Any ideas?

[ldtopham]

I would be real grateful if anyone could give me an idea of what the bell housing (piccies hopefully attached) is and what box it is designed for. I picked it up with a spare Cleveland 351 for a song and will hopefully be using it in my UK Cobra.
It is the correct bolt pattern for the Ford 351C and is large enough for a 164 tooth F/wheel (which I have), I welcome any ideas or links to sites for release bearing/ clutch arm arrangements as I am going to have to source these bits too!

Thanks v.much guys,
Lee Topham.

Ps, I notice on some sites there seems to be a large steel spacer between the block and housing, is this essential or just a cover plate for the base of the housing? If it is where can I get one??

[mr0077]

ID, try this link...
http://www.mrgasket.com/lakewoodmain.html
It looks like a Lakewood scattershield. this link has photos and part numbers. Yours looks like a 15201, for '79-'93 small block (including the 351C), for the small input toploader, Ford Borg Warner T-10 and Richmond trannies. If it still has the tag on top, it should have their part number for verification. Lotsa luck...

[750hp]

The "Spacer plate" is also called a block plate. This is required to make the assembly SFI approved - theory being that a clutch explosion might be entirely contained within the bellhousing. Without the block plate, you could find shrapnel coming forward through the flywheel and even through the engine block. It's all worst-case scenario stuff, but if you've seen what a disintegrating clutch assembly can do at 7000+rpm, you very quickly see the value in a blow-proof bellhousing.

[ldtopham]

Thanks V.much, yup looks like the 15201 Lakewood. I was hopeing to use a Tremec behind my motor.... don't suppose the bolt pattern is the same as Toploader/ Richmond/ Borg Warner?
If not then I will have to get an adapter plate made up.

Thanks again, Lee.

[Mr.Fixit]

It's not just the bolt patern to worry about, but also the size of the register ring and the depth of the bellhousing so the input shaft ends at the right place relative to the pilot bushing.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Lee;

Actually the Tremec and the top loader share the same bolt pattern,but as Mr. Fixit has said there are other issues to check. The Tremec input shaft (the one that goes in the clutch/flywheel) is actually 3/4 of an inch longer than the top loader....When I put a Tremec in my 65 Mustang, I used the same bellhousing it came with for the toploader,but had to buy (in my case,make my own) a 3/4 inch thick "spacer plate" that went between the trans. and bell housing for that reason....

If possible,measure the depth of your bell housing and if possible the depth of a "factory" bell housing as well as the diameter of the hole on the back side where the trans. bolts up and it will give you an idea where you stand....

If the bell housing you have is for a toploader I do not see why it would not work with the tremec assuming you use the 3/4 inch spacer plate,but before you do anything,I would take a whole bunch of measurements to make sure before buying parts you may or may not need and parts that may or may not work....

Hope this helps some..

David

[Steve R]

Lee,
You need the block plate. Besides it's safty role, it locates the starter in relation to the flywheel and provides the holes with nutplates onto which you bolt the starter.