Ford Focus?

[Lew Silverman]

Thankfully you weren't hurt badly in the explosion, as you mentioned it could have been a whole lot worse!

Hasn't Ford been using the Focus and/or Fiesta in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Europe for many years? Those cars make upwards of 600 HP(!) and I'm sure there are WRC/Euro-spec safety equipment items being made available to those race-teams. Interesting to see that NHRA accepted the AWD platform for the Focus, after nixing it on the SUV/Trucks. I guess it's all how you address the situation!

[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

[ss3011]

This one probably has a transversely mounted engine and transmission , better make that shield sturdy . Flywheel probably lines up with the drivers body !

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by ss3011

This one probably has a transversely mounted engine and transmission , better make that shield sturdy . Flywheel probably lines up with the drivers body !

Yep...it's transversely mounted and the clutch is aimed right at the driver's face

[ALMACK]

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

Thanks for posting. I did not know that.
I run a 2.3 Turbo Ford in Stk and SS so if I go to a manual trans setup it will have the whole slew of sfi clutch stuff

[6130]

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

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.

[goinbroke2]

Instead of a weight box you have 300# of armour plating hanging off the firewall LOL!!!

[Paul Merolla]

Looks like somebody has jumped in with one of these, but can't get close to the index yet:

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by Paul Merolla

Looks like somebody has jumped in with one of these, but can't get close to the index yet:

Interesting.
Wonder if anyone has any pics of the car ?

That qualifying list is book ended by 2 turbo 2.3L Fords.
Old style turbo 2.3L and the newest style turbo 2.3L

Congrats to Sean Marconette on the # 1 position

[MAURICE BLENDHEIM]

Awesome…Finally a cure for INSOMNIA . MB