Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

[Dave #34924]

I presently have the engine and trans out of the car, after cleaning things up a bit, I have noticed quite a large weld repair in my aluminum bellhousing, near the starter mount area. I would rather have a scattershield any way, for safety and damage due to a grenaded clutch assy, I know this is rare, but it does happen.
I have seen the Lakewood model in Jegs, and I am sure there are more models out there, is one better than another, will there be any problem mounting the starter, fork lever and throwout bearing assy,tranny and shifter mounting dimensions, or anything else...if a good one can be recommended with no problems , I would be very interested, if not , I guess I will just stay with the aluminum original.
Also, a few teeth on my flywheel are damaged, 2 are actually missing the outside third of the tooth, should I resurface and re-use this flywheel or consider a replacement aftermarket type, 30lb steel I assume....It did work fine before i took everything out.

[Dennis A.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Dave...

you have it tore down, best replace the flywheel now, for sooner or later the starter is going to need those missing teeth.

[Dave Greer]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Lakewood makes one that will fit.Try Summits or Jegs.If you use the block plate with the bellhousing kit you may have to use the adjustable pivot ball to get "air gap" clearance on the clutch disc to pressure plate.You also may have to use a different release bearing. But still no problem setting this up.

[Clem Z.]

the starter ring on the flywheeel can be replaced

if the flywheel is still servicable

[John H.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

If the flywheel itself is in good shape, you can replace just the ring gear; any competent machine shop can do it.

[Mike Cobine]

Scattershield or blowproof bellhousing

Clutches and flywheels blowing up is reasonably rare, otherwise every manufacturer would either have plate steel bellhousings, plate steel transmission tunnels, or have eliminated the use of a clutch. There are literally millions of clutch-type cars out there and how many blow up each month? Year?

However, if you are drag racing it, road racing it, or autocrossing it seriously, then you have the potential to over rev the flywheel and clutch and have them explode.

Then you need a scattershield, or a blow-proof bellhousing. Lakewood is about the most well known name, but there are others. They all have to comply with S.F.I Specs 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 requirements. These are what NHRA, AHRA, SCCA, and others use. The actual spec on a bellhousing will also depend on when it was made, i.e., is it new or is it used from a swap meet. Basically, in your application, it won't matter, they all offer superior protection to your aluminum bellhousing.

Most will bolt right in, using the stock parts or come with the necessary parts that are different than stock.

Lakewood

http://go.mrgasket.com/Brands.aspx?BrandID=5&brandselection=8

Quartermaster

http://www.jetmod.com/quartermaster_blowproof_bellhous.htm

McLeod

http://www.mcleodind.com/newproducts.asp

The blowproof bellhousing is recommended over the blowproof blankets because the blankets tend to retain heat in the components and can overheat the transmission in anything but drag racing. Also, if the flywheel breaks the bellhousing, there is nothing to hold the engine and transmission up, and they can drop down, hitting the pavement if your ground clearance is low.




Lakewood Bellhousings

[Roger Legge]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

If you switch to an aftermarker bellhousing, be sure to check the bellhousing alignment.

Roger

[Joe L.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Dave-----

As others have stated, the ring gear can be replaced with a new one. If the flywheel is in good shape, this is the way to go. As far as I know, this flywheel is not reproduced or available in the aftermarket. If you're concerned about flywheel disintegration, which is quite rare on a street machine, have it surfaced and magna-flux inspected. That should put your mind at ease.

If you wish a "stronger", more protective bellhousing, you could switch to the 57-59 style cast iron unit. This would provide some additional degree of safety, a more-or-less stock appearance (even more so if you painted it with aluminum paint)and it will be a direct bolt-on-----no other modifications required or fitment problems created.

[frank mccracken]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Joe, I recently used a cast iron bellhousing in my '65 because it would accomadate with my 11" clutch and it was all I could find around here. Worked out well except the lower "ears" had to be removed 'cause they interfered with my headers, and once I had it all installed I found that the fork hole did not allow enough clearance for full release adjustment. I solved that by having my wife hold the clutch pedal depressed while I ground the hole for clearance with my die grinder. You may be refering to a C1 bellhousing whereas I think mine is a truck housing but I think they all have the ears and I'm not sure about the fork hole. I was then flamed by several "experts" that it would offer very little more "explosion" potection with I don't nessesarily agree with.
A friend on mine has had nothing but trouble with the alighnment of his steel scattershield assy. Taking out pilot bearings and finally his NEW 6spd is on his work bench now with major damage out of his '65.

[Verle R.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Frank,

About 1962 I was drag racing a 55 Chevy with an Anson Steel scattershield belhousing and block plate. The flywheel let go about 6500 RPM during a shift.
It broke six 1/2 inch grade eight bolts holding the bottom of the scattershield. It broke two or three of the bellhousing bolt bosses on the back of the block and damaged the input shaft and front bearing in the four speed.

All of the debris went out the bottom, bounced off the pavement and left "tracks" on the floor pan.

On a different day a 270 HP 57 Chevy with stock bellhousing blew the flywheel and almost cut the car in two. The driver almost lost his right foot. They did rebuild the car by replacing the complete cowl section.

I can assure you the stock cast iron bellhousing will not protect you in case of a flywheel failure.

Please pay attention to what the several "experts" are saying, it may save you legs or your life.

Verle

[Verle R.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Wrong date, should have said about 1964.

[frank mccracken]

Verle, Since I don't do a lot of drag racing.....

This is not a big issue for me. My contention as well as Joe L's was that the Cast Iron housing would add more protection than the aluminum piece. If I was drag racing, a real scattershield and block plate would be the first thing I would add. It seems to me that solid lifter Corvettes etc routinely spin to 6500, I wonder if your engine was going 'round a little faster?

[Verle R.]

Re: Verle, Since I don't do a lot of drag racing..

Well......it could have been a "little" faster. Maybe it was 7500 :-)

There had also been many cycles of banzi runs and power shifts so there probably were fatigue issues as well.

Verle

[Dick W.]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

Rule #1 when changing a flywheel housing is that you index the housing to the centline of the crankshaft. You can buy offset dowels for the back of the block if you need. Remember they are mass produced parts that were not held to the best of tolerances compared to what is done today.

[Mark #28455]

Re: Scattershield or bellhousing in a 60 Vette

If you get the aftermarket scattershield, measure the depth by laying the block plate and bellhousing engine block side down on a flat surface. Put a ruler down through the transmisssion pilot hole and measure the total depth of the bellhousing and block protector plate and compare to stock. 15 years ago when I was racing, the aftermarket units were all .25" to .4" deeper than stock. The best way to make up for it was to get a longer than stock clutch fork pivot ball. When I tried the longer than stock throughout bearing, my clutch fork would hit the firewall on my 1969.

Good luck,
Mark