Mcleod vs Lakewood SFI Bell Housing ?

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

I recently sold my 20+ year-old Mcleod "traditional" scatter-shield, to replace it with a new SFI unit for my Chevy Stocker. I just received my new McLeod P/N 8630 bell housing. Let's just say that I'm less than enhanted by the APPARENT level of quality in machining and finish, and the "fit-all" design, which seems to add a bit of uneccessary weight ( remember my relentless traction problem ? ).

I still have time to purchase the better part, and yes, I certainly SHOULD have asked about this before going out and buying one !
Any opinions on these things ?
I'm not worried in the slightest, about the appearance, if it turns out that the alignment is dead-on. Should I expect the aignment for the transmission to be dead-on ?

[james schaechter]

If the alignment is dead on in any bellhousing I would be shocked. It isn't just the bellhousing but the block too that can be off. It will bite you later if you don't adjust it now. TAVIA makes offset dowels that are nice and easy to use.

[Jim Davis]

Hi Aubrey, I am using a Lakewood behind big block mule motor and had to use offset dowels to get it centered. I think that will be the case most of the time.
The quality of the Lakewood is very good,however they are pricey.I also had to extend the clutch fork hole. If you would like more detailes e-mail me.Oh I also got the inspection window option.

Jim Davis

[Arnold Greene]

Aubrey, you should get a Lakewood housing and have it parallel ground BEFORE trying to indicate it. You can PM me if you can't get it done locally.

[SSDiv6]

One of the best SFI bellhousings in the market are made by Quick Time Performance. They are lightweight, fits right on the money and are SFI approved. The y also have a big selection of applications.

http://www.quicktimeinc.com/products.html

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Thank YOU for all the replies, guys.
The new unit that I just bought, is a McLeod. The way the transmission mating surface is "machnined", it looks like ( hopefully ) it has already been prepared in an attempt to make it parallel... sure hope so, 'cuz the rest of it leaves some to be desired !
My old Lakewood, was a FAR more professional appearing part... and it fit my Chevrolet V8 block... and ONLY my Chevrolet V8 block ( universal fits just bug me ). Jim, that offset dowel system, is JUST the silliness that I think a $400 bell housing should NOT require ! Oh yes, the inspection window option is a must with these things.

SSDiv6... I just sent a message to the people at Quick Time. I'll follow up in the morning with a phone call. Thanks for the tip... even 5 pounds less on the front end, would be a help !

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Aubrey N Bruneau

SSDiv6... I just sent a message to the people at Quick Time. I'll follow up in the morning with a phone call. Thanks for the tip... even 5 pounds less on the front end, would be a help !

After you install a Quick Time Bellhousing, you will never use anything else. Their bellhousings are manufactured with input from racers and engine builders and they are spun, not stamped. This makes the bellhousing metal thickness uniform across the board and lighter without sacrificing safety.

[Rory McNeil]

On my 302 Ford Stocker, I have used both the Lakewood and McLeod scattershields, and personally, I like the fit of the McLeod better, unlike the Lakewood, there was no header interferance, and it also was a bit more compact and lighter. On my 428FE Ford, I am pretty much stuck with the Lakewood unit, as McLeod doesn`t offer a SFI scattershield for the FE, and something custom made like a Browell is not in the budget. The last 2 FE Lakewood scattershields I have bought are physical larger & heavier than previous Lakewoods I`ve owned, and also have an extra reinforcment panel for the upper mounting bolts, plus larger lower containment bolts (maybe more stringent SFI tests?)
I have looked into the Quicktimes scattershields, which appear much more compact and lighter, and although Quicktimes claims that their bellhousings "meet all SFI standards", many of their units are NOT SFI approved with the silver date punched SFI sticker that is required by NHRA. Although Quicktimes does make scattershields to fit the FE Ford, none of the them are truely SFI certified. From some of the photos I have seen of their FE scattershields, with open starter pockets, very few containment bolts, and in some cases, the bottom of the housing missing, I really can`t see how one would pass the same tests that the McLeod and Lakewoods would. Quicktimes may very well make a legal SFI 6-1 housing for a Chevy, but I would be certain before ordering that this was the case. As for dialing in a scattersheild, I would always check for proper fit, regardless of a manufacturers claims. Over the years I`ve owned quite a few scatteshields, NONE were "dead on" out of the box, although a couple of the Lakewoods wer close enough, the others all required the offset dowel pins. Between factory tolerances of the bellhousing manufacturers, the engine blocks factory dimensions, plus align boring or some other machining processes, I think that it `s very unlikely that any manufacterer can build a housing that is dead nuts with every engine.
When it comes to pilot bushings vs roller bearings, at least when it pertains to the sintered iron clutch discs, I have found that the factory type bronze pilot bushings tend to get "chewed up" by the abrasive clutch dust from the iron discs. The center hole on mine always got enlarged and egg shaped, issues I`ve never had with the sealed roller bearings.

[Jeff Lee]

Rory, The QuickTimeInc bellhousings if advertised as SFI are in fact SFI certified. The web site they have has as little to be desired. They will show a non-SFI bell and advertise they have it available as SFI. And your right, not enough bolts and a few other issues. Often times (as they are relatively new to the industry and the first to offer affordable bells with windows) they will advertise SFI availability when in fact it is pending SFI certification. But they are in line.
They supposedly will not sell retail, you have to be a distributor to buy from them now. Rob Youngblood of Advanced Clutches put up a sizeable amount of money through QuickTime to get these bells certified SFI (originally they were not made for SFI market, primarily street and circle track useage). I always say support fellow class racers so give him a call and place your order. By the way, these bells are about 1/2 the weight of a hydro-formed bell.
Myself and another class racer even got them to make an AMC SFI bell. Yipee!

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Well, I've communicated over the phone with the people at Quick Time. The part number for my car, which IS an SFI spec part, weighs a total of 22 pounds !
THAT, I can deal with !
On order now.

thank YOU, SSDiv6 !!!
I've been looking for a solution to this weight problem for a long time. And now, to actually have the transmission bolt up in the location it's suppose to be in.... what can I say !