clutch explosion !

[wtm442]

Congrats on ordering blow shield. You originally said "when all is said and done but those suckers are spendy but if I need it its no problem ."

Try replacing a leg for the price of a blow shield. I was street racing one time back in the dark ages when the car blew a clutch and pressure plate. Parts exited the car on both side and a piece stuck in the other car's rear fender. . No humans were injured, but it could have been much worse.

[Ron61]

Warren,

Fortunately for you that the pieces went out instead of up. The 69 Cobra has a heavy duty shield on it and one day when I was just blowing it out, I was in second and giving it the gas hard on a steady pull, the clutch completely exploded. When I got it down to my friends garage and we put it on the rack and took the inspection plate off, you should have seen the springs and crap that fell out of there. But everything stayed inside. I did see a 55 Chevy they hauled in with half the flywheel stuck in the dash once. He did that at a drag race. It was an all out drag car and I don't know how he got it past their inspection with a stock bell housing as the other people that I talked to said they had to have blow proof ones and even those blanket type things they used to use in the higher classes.

Ron

[wetdog]

I used to run jet engines in a test cell and I have seen some incredible carnage , my hesitation was based pretty much on the fact that there many powerful cars produced that dont address this issue...better safe than sorry !

[speed220mph]

If you doubt what damage a flywheel or pressure plate can cause when it comes apart at high rpm, look at the photo. I was called into court several times as an expert witness in cases involving an exploded clutches/flywheels. These ranged from clutch failures in a dump truck to a Top Fueler. One severed foot; the other a floater plate went through a lady's shoulder while she was sitting in the stands. If you're doing any high-horsepower, high-rpm driving, use a scatter shield, especially with a conventional clutch. Tilton and Quarter Master small-diameter clutches aren't nearly as dangerous.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

IMO Lakewoods are better than Mcleod bellhousings because of a 1 piece part as compared to a multi piece part.

That one is news to me. Which application are you referring to, RicK? My 351W bellhousing from McLeod is a one piece unit (installed new last year when I swapped out my slightly chattering clutch).

-Dean

[Cobrabill]

IF i were to install a scattershield,it would definately be a McLeod piece.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

That one is news to me. Which application are you referring to, RicK? My 351W bellhousing from McLeod is a one piece unit (installed new last year when I swapped out my slightly chattering clutch).

-Dean

Mine is a one piece McLeod on a 351W as well.

[Excaliber]

Well the couple of examples we have on this thread of serious flywheel damage are from older cars, like the '62 Galaxie. It was BECAUSE of these 60's era flywheel/clutch explosions that blow proof bell housings came on the scene. Again, fact is, a MODERN flywheel explosion is very rare, even with the high horse power drag racers. If you had to make choices based stricly on safety standards and your budget was limited, where do you spend the money? First suppression system? Roll cage? Scatter shield?

I'm not saying don't get a scatter shield, I run one myself. My engine was turning over 7,000 rpm before the rebuild (now de-tuned). RPM that high makes me nervous, in that case I'd spend the money on blow proof bell housing. But what if I had to make a choice between that and a fire supression system or a roll cage? I think it depends on how your engine is built and what kind of racing you have in mind. Road course? I'd rather keep the rpm's limited and go with fire supression or a roll cage. BIG time drag racing, high rpm, dumping the clutch, power shifting? Well, at that point you need it ALL.

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

No,this question IS NOT similiar to shoulder belts & helmets when riding a M/C.Better materials,processes and attitudes(re-using questionable fasteners)make a scatter shield un-needed for a STREET car.As an example McLeods Street twin is guarranteed to 9000 rpm & 1400 HP.At 530 HP & 6500 rpm limited,it(the clutch) doesn't even know it's out of the box.

If you're still nervous,throw a trans blanket on it.It won't stop a flywheel but it will bag clutch parts.

I agree with X on this one. Years ago I grenaded a clutch with a close to stock Boss 302 whipping it up a freeway on ramp. Granted watching the tach needle bounce off of 8k with a Boss isn't the pucker factor that it is with a big block, but the result can be the same. Whether that result is just a ventilated bell housing or a ventilated person is just a matter chance and chaos theory. Since that clutch 15 years ago any engine that I play with gets a scatter shield, as will my new BDR. The economies of scale just don’t ad up.

Steve

[Excaliber]

So Wetdog, you planning on turning that motor 8 or 9 grand rpm? Is it a '62 Galaxie? Well then, you might wanna get a scatter shield.

[wtm442]

From a page on HotRod Mag regarding running 11.99 or quicker ....

........

An SFI-approved scattershield is also necessary in this e.t. category. NHRA requires the scattershield to have an SFI aluminum-foil sticker. According to Red Roberts of McLeod Industries, older bellhousings can be certified by sending the scattershield and block plate to the original manufacturer. The company will inspect the housing and if it passes, it will receive an SFI 6-1 certification. Most SFI certifications are good for five years. Contact your manufacturer if you’re not sure.

The clutch and flywheel must also be SFI certified. The main consideration in this area is to avoid using a cast-iron flywheel. According to Roberts, sometime in the mid-’70s most of the new car companies began using nodular iron flywheels that are much safer. Most, if not all, current high-performance aluminum and steel flywheels are safe when used in conjunction with an approved scattershield, but the rules state that the pressure plate and flywheel need an SFI certification number.

[RICK LAKE]

Red Barchetta and JWD, McLeod sells to types of bellhousing. DEPENDING on the trans, You either get a one piece or a Modular Bellhousing. TKO500 TKO 600 and T-56 require the modular bellhousing on some Ford motors. The barrel for the flywheel is a formed 1 piece, but the trans plate is bolted to the barrel. I am sure that Red has done alot of testing, that it with stands and explodsion. IMO a 1 piece bellhousing is stronger than a multi piece one. I didn't check to see if the modular one is SFI certified. I am gald both of you have a one piece. I hope everyone is running a one piece. I know on some motor trans combo's this is not possible at this time. But with enough want and need this will get either manufacturer to start maken them. I have acustom bellhousing from Advanced adapter that is for a V8 AMC with a 4 spd in a CJ-5 They cut 2" inches out of the bellhousing and rewelded it together. Lakewood It is not SFI certified. I have been told that the welding is stronger than the metal it is welded too. I am not into the 6,000rpm 4 wheel drive burnout and more. Broken too many transfercases,rears (both) and drive shafts in every direction. I blew up many clutches with only the disc being destroyed. No Flywheels, they where all SFI ones. I hope I cleared up my thoughts to you guys on this. IMO One piece is stronger than Multi. Rick Lake