Hi,
I'm not here to throw any stones but....
1, The reason you would need to contain a "clutch explosion" is mostly from using a stock cast iron flywheel. Lets face it, cast iron is crystalline iron that can not withstand high rpm. When used they get heat cracks. Yes cracks in the surface that go down .030+ below the surface. That along with used fasteners or improperly torqued bolts can lead to a disaster. This is why SFI has specifications that will not allow such flywheels in competition. Remember the stock aluminum bellhousing will stop nothing compared to a Quick Time that is not SFI approved. Your decision to purchase SFI approved race parts or stock parts are usually determined by "need" and more so "budget".
2, Most do not know this but I sent Ross at Quick Time the OEM Ford bellhousings (FE & 385) for him to measure years ago. I also sent Flathead, Nailhead & GM BOP. So with these parts came the new larger bellhousings that Quick Time made and eventually some got SFI approved.
3, I have over 28 years selling new transmissions and my entire career at Forte's Parts Connection developing new products to go with the manual transmissions I sell. You also must know the GM Tremec 3550 was first developed from a Ford 3550 and bolted to my stock bellhousing without an adapter in my 68 Z-28 to replace the stock Muncie. At the same time I developed an Early Ford 3550 that bolted to a stock Ford bellhousing without an adapter. I brought these Forte's Tremec versions to market starting in March 1993 in magazine ads, feature articles, car shows and exhibiting at PRI shows, Hotrod & Performance show & SEMA.
Three week ago celebrated my 29th year in business. How the time flies.....
Any sales or tech questions can be answered nites & weekends via email [email]mikeforte302@gmail.com or on my cell phone 781 248 8946 and weekdays at 508 875 0016
Quote:
Originally Posted by RICK LAKE
To everyone. You guys have gone over the edge.
#1st This is going to apply for ALL bellhousings, unless there is a COMPLETE
circle of bolts and motor plate with the correct mounting bolts and nuts, an explosion of a flywheel is going to come out the weakest location it can. 98% of you guys are running SFI flywheels like myself. Unless you are turning in the 7,000 rpms and up, there should be no failures. This is what the testing is for. The same goes for clutches. The top line clutches are also SFI tested and numbers. The remanufactured ones you can buy for $150.00 with complete setup are not. This is not to say that they will not last 100K miles and never have a problem if kept in a max rpm of about 5,500 rpms.
#2 This same thing went on last year. I was the one to e-mail QT and still have all the e-mails. In short it was simple
QT doesn't have $20,000.00 to test every bellhousing for an SFI stamp. They have tryed to do as many bellhousings as possible, they where going broke from this. You guys are not taking into account how many bellhousing need to be made to just break even with manufacturing cost, shipping, and personal needed for the jobs. FE motor have 3-5 bellhousing depending on which trans you want to run. McLeod is the one of the only manufactures I know with multi mounting plates on a bellhousing. I sure it is safe but I want a 1 piece bellhousing on my car.
#3 As for picking on Brent, He is the parts guys and trys to do his best to give "US" low prices, top of the line parts, quick delivery, and STANDS BEHIND THE PARTS HE SELLS. Brent didn't build them. We all need to littlen up on him. NO BODY is getting rich doing this for a living. It's a love of COBRAS. Without him on some parts you would have to goto Summit, Jegs' or PAW for parts and most of the time they cost alot more.
#4 Cutting bellhousing, In NJ they need to be cut and be no lower than the rim on a car. Lakewood tells you if you MODIFY the bellhousing they void the warrantty. It's that simple. I run lakewood, have not cut the bellhousing. It has hit a pothole cover and it don't damage the car.
IMO If you guys are racing, you are going with multi disc mini clutch setups. IF you are street guys and going to the track and do a little abuse of the car and are not running 40# flywheels, the QT bell should hold an exploding flywheel in the can area , not to say a couple of small pieces will not get out.The other question is the testing for SFI. My understanding is that this test is done with a 28 pound flywheel and not 40 pounds. Here is the rub I have.
The problem is QT makes a great bellhousing. The problem is questionable wording in the selling part discription. Brent wouldn't sell parts to anyone here or on other forums without being sure the part is safe. The key thing is to use parts that are to WORK in whatever RPM range you like and not push parts that are safe for 5,000 rpms and push them to 6,700 rpms. Odds are they will break over time and when you least want them too. I have blown discs that where rebuilt many years ago. Lakewood was the only bellhousing that was NHRA, IHRA approved. Ansen and others except for the cobra bellhousing with the NHRA stamped in the mold where not legal. Give this a little time, it will fix itself with the new company. Rick L. Ps I don't have every bolt on the bottom of my bellhousing done. I want a weak spot for the explosion to have a place to go, I like out the bottom even if this means running over my own debrie and blowing a tire. Down is better that up or around. Rick
|