Bellhousing Depth

blykins · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 05:48 PM

Guys...quick question....

If a bellhousing (including block plate) was about an 1/8" more shallow, would that mess up the relationship (cause major problems) between the pilot and the pilot bushing?

Reason being, in another post, I asked about using a McLeod bellhousing and a Lakewood block plate... The block plate is about 1/8" thinner than a regular McLeod block plate.

I was looking on Lakewood's PDF file...they have their regular blowproof bellhousings with a depth of 6.361" (with block plate) and then they have the regular bellhousings (non SFI approved) that are only 6.236". If you do the math, that's 1/8" difference. So apparently an 1/8" more shallow wouldn't hurt anything....does this make sense?

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 07:15 PM

You may have to adjust the depth of the starter to flywheel???

IMO unless the clutch blows up the block plate serves little purpose. It may or may not save the back of the block from flying debris. As long as the input shaft does not bottom out in the pilot bearing you will be ok.
Install the bellhousing and measure the depth from the transmission mounting face to the bottom of the input shaft hole in the pilot bearing. Compare that dimension to that of the mounting face of the transmission to the length of the input shaft. The difference (in thousandths of an inch) is how much you have to play with.

Rick

Cobranut · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 10:51 PM

I have a Tremec TKO with a Lakewood SFI bellhousing w/ block plate.

I had to shorten the pilot on the input shaft to get things to mate up properly.

I had measured and adjusted everything else and could not get the engine and bellhousing to mate up.
After a bit of head scratching, I checked the pilot hole depth in the crank and found the problem.
It's easy to overlook something like that.
I used a cutoff wheel to shorten the shaft and carefully deburred and chamferred it and all fit up nicely.

Be careful and use plenty of water when cutting the shaft. You don't want to get it too hot or you'll affect the temper.

Also be sure to check your clutch lever adjustment. Make sure the geometry is correct and that you'll have sufficient travel to fully engage and disengage the clutch.

Measure everything twice, cut once.

Hope this helps,

David