Bell housings

By you asking are they the same I take it you mean is the SAE size the same and not will they swap from one engine to the other.
You will only know by measuring the diameter of the opening/flange of each and comparing them as I believe there were a couple of different SAE sizes available for the D353 at least--not sure on the D17000.
The same may apply for the flywheels as well.
There are SAE adaptor rings available that may make adaption possible.

Links below may help.

http://www.sbmar.com/Maintenance/PDF/SAE_flywheels-housings_Jan07.pdf

http://www.phxgrp.com/saeadapters.htm

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Edb, thank you for all the info, little more involved than I was hoping for. Looks like I will have to remove the clutch housing on my D17000 so I can measure it. I want to purchase a marine transmission for it so I can reverse the rotation of the output of the engine. thanks again

With the chart provided by edb you should be able to determine which SAE housing it is from an outside measurement, the 17000 is most likely a 00 and the D353 is right on the line between a 0 and 00 so could be either, make yourself a simple large caliper out of thin plywood or sheet metal etc.

Yes Josh, I made a measuring tool out of two squares and got the out side and the bolt centers.
I was surprised, the D17000 is a single 0
I now know what size I need to get,
The only mystery will be if the flywheels are compatible. Thanks for the help guys.

In my experience with marine engines and transmissions over the last 15 years, I have usually found that if the housing is compatible, the flywheel is as well, making adapters for the flywheel isn't a bad job but adapters for different is more difficult because of their sheer size. Some marine boxes don't like running constantly in reverse, so it is worth checking the gearbox you get.

I meant that the housing adapters are more difficult.

What's the application you have planned for the engine? It didn't sound like it was going to be a marine application? Just curious.

It will be short run time. This is to make it so I can run it on the prony brake and test the horse power. Last fall at our show we did it with a belt and it is to time consuming to line it up. By using this I can back into the PTO shaft and it will be a lot easier.
The box I am looking at came off a D353 out of a Barge and the gentleman that has it has been around this stuff all his life. I think we will be ok with the short run time in reverse.
It is nice to know we on the forum are always looking out for each other .Thanks