Scatter shield vs bellhousing

A bell housing connects a transmission to the engine block. Typically they are cast iron or aluminum. Not SFI approved. Usually a term used for the stock version.

A scatter shield is an aftermarket, SFI approved bell housing for racing and typically stamped and/or fabricated steel. They will (hopefully) catch the shrapnel from any part of the clutch or flywheel coming apart. Some are used to adapt transmissions as well.

Since most automatics are cast aluminum (some early are iron) they have an aftermarket shield that protects the driver too. I forget what they are called.