FAQ Regarding Cobra Drivetrain Setups

[blykins]

Jason,

To get an SFI approval, the bellhousings must pass a test where a flywheel is fractured and exploded at 10000 rpm. Now there are different versions of the SFI rating....6.1, etc. However, all of their bellhousings have passed a form of SFI testing and will contain a flywheel explosion. The SFI 6.1 rating requires the bolts at the bottom perimeter of the bellhousing.

I know of the very video that you were referring to. However, from what I remember, the bellhousing bolts pulled out of the block - there was no bellhousing failure. When there is nothing to support the bellhousing at the rear, any force inside of the bellhousing would push the bellhousing outward, pulling the bolts out of the block.

Even if it were definitely the bellhousing's fault (besides the blatant use of a cast iron flywheel on a extremely high horsepower engine), an aluminum or cast iron bellhousing would have had the same results, if not worse. Even when looking at the Lakewoods, most Cobra owners have to cut the bottom portion of the bellhousing off. Of course this voids the SFI validity and also cuts down the effectiveness of the block plate and perimeter bolts.