Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Caughlin
Even with SFI approved parts, my 4 cylinder exploded a flywheel at the finishline (9400 RPM) last year, quite the religious experience. The Quicktime bellhousing contained it but it was mess regardless. I broke the block, crank, starter broke off and took out the headers, among other damage. Obviously the flywheel, clutch and bell housing were destroyed also. If I didn't have a support cross member under the bellhousing, it would have been even worse. I would estimate I was out $4,000+ before I got everything back together.
Interestingly, the description in the NHRA rulebook specifying how to integrate an SFI approved bellhousing onto an engine where one is not commercially available for is based on my car, I actually wrote it up myself. At the time (1987), the rulebook said to wrap the stock cast bellhousing with 1/4" steel plate. I had made an adapter plate to mate a small block Ford Lakewood bellhousing to my 2.3 Ford motor which strangely was deemed illegal as it didn't conform to the rulebook. They did concede that what I did was considerably safer so asked me to write up the description so it could be included in the rulebook for future reference.
Jim Caughlin
6019 SS/ES
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Yeah, I forgot about that- my explosion cut the header in half too.
And mine took out the engine too- it knocked the engine oil filter boss off the rear engine plate, as well as snapping off several of the bellhousing bolt mounting ears. I think I was able to salvage the little Holley 600 double-pumper carb, the aluminum Racing Beat intake manifold, the RX7 electronic distributor, the spark plug wires, and the underdrive front crank pulley, but that's about it.
I didn't have a mid-mount, but my solid engine mounts at the front and the solid transmission mount at the rear, kept the engine and transmission from falling out of the car.
The transverse set-up depicted above looks pretty dangerous. I'd definitely want a substantial steel shield for a car like that, possibly made of AR500 armor plate.