Quicktime Bellhousing

[hi-tech cobra]

Got my Quicktime bellhousing from Fortes. Kind of dissapointed...it's so light I don't feel like I got my money's worth. You know, like with a Lakewood.

Pics when I get a chance.

[hi-tech cobra]

Here is a pic, more in my gallery. Fortes welded on the hydraulic cylinder mount. The throw out arm will hopefully be the only billet alum piece on the car.

[Larry N Johnson]

Looks pretty nice.
Do you plan to "index" it?

[hi-tech cobra]

I just got off the phone with Steve at Fortes. He said the QT did not need to be indexed. They have a sweet setup with the slave and billet fork.

I noticed Kirkham has a similar unit but they have 2 holes on the billet fork for a lighter or faster throw.

[xlr8or]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

I just got off the phone with Steve at Fortes. He said the QT did not need to be indexed.

Index it. Although not nearly as bad or unpredictable as the Lakewood it may need to be indexed. I mounted mine and it was out by .009

Some people wouldn't worry about any less than .010 but I put the offset dowels in there anyway and got it down to .003

Tremec trans seem to be more sensitive to this for wearing out front seals.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

I noticed Kirkham has a similar unit but they have 2 holes on the billet fork for a lighter or faster throw.

That's good to know, thanks. I got my setup from Kirkham.

[hi-tech cobra]

RodKnock,
did you get your car yet?

[franklin]

I second the notion for indexing your quick time. When I had mine indexed, my quick time bellhousing was out by .040 and so I had to move mine .020 to get it centered. I think it ended up at .002 or .003 when I was done.

What is everyone, with one of these, using for a cover for your starter & clutch fork area on your quick time bellhousings?
Just curious?

Would love to hear feedback on the Fortes system in comparison to the Kirkham system? From those that have had some in use?

[xlr8or]

I like the Forte setup.
I have not covered the starter or fork holes. Quicktime is supposedly coming out with a cover for the starter.
For mine it worked perfectly with the clutch master that came with the car. Smooth easy pedal with no pedal stop required.

[RICK LAKE]

Hi tech cobra Quicktime sells 2 bellhousing for the FE motor. One saids it passed SFI testing but doesn't say CERTIFIED. The other said nothing about this at ALL. What is the bell housing made of? Aluminium? Titanium? Be careful with this. The other thing is to check your bell housing for being centered on the motor. I was told the same thing about nothing to worry about. The Lakewood was .038" out of center. I would double check with Steve about this whole thing. If you go to their website and lookup your bellhousing, the wording is questionable. If you are running a small multi disc clutch like dirttrackers, this will be maybe OK, but if you are running a 40 lbs flywheel and 11" clutch, I don't think this will save your legs from an schatter clutch assembly. This bell is for lite duty usage and racing. Just my opinion. Rick Lake Ps I have seen clutches and flywheels come through roofs and windshields. Feet and leg lose is about being lucky. You might want to rethink this.

[hi-tech cobra]

Well that's a p1sser!
It says "Has passed ALL SFI testing" on their web site. What does that mean? Are they waiting for the certificate on that bell housing? Many BH's on their site are SFI Certified.

Rick, the bellhousing is steel.

[RICK LAKE]

Hi tech Cobra I was not trying to be a smart@$$ again, I just went by the reading. The lakewood bell housing weight almost 50 pounds. You said your was very lite. There should be a label on the bell saying SFI certified and a date for when it is to be retested. We go through this in the NHRA racing. I think it's every 3 years. If you call Quicktime ,I'm sure they have an answer for this. I hope it's just a poor description of a part and not a trying to get over on the public game. Rick L. P.s I am gald it's steel, but I am thinking that it's more designed for a multi disc small clutch like a 6-7" Tilton assembly. When they blow there is alot less change of the major damage than when a stock size clutch blows. Sorry for questioning your build.

[hi-tech cobra]

Rick,
No problem. I don't think you are being a smart a$$. I appreciate the heads up!!
I will call them tomorrow and let you know what they say.

[xracerbob]

Rick- I would bet that the Quicktime is a better tool to protect your car and body parts that the Lakewood. Spun pieces like the Quicktime keep more of their malleability and it will certainly deform and stretch but not let any thing out. The stamped Lakewood can have high stress areas that could crack potentially leading to some shrapnel escaping.

