Does a steel bell housing reduce ground clearance?

[cobrak]

I am trying to decide between an aluminum bell housing and a steel safety one. My concerns are that I heard the ground clearance is reduced with a steel housing. How much? Can some of the housing be ground down to gain some room back? I also am concerned about getting the alignment correct with the steel housing. I will have 430HP and 450ft-lbs of torque and I will not be racing. Should I simply go with the aluminum bell houising or go with the steel and deal with the reduced ground clearance, complex instalation and increased cost but be safe?

Cobrak

[mikiec]

I have heard, another option would be a Kevlar blanket wrapped around the housing.

Mike

[Frank Messina]

The bottom of the mounting flange on the BH and the backing plate can easily be removed with a metal cutting disc on a 4 1/2" angle grinder. This is pretty much SOP with a steel B/H.
Frank

[SpitzSpitz]

Frank Messina is correct, I have the steel one my ground clearence was about 2 inches, I used a grinder with a cutoff wheel and took 2 inches off, now have 4 inches of clearence.
Only thing I recommend is not to do it while its on the car, it hurts real bad, do it on a bench before you assemble.

Spitz

[Michael C Henry]

I have the steel formed safety bellhousing The lower parts of bellhousing and backing plate were made removable and any extra material that would have been in the way have been removed.Right side frame tube actually goes through the side of housing.

[cobrak]

Micheal & Frank;

Removing material from the bell housing flange does not interefere with the bolt holes.


CobraK

[sharpe 1]

I would not drive a cobra without a steel bellhousing.It's not safe.How much are your legs worth?

[cobrashoch]

sharp 1 is 100% correct. But be forwarned, grinding and welding on explosion resistant steel bellhousings will void their certification with most racing sanctioning bodies. It's still a no brainer though.
cobrashock

[Excaliber]

A blanket (like Kevlar mentioned above) would be adequate protection.

An iron bell housing (SCATTER SHIELD) does go lower than a stock bell housing. To low? Depends on your OIL PAN! My scatter shield was fine until I installed the low profile Aviad road race pan. NOW the bell housing is the lowest point.