Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => SCTA Rule Questions => Topic started by: Milwaukee Midget on September 01, 2008, 11:02:08 PM
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Does a flywheel shield have to be bolted to the bellhousing/transmission? Can a 1/4" fabricated shield be bolted (or welded) to the framerails/transmission tunnel? I'm not finding an aftermarket shield for my car.
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I had asked similiar question privately, and I was told to submit plans, pictures, and any other data to the SCTA for approval.
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I have been doing the very same thing for some time now, as are several other people. See rule 3.0page 32 in the '08 rule book. In some cases it is a better idea to adapt an available aftermarket shield to work with your application. I used a SBF blow shield between a Pinto transmission and a Lotus 907 engine. Worked well and should have given good protection had it ever been necessary.
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The important thing to remember is 360 degrees of protection and protecting your lower limbs. If it is welded/bolted to the frame due the inability to find a "can" for your engine it is important that all other lines are protected according to the rules book.
If you have a frame that is very close to the side of the clutch housing I see no problem with what you are asking. However if you have a few inches on each side a full circle would be best.
One I have one that was actually made from a 6" length of pipe just fitting over the original bellhousing. Good luck
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My shield provides 360 degrees of 1/4 inch steel, in some places doubled up. It is also bolted to a crossmember provided for that purpose. It is my understanding and all I have looked at that 360 degrees of flywheel shield is required. Plus at least on the top half 1'4 inch steel covering the bellhousing down to the transmission case.
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Rich is right on..............JD
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my interpretation of that section of the rule book allows an SFI 4.1 blanket to be used if it is specifically manufactured for that purpose, and if an aftermarket shield is not available. The blanket was a great option for me, saving a lot of fabrication, but I haven't had it through tech yet. If someone has experience with this, please let me know if I'm headed down the wrong path.... If it's OK, should be fine for Milwaukee, as well..
Thanks
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The #1931 VGC originally used a fabricated metal shield that was a major pain to install/remove. Pete is now using a custom-made blanket. Passes post-record tech.
Mike
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my interpretation of that section of the rule book allows an SFI 4.1 blanket to be used if it is specifically manufactured for that purpose, and if an aftermarket shield is not available. The blanket was a great option for me, saving a lot of fabrication, but I haven't had it through tech yet. If someone has experience with this, please let me know if I'm headed down the wrong path.... If it's OK, should be fine for Milwaukee, as well..
Thanks
Well, that brings up a good point, and perhaps a clarification can be made here. My understanding is that blankets are typically used on automatics, and while they have a flex plate, they are not, according to my reading of the rules, a "flywheel blanket".
RCI makes a "Transmission Blanket" that meets the 4.1 spec. Is this a legit use for an engine with an extruded aluminum flywheel and cast aluminum bellhousing?
Here's what I'm looking at -
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+115+%2D56231&D=%2D56231
I guess I've never seen a blanket on a clutch housing before. This would be a simpler solution, but where do our friends in tech draw the line between a flexplate and a flywheel?
Ahh, the minutia of it all . . . :roll:
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Milwaukee,
I run the RCI blanket on a 700R4 Auto (for now that is). The design and dimensions of the Blanket wrap around the main body of the transmission but does not cover the flexplate or torque converter area. I run a 3/16" flexplate shield, an additional homemade 3/16" shield covering FP & TC, and then 3/16 flooring in that area. Might be overkill, but I plan on using my feet for a long time.
Without knowing your specific application its hard to judge if a blanket would work to cover the flywheel and clutch 360 degrees. If you alter the blanket then there goes the SFI rating, unless you can wrap it around and fold over areas of the bellhousing that would actually give you 3 times the protection in those areas, depending on how it's secured.
Best let the Tech guys answer the question.
I worked in Aerospace and one of the big concerns was turbine fan blade containment. 2" thick kevlar blankets were wrapped around the engine fan case to keep blades from exiting the engine after FOD ingestion or bird strike. I have no idea why I added that, but there it is.
Tom
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I guess I've never seen a blanket on a clutch housing before. This would be a simpler solution, but where do our friends in tech draw the line between a flexplate and a flywheel?
Ahh, the minutia of it all . . . :roll:
3.O second para under Flywheel Shields
"On cars where no aftermarket flywheel shield is available, and on smaller cars with limited space to install either SFI specification or SCTA-approved flywheel shield, a SFI specification 4.1 blanket specifically manufactured to be used as a flywheel blanket (shield) may be used."
I neglected to take any pics of the one Pete Richardson uses for his Vintage 4 with stock flywheelcover/bellhousing. I can get the manufacturer info if you're interested.
It was custom made to Pete's measurements.
Mike
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:? Since I am mounting my Honda Goldwing motorcycle engines in the engine bay BEHIND the driver's compartment and there is a firewall between the engines and driver, do I still have to install a clutch/flywheel guard? :roll:
I can't really see a need for it :| can someone explain WHY?
Thanks
Terry
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Terry, if I remember right, the Gold Wing engine and trans are 1 unit and shaft driven to the rear wheel/wheels ?
How could you find a shield for that ?
I agree with you..
Charles
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When I brought up the fact that no Motorcycle engined cars that I have seen, have flywheel shields, The answer that I got was that motorcycle engines don't blow clutch/flywheel assemblys. So if that is true you don't need a shield.
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So please help me to understand. On my odd application, I have enough meat that I am actually able to bolt my transmission shield to the trans axle adapter plate still utilizing 1/4 inch steel going a full 360 degrees around the trans axle.
My question is does the shield have to be welded to make one shield and then welded to the engine /trans? Or can it be bolted into the adapter plate still going a full 360?
The bell housing is in a octagon shape.
TIA
Clay
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My shield is in two pieces. They overlap and bolt togeather. The whole thing hangs from a crossmember made to do that. No welding to the engine or trans. It's really simple. I have seen lots nicer than mine but so far mine gets by.