...the more I think the more I think it might be a bad idea.

Sure the bellhousing will expand....where will it expand too? I think it will make the bolt tighter in the hole...and with my cooked head experience I wonder whether it might effect bearings and stuff.

The heat probably breaks up the rust more than expands the metal in a favourable way.

I'll have one more crack at this puppy mid week, with a bit of heat too to break up the rust. If that no work I'm pulling the gearbox taking it to the exhaust guy at the end of the road - he can weld a nut on it then I'll yoink it out.

I've got a spare fill plug which will be going in with either plumbers tape or some of the copper-eze stuff I've got.

Still a little concerned about heat on the housing - but as Mik say "smack my bitch up!"