ANyone using a lakewood scattershield

OhBuoy · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2005, 03:26 AM

I am replacing my engine and want to use a lakewood bellhousing between my 302 and Tremec 3550. I have heard on the old FFRs that the sides of the lakewood needed to be ground down as well as trimming the bottom. It looks like the B&B has enough clearance, but I want to make sure. I will be trimming the bottom anyways.

Tom

jams · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 03:45 PM

Hi Tom,

I have a lakewood belhousing. It fits just fine. You do have to trim the bottom.

Jim

Cobrabill · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 04:05 PM

Buy a McLeod bellhousing.

OhBuoy · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-2005, 04:53 PM

McLeod's have been on backorder forever and do not see one comming anywhere in the near future!

cobrak · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2005, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jams

Hi Tom,

I have a lakewood belhousing. It fits just fine. You do have to trim the bottom.

Jim

Why do you have to trim the bottom?

CobraK

OhBuoy · #6 (**permalink**) 05-04-2005, 06:13 AM

It hangs down a little to low for speed bumps and railroad tracks.

RobV · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2005, 04:32 AM

I tried to find the McLeod and found the same thing. The Lakewoods are also short on availablility. I did get one from Jeg's and I am also curious about triming the bottom. How much do you need to take off? I assume it's just the bottom flange and not the housing itself? My Cobra is still on the jack stands waiting for the engine to arrive.

OhBuoy · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 05:23 AM

I just took off the bottom flange. Even at that, after seeing pictures in the gallery here, I think I took a little too much off.

RICK LAKE · #9 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 05:59 AM

ohBuoy Tom if you go to ERA forum there is a picture of where to cut the bottom of the shield for higher clearance. 1 note, I didn't cut mine for the protection. I have seen flywheels explode and this bell housing has safed alot of feet. 2 years ago we where cruising St Lious in the cobble stone area by the river, we where driving slow and scraped it a couple of times but no damage was done to the car. At 50+ I can't say. When a clutch explodes, the parts are coming out the weakest area. By removing the bottom bolts you give it a weak location to come out. The parts blow out to the ground and then Come off the ground go in what direction?

That's right back up into you and the car. Trim the bottom BUT make sure you can bolt up all the holes. Add washer to the bolts. I have grade 8 bolts but 5's would be OK. I am only looking out for your feet. Is your Flywheel SFI?? Odds are you will never have this happen, but why take a change Rick Lake

RobV · #10 (**permalink**) 05-30-2005, 10:10 AM

For what it's worth, and after looking at the pictures and discussion on the ERA post, I am swayed that if the bottom flange is hit hard enough to bend the housing and you affect the geometry you might have transmission problems. I plan to trim the bottom flange off. The only question in my mind is how much. It seems that you can retain the two outboard bottom holes if you don’t take it all, and that seems like a good thing to me. I guess I will see if taking the flange up to the housing gains me anything once the car is on the ground?

Rob