Calling All ENGINEERS...Scattershield Question??

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Okay, I've been thinking (Just what my wife says gets me in trouble). I've read all about the pros and cons of scattershields and I was wondering............What if I took several layers of Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, or the Kevlar Carbon Fiber Mix and glassed them in on the top and underside of my floorboard tunnel area. Would this be as good as, better, or NOT even close to the protection afforded by a Heavy Hard to Line Up Scattershield. Any Pros, Cons, or Thoughts would be appreciated......Earl

[wilf leek]

Take a look at the "scatter blankets" used by the drag race boys around their superchargers to get an idea of how much thickness of material is required.

[Greg Kulp]

Earl,

I think the problem with your idea is what will be supporting the material you will be adding, i.e. the floorboard and tunnel area are still likely just fiberglass or aluminum depending on your car. If your clutch comes apart it will simply send your reinforcing material through the floor or tunnel.

[Perf. Eng. Eric]

If you are interested in layer counts on Kevlar of even ballistic nylon I may be able to help. I am an owner of a company that produces ballistic trans. bags and supercharger restraints(along with our cobra and engine building). If it was me I would just go with the scattershield. Hope this helps

[vettestr]

All the trouble and BS caused by a scattershield is a waist of time. If properly insured you can have new legs, gonads or most body parts replaced at one low deductable or copay. I would consider driveshaft loops in the same way and roll bars should be bolted to just the body/fiberglass.
Yes they are expensive in comparison but once installed thats it for the most part and do you ever really abuse your drivetrain with a good burn out or 7K shift? They are your gonads or the passengers as parts explode in 360 degrees and some how always pick the area that hurts ya.
I have seen a flywheel that came through the passenger floorboard and then bounced back and damn near severed the drivers arm just below elbow at a track in Vegas. It was a street class and not required but made me a true believer! Blankets are used on automatics and trans body but not effective for the clutch area. Jeff C

[BLACKJACK]

HEY, EARL,

KEVLAR IS GREAT STUFF. RELATIVELY LIGHT, MORE OR LESS FLEXIBLE AND EASY TO WORK (CUT AND FIT).

HAVING SAID THAT - - - -

I'VE TAKEN ROUNDS (HITS) WEARING KEVLAR VESTS AND I WOULD MUCH PREFER, IN THE FUTURE, TO HAVE 3/8 OR 1/2 INCH STEEL PLATE PROTECTING ME.

I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE BALLISTICS CHARACTERISTICS OF PIECES OF FLYING CLUTCH PLATE, PRESSURE PLATE ETC. BUT I'D BET TO HELL THAT THEY'RE MORE DANGEROUS THAN 9MM, .45 OR .357 CALIBUR ROUNDS. MORE SIGNIFICANT MASS AND PROBABLY NEAR THE SAME VELOCITY.

IT'S YOUR BUTT, BALLS AND BOYHOOD HERE - - DON'T SKIMP.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

[era427tp]

You are dealing with an explosion here.Scattershields are tested,and proven to work.Anything else is just guesswork.

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Darn, I was tryin so hard to find a use for those old bullet proof vests laying around in my closet....................I guess I'm buyin a scattershield.

[wilf leek]

Hey BLACKJACK - I was wondering how you were - sounds like you are in good form???

[BLACKJACK]

AYE, WILF, G'DAY TO YA, LAD!!!

I'M DOIN' FINE, WILF. STILL SCARING THE HELL OUT OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO GIVE ME BAD NEWS I LOOK AT THEM (WITH MY SADEST EXPRESSION) AND SOFTLY SAY "I'VE NOT GOT THE MONEY TO PAY YOUR BILLS". SO THEN THEY GIVE ME ANOTHER SIX MONTHS!!!

MY MOTHER GOT AWAY WITH THAT STUFF UNTIL HER 96TH BIRTHDAY WHEN HER ASSISTANT FORGOT AND ACCIDENTLY PAID THE DAMN BILLS. I'VE MISSED THE OLD GIRL - AND I'M NOT LIKELY TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, MY FRIEND??? I HOPE YOU HAD A GRAND HOLIDAY AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST OF THE NEW YEAR.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK

[speed220mph]

Wy not go with a small diameter, multi-disc clutch and forget the scattershield, what with all its weight and huge size? Even with their high revs, there's never been an F1 or Indy Car clutch explode? Check out the setup in Olthoff's SF roadster in front of a six-speed Tremec.

