When is it necessary to use a scattershield?

DO NOT SKIMP ON SAFETY PARTS. Historic, you should know better. An factory truck bellhousing is better than an SFI rated STEEL scattershield? Not for my health and safety. If you're going to do it....do it right, not half-assed.

Chris Barton

jikelly said:

Will the truck bellhousing will mate-up to a tremec 3550? If I can find one I'd be willing to install it when I change my slipping clutch in the spring.

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If you ever plan on taking the car to a NHRA or IHRA track you need an SFI approved bellhousing, dont even think of using anything else!! I dont care what it came out of. Lakewood makes a beautiful one just for your application with the tremec.

Not too long after the C5 Corvettes came out there was a picture circulating the net (especially the so cal region) where I guy tried a high rpm launch with slicks on and the flywheel actually cut up through the dash. The teeth of the ring gear of the flywheel were sticking up through the top visible from the passenger compartment

Cbarton, A Ford nodular iron bellhousing is stronger than any aftermarker scattershield. I keep trying to tell you guys that the automakers spend millions off dollars testing their parts.

A standard bellhousing is no good in performance situations - a nodular iron is just fine and it fact it weighs more than the type you mentioned. I give up the few extra pounds for a safer "scattershield". I have actually seen parts come through the aftermarket style.

Oh, by the way, the NASCAR boys do not even use a scattershield.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

The factory pieces are not approved by either the NHRA or the IHRA they will not pass SFI specs, and the nascar guys certainly are not using a cast piece to hold there stuff together.

fastcoupe68 said:

The factory pieces are not approved by either the NHRA or the IHRA they will not pass SFI specs, and the nascar guys certainly are not using a cast piece to hold there stuff together.

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fast, then what are the NASCAR boys using? (I know the answer)

Also, the bellhousing from the trucks in the late sixties were not cast. They are nodular.

By the way NHRA and IHRA get a "kickback" on every unit sold..............just more hype to buy stuff!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

HistoricMustang said:

fast, then what are the NASCAR boys using? (I know the answer)

Also, the bellhousing from the trucks in the late sixties were not cast. They are nodular.

By the way NHRA and IHRA get a "kickback" on every unit sold..............just more hype to buy stuff!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

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Nodular iron is cast iron. The "nodular" in nodular iron refers to the form of the grahphite particals contained in the iron. The particals are spherical (nodular) as opposed to the flake form typical of ordinary cast iron. Nodular iron, more correctly known as "ductile" iron is ~30% stronger, but not as strong as steel.

Historic how do you know the factory nodular stuff is stronger?

I definitely agree it would be heavier, but I don't know about stronger. I wouldn't say that because it is from a factory vehicle it is the best. They wouldn't design a super-dooper Titanium scattershield if the vehicle it is for is going to make 250hp and be marketed at making towing the kids around easier. They build for adequate safety and cheapest cost vs selling price. I would wager that dedicated performance aftermarket companies would spend more research on maximum strength, weight reduction etc.

Big clutches and high rpms are what give the clutch pieces enough energy to tear apart and drive through the car and chop feet off. Trucks and almost all factory cars are limited to low and moderate rpm.

As for NASCAR, all the stuff I found said steel factory bellhousing required or steel blanket around other type.

not trying to "flame" or get your blood pressure up, this is just how my logic sees it.

HistoricMustang said:

fast, then what are the NASCAR boys using? (I know the answer)

Also, the bellhousing from the trucks in the late sixties were not cast. They are nodular.

By the way NHRA and IHRA get a "kickback" on every unit sold..............just more hype to buy stuff!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

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Please enlighten me, what are the nascar boys running? Could it be aluminum? How about Steel!!!! Not cast!!!
Nodular=cast
Every unit of what?
Nascar rules, All nascar approved aluminum bellhousings must have enclosed clutch assemblys if not you must have a nascar approved scatter blanket. How is that Mr. Nascar? Tell the Boys I said Hi.

666, here you go. Let me know when you are done so I can give the "pop -quiz":

http://www7.taosnet.com/ebear/metal/heattreat7.html

68, very good. I did not know the particulars but do remember not seeing what looked like a scattershield the short time I was around the Winston Cup cars. I do also remember what looked like a rubber padding in the drive shaft tunnel to slow down anything that might get that far.

Having said all of that, they simply do not have clutch failures.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

Cast materials are generally more rigid than forged or rolled materials. It's like glass is more rigid than rubber. Rigidity may not be the most important thing in a scattershield, I expect. A material that can bend and give - absorbing / spreading out the impact - will probably work better than a rigid material that will shatter on impact.

I don't know anything about scattershield design, but specs and properties can be deceptive. A cast bell might show a higher modulus of elasticity, but the mode of failure is cracking rather than bending. I expect ductile materials would be far superior for absorbing and stopping shrapnel.