Does your bellhousing hang below frame ?

Garage10 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 10:03 PM

I am wondering how many cars out there have their bellhousing hanging below the frame and whether you did anything about it like building a skid plate for it ? Any pictures ? Mine hangs below frame and scares the heck out of me ?

Thanks
Brent

GlynMeek · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 10:13 PM

Mine hangs below, and I think most do...I have an oil pan extension that is actually lower than the bellhousing though, so I would rip that off before I did the bellhousing...

.

How far below does it hang? What is the clearance from the bottom of the bellhousing to the ground?

Glyn

Power Surge · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 10:27 PM

Using the Lakewood bell, yes. Most people trim the bottom to be even with the frame.

Paul F · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 10:30 PM

The scattershield on mine is well below the frame. With the 3/4" flange on a scattershield it's even worse than a bell housing. It makes a great skid plate

, sending off showers of sparks evertime I bottom out on a speed bump.

I just avoid the speed bumps.

427 S/O · #5 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 03:39 AM

Like Sal said and I went a little further...check my pics....

mickmate · #6 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 07:14 AM

My Lakewood is dead level with the frame now, the sticker that warned not to cut weld or grind on it fell off somehow........must have been the warmth from the plasma cutter

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 07:19 AM

This is all you'll need to know http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/ma...ld/index.shtml

Bryan Wilson · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 08:43 AM

maybe I Should have a skid plate

RedBarchetta · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 09:29 AM

Trimmed to maximize clearance (note the pan will hit before the McLeod bellhousing will)

djseed · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 06:27 PM

This is the photo before I trimmed the bellhousing.

It now is just slightly lower than the oil pan.

jwd · #11 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 06:51 PM

Pan and bellhousing are protected by the frame. I fear no speed bump.

CSX 4027 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 07:27 PM

[quote=Bryan Wilson]maybe I Should have a skid plate

Nah, Just airbags for those abrupt stops

alpace@pacificp · #13 (**permalink**) 10-29-2007, 11:54 PM

Spoke with Joe Wight of Kirkham regarding this matter. They cut excess material from bottom thereby removing the 'danger'/concern.

Badger · #14 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 02:18 AM

Another solution is to run a smaller diameter flywheel with a twin plate clutch (to increase the friction area) and use a correspondingly smaller bellhousing. Tilton makes these. Very nicely engineered. You can decrease the clearance under the engine by going dry sump. Ain't cheap, but speed never is... :0) Badger

bermblaster41 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 01:26 AM

Just snagged my lakewood on Saturday on a raised manhole cover at a chevron gas station. Almost knocked my tooth fillings loose

. This will be a definate mod this winter. Thanks for the pics of trimmed bellhousing. Berm

cobra crazee · #16 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 01:39 AM

i also had my bellhousing cut off at house of cobras when i purchased my spf. I didn't know about it until they asked me about my driveway.

RICK LAKE · #17 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:28 AM

Yes mine hangs down and has been hit a couple of times only running the 17" wheel combo. The 15" wheel where OK. They have in the ERA manual about where to cut the bottom of the bell housing. With racing the car I don't think this is a good idea, (This is my own opinion) I want to keep that whole assembly of clutch and flywheel in that blow proof housing. Both flywheel and clutch are SFI but things still break. If you keep your car,ERA with a 5" ground clearance on 15" tires you should be just fine. For a high driveway, drive in on a angle not straight and slow. If you hit, you either need a new driveway or tell the town to fix the angle problem.

Cuttuing the bottom of the bellhousing may make the bellhousing unsafe or illegal if you are racing at some of the roadraces like SAAC meets and some track. 1 guy was question at the VIR track last year. The warranty is void with any modifing of this part and the SFI sticker could get removed if push comes to shove. You are also to have ALL the holes with bolts,nuts and washer, grade 5 or better. I don't have every hole this way. I also don't spin my motors at 8,000 rpm either. Rick L.

Garage10 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-31-2007, 06:27 PM

Hi guy's
Thanks for all the replies.
GlynMeek. My blastshield flange hangs 2 3/4" below frame. Not sure how far off ground as it's on jack stands right now. But, I think it's about 5".
427S/O That rub rail of your is not too bad an idea unless you hit something narrow dead on.
I am lucky my oil pan is above frame. I still think I may trim my flange a bit and build a skid plate so car can slide over things rather than catch lip and have abrupt stops or jars. I have an idea how I will do this but was hoping to see some others ideas.
Thanks
Brent