[SFfiredog]

A $350.00 safety bellhousing is much more cost effective than a $1000.00 to $1500.00 trick multi-disc clutch.
The main advantage to the muti-disc is their smaller diameter which allows the engine and trans to be located lower in the chassis. They are hell to drive on the street as well.
Also, the trans in your photo of Olthoff's car is a Tremec 3550 5 speed.
--Mike

[A Snake]

Wise decision Earl.......very wise.

I had a clutch explosion occur without a scatter shield. Luckily.....very luckily, I didn't get hurt and that was just the clutch. Thankfully, the flywheel stayed in one piece!! It completely destroyed the cast iron bellhousing and the steel floor boards looked like a grenade had gone off under them.

Like others have said, its your life and manhood at stake, but I'll never be without one again.

HEY BLACKJACK! Good to see you're still alive and kickin'!!

Al

[speed220mph]

Mike: Guess I blew it on the Tremec, so that's the one mistake I allow myself per year!

Anyway, to go along with the clutch, you'll need a small diameter flywheel and a starter that plugs in from the back side. What I failed to put in small print is this setup should be reserved for the track and well-healed bank account, but if you're willing to put up with an aggressive clutch, it will work on the street. This setup is not for the faint of heart and around-the-town driving.

Oh, another advantage of the small clutch/flywheel and small aluminum bellhousing is reduce weight and low inertia, which gives improved throttle response.

[wilf leek]

Anyone have any thoughts on using a blanket around an ally temec type bellhousing? I realise it would have to be extremely well strapped on, but is it a viable alternative to a steel bellhousing?

The flywheel is shrouded by the block skirt, that would not be helped by a lakewood anyway, so only clutch parts to catch really, and I can't imagine a billet flywheel is going to let go at the modest 6k rev limit I use.

Am I kidding myself here?

BLACKJACK - relieved to hear you are still forging medical history, yes I am fine, hope to catch up with you somewhere in 2004.

[SFfiredog]

Wilf,
On all modern Ford V-8 engines, the flywheel is not shrouded by the block skirt, it is contained inside the bellhousing. Even if it was, the cast iron of the block would do very little to contain the remains of an exploding flywheel. If you have an aftermarket steel or aluminum flywheel and a premium clutch disc and pressure plate, I would worry more about being hit in the head by a meteorite than have a clutch explosion. Kevlar wraping, like a bullet proof vest is effective at stoping blunt nosed lead (soft) or lead jacketed (still soft) pistol caliber rounds. There have been cases where a person has died from a gunshot wound that never penetrated the vest. There was enough blunt trama to the heart to cause fatal damage. In many cases there is still major injury to the person wearing the vest which include internal bleeding and broken ribs. Imagine an exploding flywheel is like a large caliber armor piercing rifle round. No vest in the world is going to stop a round like that, or keep a ballistic jagged chunk of iron from tearing though it.
In most cases when building a Cobra it will be required to purchase some kind of a bellhousing. If one is planning to do any hot-rodding spend the extra money at the time and purchase a safety bellhousing.
--Mike

[KobraKarl]

Some other comments a year ago or so...should help you decide....

Blowing chunks....


KK

[A Snake]

Strikes me kind of like the old Alfred E. Newman of Mad Magazine fame saying....."What? Me worry?"

It just isn't prudent NOT to have a scatter shield. For the few bucks it costs, it sure beats the hell out of the alternatives. Frankly any one who doesn't use one in their performance car is plumb nuts IMHO...

Like MrFixit, I've been around for a while and I've seen the aftermath too. It ain't purty folks.

Al

[A Snake]

addendum...............Earl buy the damned scattershield. None of us what to read about you getting hurt.

Al

[speed220mph]

Wilf: You hit the nail on the head! If you're not going to turn your engine over 6K and it's backed up with a steel, nodular-iron or aluminum flywheel, there's no need for a scattershield providing the flywheel and clutch are in good shape. As for me, I have a small block that twists the tach to 8,000 rpm, so I feel safer with a blow-proof bellhousing.

Having done expert witnessing for some massive clutch explosions and the resulting injuries, I can testify to the damage that can be done . . . lost limbs, a pierced lung . . . not pretty stuff. Damage to the car becomes secondary in such cases. I once had a case when a top fueler was cut in half when the slidder clutch went through the "blow-proof" bellhousing. A fan in the stands was injured! Such damage wouldn't happen with a Cobra, but it would still be like a hand grenade exploding under the floor board. So if you're in doubt, protect yourself first, then the car.

The tought about wrapping the bellhousing with a ballistic blanket is a good thought, but I wonder if they would contain a serious flywheel/clutch explosion. Worth contacting manufacturers for their comments, though.