Bellhousings
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In certain racing classes, a sanctioning body may require a “scatter shield” be used on both manual and automatic transmissions. This can be a specially made bellhousing or an added-on ballistic blanket-type affair. The point of it is to contain the shrapnel in the case of a catastrophic failure. It’s not unheard of for a failed flywheel to saw its way into the driver’s compartment, or to have pieces penetrate the floorboards, and this can even endanger spectators. Such a failure happened to Don Garlits and this accident- while almost costing him a foot- was the impetus for him designing the first truly successful rear engine Top Fuel dragster. Racing bellhousings that meet [http://www.sfifoundation.com/ SFI] 6.1 certification are able to contain a 13 inch (33 cm) diameter, 30 pound (13.6 kg) flywheel made of steel, cast iron or comparable material, that explodes between 8,000 and 9,000 RPM. Any material can be used to make such a bellhousing as long as it can pass the test. | In certain racing classes, a sanctioning body may require a “scatter shield” be used on both manual and automatic transmissions. This can be a specially made bellhousing or an added-on ballistic blanket-type affair. The point of it is to contain the shrapnel in the case of a catastrophic failure. It’s not unheard of for a failed flywheel to saw its way into the driver’s compartment, or to have pieces penetrate the floorboards, and this can even endanger spectators. Such a failure happened to Don Garlits and this accident- while almost costing him a foot- was the impetus for him designing the first truly successful rear engine Top Fuel dragster. Racing bellhousings that meet [http://www.sfifoundation.com/ SFI] 6.1 certification are able to contain a 13 inch (33 cm) diameter, 30 pound (13.6 kg) flywheel made of steel, cast iron or comparable material, that explodes between 8,000 and 9,000 RPM. Any material can be used to make such a bellhousing as long as it can pass the test. | ||
| − | Ever since there were hotrods being made, there have been transmissions from one make mated to engines of a different make. To that end, custom bellhousings, engine plates and/or adaptor plates are used to join them together. This continues to this day.<br style="clear:both"/> | + | Ever since there were hotrods being made, there have been transmissions from one make mated to engines of a different make. To that end, custom bellhousings, engine plates and/or adaptor plates are used to join them together. This continues to this day. <br style="clear:both"/> |
====Adaptors==== | ====Adaptors==== | ||
TCI and Trans-Dapt make adaptor plates for mounting a BOP transmission to a Chevy engine or vice versa. They are plenty sturdy for all but the most demanding circumstances, and the cost is relatively low. | TCI and Trans-Dapt make adaptor plates for mounting a BOP transmission to a Chevy engine or vice versa. They are plenty sturdy for all but the most demanding circumstances, and the cost is relatively low. | ||
| − | [[File:Tci detail.jpg|thumb|300px|left|TCI adaptor p/n 230001 for Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac engines to Chevy transmissions]]<br style="clear:both"/>[[File:WILCAP ADAPTOR EARLY HEMI TO TH350.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Wilcap adaptor on early Hemi for using TH350 transmission]] | + | [[File:Tci detail.jpg|thumb|300px|left|TCI adaptor p/n 230001 for Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac engines to Chevy transmissions]]<br style="clear:both"/>[[File:WILCAP ADAPTOR EARLY HEMI TO TH350.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Wilcap adaptor on early Hemi for using TH350 transmission]] Wilcap offers an adaptor to mount the TH350 tranny to the early Chrysler Hemi (above).<br style="clear:both"/> |
| − | Wilcap offers an adaptor to mount the TH350 tranny to the early Chrysler Hemi (above). | + | |
| + | ==Automatic transmission bellhousings== | ||
| + | Many automatic transmission bellhousings are an integral part of the transmission case, and as such, are not removable. However, in some cases the bellhousing is replaced by machining the case to remove the old bellhousing and a specially made bellhousing is attached to the case by the front pump bolts. | ||
| + | There are OEM designs used by Ford (as far back as the early ‘50’s) and GM (some 4L60E) that use removable bellhousings. GM also used “uni-case” bellhousing bolt patterns on some of their transmissions, allowing them to be used across a wide line of GM engines.<br style="clear:both"/> | ||
| − | === | + | ===Aftermarket Powerglide cases and bellhousings=== |
| + | [[File:Ultra case tci.gif|thumb|left|JW Ultracase Powerglide]] [[File:TCI p-n 720002 Superglide case.jpg|thumb|||TCI Powerglide case]] | ||
| + | In fact, the venerable GM Powerglide (that can be made w/o using a single OEM part) has probably been used behind more high horsepower engines than any other automatic transmission out there. <br style="clear:both"/> | ||
| − | + | Below are bellhousings used to mount the Reid Powerglide transmission case to various engines.[[File:Reid 2-Piece Superglide Transmission Case with SBFord Bellhousing p-n BH010.jpg|thumb|100px||Reid Superglide Powerglide case with SB Ford bellhousing mounted]] | |
| − | + | From left to right: 4.6/5,4 L Ford Mod motor; SB Mopar; BOP; BB Mopar; Ford 385 series; SB Ford; Chevy. | |
| − | + | [[File:Bellhousings Reid Powerglide50-60-30-40-20-10-001.jpg]]<br style="clear:both"/> | |
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===Manual transmission bellhousings=== | ===Manual transmission bellhousings=== | ||
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In the case of Chevy bellhousings, there are several that are often preferred for use in modern vehicles. One is the casting number 3899621 bellhousing that fits the 11" clutch. Truck bellhousings have to be selected carefully if used in a passenger car application. Some will have a larger bearing housing hole for the transmission input shaft. There are adaptor rings made to allow them to be used. Later bellhousings used in the GM F- and A-body cars have the transmission tipped over, and there are bellhousings that have provisions for mounting a hydraulic clutch slave cylinder. A page showing this and other bellhousings and associated info is from [http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/t5_install_bellhousing.htm#14060627 Garage-Scene.com] | In the case of Chevy bellhousings, there are several that are often preferred for use in modern vehicles. One is the casting number 3899621 bellhousing that fits the 11" clutch. Truck bellhousings have to be selected carefully if used in a passenger car application. Some will have a larger bearing housing hole for the transmission input shaft. There are adaptor rings made to allow them to be used. Later bellhousings used in the GM F- and A-body cars have the transmission tipped over, and there are bellhousings that have provisions for mounting a hydraulic clutch slave cylinder. A page showing this and other bellhousings and associated info is from [http://www.garage-scene.com/t5-into-ag-body/t5_install_bellhousing.htm#14060627 Garage-Scene.com] | ||
The bellhousing has to be aligned correctly to the crankshaft centerline. This will allow less wear and a smoother drivetrain. Offset dowels are available to correct this alignment if it’s found to be off. More on this page by [http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/wp-contehud/uploads/GM-Dial-Indicating-RobbMC-instructions-Revised-6-15-09A.pdf Hurst]. | The bellhousing has to be aligned correctly to the crankshaft centerline. This will allow less wear and a smoother drivetrain. Offset dowels are available to correct this alignment if it’s found to be off. More on this page by [http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/wp-contehud/uploads/GM-Dial-Indicating-RobbMC-instructions-Revised-6-15-09A.pdf Hurst]. | ||
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