Calling All ENGINEERS...Scattershield Question??

[Aussie Mike]

Some of us don't have the luxury of being able to buy a steel scattershield. The T56 doesn't have anything available to bolt up and yet these boxes are finding their way into race cars (the camaro firebird guys have been giving them a hammering at the strip). I'm definitely going to use a steel or aluminium flywheel and a heavy duty race style clutch but I've been thinking of other possible safety solutions.

How about adding some protection into the tunnel area of the chassis. I've been thinking about bending up a steel plate section about 8" wide and wrapping it over the outside of the tunel under the carpet. there are no structural steel members in my tunnel so I was contemplating bonding it to the tunnel with a combination of heavy duty rivets and fiberglass and have the ends of the strip bolt down through the floor into the chassis.

Or how about an external steel cover that wraps around the bellhousing and is held in place with the belhousing to engine bolts and the gearbox to belhousing bolts. I've seen similar style external converter shields for drag racing auto gearboxes.

If the clutch or flywheel does go bang it'll probably make a mess of the bellhousing and the underside of the car but hopefuly it won't get to my legs.

Cheers

[cobrashoch]

As a guy that's had a couple of big bangs I can tell you that almost all body external modifications just plain will not work.
Those approved housings work because they are clearanced super close to the flywheel. As 220mph commented, a smaller clutch can get loose and get through even a approved housing if it has room to move up or down or around in the housing. By making things tight, the thinking goes, a explosion will turn on itself and self destruct. Any extra room in the housing will let blown parts build up kinitic energy in a housing, and you risk those parts not turning on itself, instead going straight up possibly. And those parts could go through even thick steel. That's why scattershields are made of moderatly thin steel and how they work. Adding plating to a tunnel in lew of a scattershield is a very, very bad idea IMHO. And so says my NHRA tech inspector. Don't give that flywheel room to move around, buy a scattershield or approved housing. A automatic with a converter is another story and for another thread. Hint; It has to do with liquids.
cobrashock

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Okay...a scattershield it is....now...Lakewood or McLeod????

I just love to "Stir" the pot....................just kidding, about stirring>>>

[BLACKJACK]

HEY, EARL,

I LIKE THE LITTLE GUY IN YOUR BANNER.

DID YOU "WALK THE HOT SANDS"??

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

[EarlsflyinCobra]

When I joined the PD in 1978 we had the beaches then somewhere in the late 80's early 90's the SO took over the beaches and created a joint lifeguard/beach patrol officer, so, to answer your question, yes, for a while.....Earl

[speed220mph]

Earl: No, neither . . . Trick Titanium.

[RICK LAKE]

Assie Mike Mike Lakewood or Mcloed just came out with a schattershield for the 6 spds It was in Car Craft or Hot Rod Mag about 6 months ago The mounting plate for the trans is interchangable. I think it is Race Legal for NHRA. I will see if I can find the article and tell you which Mag. Could have been Mustang mag. I am going to look. How's Bernie Knights new motor?? Rick Lake

[blubyu2]

If someone wants to skimp on a scattersheild. You seem to be forgettting the parts that go down first off the ground then up thru the floor under the seat Lets face it the floors on these cars arent stopping much I had to cut a few corners but that wasnt going to be one of them.

Greg

[Aussie Mike]

Originally posted by RICK LAKE


Assie Mike Mike Lakewood or Mcloed just came out with a schattershield for the 6 spds It was in Car Craft or Hot Rod Mag about 6 months ago The mounting plate for the trans is interchangable. I think it is Race Legal for NHRA. I will see if I can find the article and tell you which Mag. Could have been Mustang mag. I am going to look. How's Bernie Knights new motor?? Rick Lake

That's great news on the T56 bellhousing, thanks Rick.

I saw Bernie a couple of weeks back. He came over to check out Casa del Murphy and the pile of parts I'm trying to turn into a Cobra. Haven't seen the new motor but heard plenty of rumors. After looking at Bernies engine bay there's no way a Big block would fit in there, it's a tight squeese even with the Windsor. It seems to be running strong and he's getting more confident with giving it a bit of a run. He had it up to 120MPH the other day to check out how it's handling.

Cheers

[speed220mph]

If you have any doubts about the damage a flywheel/clutch explosion can do: Dug this photo out of my archives. Shot is of a small-block powered gas coupe that had such an explosion. Note destroyed instrument panel, broken windshield, sheared off brake and accelerator pedals, hole in floor and the back of the engine sans aluminum bellhousing, flywheel and clutch. Dark liquid is . . . well, use your imagination.

[KobraKarl]

Tom,

Now THATS what I call making a point !

[RedBarchetta]

A TALL glass of your favorite beverage to the first person who can tell me the EXACT part number I would need for a Lakewood bellhousing that fits a 351W block backed by a Tremec TKO. I saw these in a Jegs catalog, but their verbiage only confused me some more...

As much as I hate yanking the tranny, this "mod" makes the most sense.

[SFfiredog]

McLeod # 8625 (Summit # MCL-8625) is a direct bolt in.
Another suggestion is to call Mark Dove at Dynamic Motorsports
(Superformance guys)
He has all the Lakewood stuff in stock that you need and gives a really good price. Tell him I sent you.
--Mike

[RedBarchetta]

Mike,

Thanks so much for the reference and part #'s! I owe you a COLD TALL ONE!

Regards,

-Deano

[cobrashoch]

Just remember when changing stuff over and around that the tightest fitting housing that you can get will be the right one. Another thing. Scattershields are NOT a 100% containment thing. They just move you from the realm of a 100% chance of failure into the area of probibilitys. Maybe they will contain 60% to 80% of he bad stuff that can happen. All you are doing with a scattershield is moving the odds over more to your favor, that's all.
cobrashock

[PatBuckley]

So a ballistic blanket over the scattershield may be enough to protect us?

[Cal Metal]

I must be missing something here. What is, or what was, the reason for objecting to using a scattershield in the first place? What possibly could be the negatives of using one?

[RICK LAKE]

Aussie Mike Hey Mike I found the article on the Mcleod Modular bellhousings. It's in HotRod mag May 03. Any motor to any trans and SFI certified. Great article. Has all the listing for motors. starts on page 46. Hope this helps everyone. I think your legs are worth 500.00$ hope others think the same way. Snows coming got to go. Keep an EYE on Bernie he;s getting out of control. Sent a e-mail to George A at Gessford and complain. Rick Lake

[cobrashoch]

Pat- Donno bout blankets being used on sticks. Maybe yes, maybe no. Most likely depends on who you talk to I'd bet. I do know a blanket is a barrier for a fire and liquids though, and that's why they are used on top fuelers and automatics.
cobrashock

[Sal Gerace]

I would like to use the Cobra Bellhousing that I bought to make my car look like the originals looked. Maybe along with a multi disc clutch as another member suggested. What do other members feel about the use of a multi disc clutch? Are they OK for street use? If they hold together they sound like the best of both worlds, less of course the price!