To me its a no-brainer- less weight, no cutting, a more accurate piece and better protection.

Rick- I command you to ditch your Lakewood right now and get a Quicktime! Otherwise you will explode.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xracerbob

Rick- I command you to ditch your Lakewood right now and get a Quicktime! Otherwise you will explode.

Dang Rick, you're like Rocky Balboa -- you keep taking it on the chin and just keep coming back, and back again -- thread after thread. I wouldn't want to mess with you in the ring....

[big-boss]

My QT is twice the BH the lakewood will ever be especially when all the cool guys cut the bottoms off the LW anyway so they can drive on the street. The sticker doesn't svae your life or limbs you and your judgment did when you bought a quality piece of equipment-which you did.
BTW I had one of the very first ones and it indexed out fine-.004 off I left it alone.

[Ronbo]

Actually the Lakewood is a hydro-formed bellhousing not stamped That's why it's stronger than any spun item.

Considering the newer alloys as opposed to the 60's nodular iron stuff the chances of a flywheel explosion is pretty slim. The Lakewood came from this enviroment and has save many legs over the years. Heavy? Yes. Worth the extra 30lbs.? Well to me yes.

As far as tech goes any welding / cutting viods the SFI rating, so unless you use a bolt-on mount or the McLeod throw-out your not meeting requirements. You can always use the kevlar blanket if you wish.

I think your fairly safe with either and a modern flywheel / clutch... Certainly when compaired to a factory cast aluminum BH which was all you had before Lakewood came along.

Indexing should always be done as it's a matter of variances in both the BH and the block (especially if it's been line honed / rebuilt). You have no way of knowing if the centerline of the crank is where it should be.

To quote Mr Reagan "trust, but verify".

[csx wnab]

i have a QT BH. on a 427 fe with the Mcleod hyd. throwout. works awesome. only had .002 runout. tko600 shifts fine. i got the whole setup from bruce at modern driveline. very happy.

[RICK LAKE]

xracerbob. Not a chance. There is a reason that NHRA and some other Racing programs do not allow this bell housing. It is not certified. Lakewood keeps the parts inside period. I didnot cut the bottom of my bell housing in my cobra. 4 1/4" is enough to clear any autocross, or roadtrack. My street have high man hole covers ,I just drive around them. QT is for dirttrack and some cars running multi clutches with SMALL discs,6-8" not the big 40 lb iron flywheels with 11.5 assemblies. I have Lakewoods on 4 of my jeeps and cars. Saving 20 lbs off your car is about going .0005 second faster. If your legs and feet are worth that, Fine. I'm sure you could talk to any military soldier back from overseas that got hit with an IUD mine and lost legs mine have a different opinion about how much his legs are worth and walking and playing with his kids. I have seen these guys first hand in the hospitals. Its Your car, your money, your safety. 30+ year of racing, I have seen more accidents and blown parts than almost anyone on this forum. To date no lakewood has not allowed a blown clutch to come out through the bellhousing itself that was certified and kept up to code from structurial design failure. You do it your way, I will do it a different and safer way. Rick L.

[RICK LAKE]

patrickt Pat the old line been there, done that, and done it the hard way. I have covered it all. If you are running a mini multi disc clutch, this bell housing "may" protect and hold up fine. A full size 40 lb fly wheel clutch assembly is another thing. QT is tested but not certified, WHY? They sell 2 bellhousing for the FE motor, one says nothing in the info about SFI testing at all. The other says has SFI testing. Did not say if it passed or failed. There is a 99% chance that these guys will never race or spin there motors 7,500 rpm and have a flywheel schatter. Again 95% of the guys are running SFI flywheels. I don't want holes in my bellhousing. I want everything to stay in the tub. I blew 1 clutch disc and it came through and crack the stock bellhousing,(aluminium) after this everything I have is lakewood. $400.00 dollars with worth walking and running on my own to feet. They sell shields for auto transmissions and blankets for racing. I have seen a 200R-4 explode and the blanket saved the driver's legs. There are lucky people and people without, I am the later, but have learned that by buying the best parts on the market for racing have limited the chance if injury to myself. Everything on my car is SFI CERTIFIED, I have no interest in tested Rick L.