stock bellhousing

[kgs365]

did anyone use a stock ford bellhousing in their ERA build?...with a toploader?...any downside?

[badrich]

How about an exploding clutch or flywheel? Don't leave home without your scattershield.

[CCX 33239]

Ditto badrich's comment. I had a friend years ago that got to go around on part of a right foot thanks to a errant flywheel and pressure plate.

[CCX 33239]

I forgot to mention: In a cobra, the knees and crotch are pretty vulnerable too.

[*13*]

Quality Clutch Components lessen the chance of a clutch problem. Scattershield is always going to be your safest bet

[Bill D]

What if you only drive on the street?

[Excaliber]

Well you can never go wrong recommending a scatter shield/blow proof bell housing to someone, never. But do you REALLY need one? With TODAYS technology? I doubt it, EVEN if you racing!

Simple fact is back in the 60's with increasing horse power and old technology flywheels and clutches flew apart on occasion. Heck thats WHY they started making blow proof bell housings. Today? The odds of a catastrophic flywheel/Clutch failure is very low. Maybe the same as crossing the street on foot during rush hour and getting plastered by a Fire Truck. Hey, it could happen!

Show me ONE thread on Club Cobra about one of our members this actually happened to. ONE thread, double dog dare you.

What you WILL find is... "I knew this guy, years ago, one leg, poor fellow. Lost it when his clutch blew up." How many years ago did he loose this leg? 30? 40? Eh Eh. Drag racing a 7 second car maybe?


Oh, Me? What I am running? A Lakewood blow proof bell housing of course, I'm no fool ya know....

[blykins]

I can show you a couple of threads where a stock flywheel has exploded on the dyno...

And I can show you a couple of threads where bolts have almost completely backed out on pressure plates/flywheels.

kgs, shoot me an email. I'll cut you a real good deal on a rocker arm set/bellhousing combo.....

[kgs365]

the issue in this case is the amount of machine work needed to fit a lakewood bellhousing...in the kirkham site it looks pretty complicated with alignment, cutting the bottom etc...with a stock belhousing it bolts on and the bottom is already cut...i hear you on the safety issue...what if you wrap it with a kelvar tranny wrap...or transmission shield?...this car is going to be used on the street...with a new clutch, flywheel etc....a ford bellhousing is pretty thick..

[blykins]

I sell Quicktime and Lakewood bells both.

The Quicktimes weigh half the weight (which in case your case doesn't matter, but to a drag-racer it does) and are available in "stickered" and "non-stickered" versions.

Both versions are technically SFI rated and are technically scattershields. Both will withstand a flywheel explosion at 10000 rpm. However, the non-SFI bell doesn't have the flange around the bottom of the bellhousing, thus it doesn't have the SFI approval. Even without the flange, it would contain an explosion and it would save your legs/engine/transmission/etc.

Most Cobra owners buy the Lakewoods then trim the flanges off the bottoms for ground clearance anyway.

Yes, cast iron bellhousings are indeed thick, but they are brittle and would not take an impact without shattering.

You should always check alignment on ANY bellhousing...stock, Q/T, L/W, etc.

[blykins]

kgs,

I sent you a reply email from my business address.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by kgs365

the issue in this case is the amount of machine work needed to fit a lakewood bellhousing...

ERA does all the machine work for you. A properly fitting bellhousing is a but a stroke of the pen away....

[blykins]

There is no machine work with a Quicktime.

As of the past couple years, Lakewoods have really become antiquated in terms of manufacturing and engineering. Quicktimes are really on the front line of technology.

If you just compare weight, Lakewoods weigh about 42-43 lbs. Quicktimes are usually around 22.

Also, as of right now, Quicktime is the only manufacturer to get the nod for an SFI approved pressure plate adjustment window.

[kgs365]

thanks patrickt!....that might be the easiest solution...

[blykins]

I think Patrick was referring to having them machine the flange off of a Lakewood.

Lakewood bellhousings are around $430. Quicktimes are around $498.

If you have to pay ERA to machine it for you, then IMO you're paying too much for a product with inferior quality.

Also, I haven't sold a Lakewood in a long time because the Quicktimes are such better deals, but the Lakewoods didn't use to come with a pivot. If you have to order a pivot bracket in addition to the bellhousing, it will cost you an additional $30-40.

[kgs365]

thanks brent got you email...need to chew on it for awhile

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by kgs365

thanks patrickt!....that might be the easiest solution...

That solution seems to work just about every time. You might inquire with Bob P. as to whether Quicktime is now an option. They do weigh 20lbs less, and I don't even know what a pressure plate adjustment window is, but I like the sound of it.

[strictlypersonl]

Doug wasn't impressed at the only Quicktime we've installed (probably a couple of years ago) because of its un-concentricity and the starter's exposure. I've heard that the quality is better now but you'll have to convince Doug about the rest.

[patrickt]

Doug's as skilled as they come. I deferred to his judgment on my build every time.

[blykins]

S/P

Don't let one bellhousing sway your thinking. I've sold a wad of them, along with the other venders that advertise here. I've never had a complaint and when a question arises, I usually get a response from the president of the company within a few hours.

I don't know if ERA is set up as a distributor for Q/T....if not, I'd be happy to shoot you guys one at cost so you could try one again.