School me on bellhousings

[Projectile Dart]

Mopar 360 small block to A833 4 speed
Cast iron vs Aluminum
1) Weight difference?
2) Strength difference? (if any)
3) General price difference?
4) What power levels make more sense to go with shatterproof bellhousing? Just for kicks, how much do these weigh just for comparison

P.S. I have an early A body cast iron 4 speed. Does that affect my choices at all?

 

[67Dart273]

So far as I know all early A CAST IRON bells were for very small clutches, 10"?? If you are not going to run a scattershield I would not look for an iron bell

Scattershield is "how hard are you" going to run it? Race, or heavy high RPM street, consider one. If you get one CHECK it for runout. Lots of videos on "how."

 

[Dan Brewer]

Mopar 360 small block to A833 4 speed
Cast iron vs Aluminum
1) Weight difference?
2) Strength difference? (if any)
3) General price difference?
4) What power levels make more sense to go with shatterproof bellhousing? Just for kicks, how much do these weigh just for comparison

P.S. I have an early A body cast iron 4 speed. Does that affect my choices at all?

The only 10.5" iron bell for a sb would be 68 model year 340. Weighs 38#. Aluminum 10.5" sb bell weighs 15#

 

[66fs]

Cast iron is stronger, but there is nothing wrong with aluminum. A blowproof bellhousing is required for some classes of racing. What rpm do you shift at. Are your components SFI rated? How fearful are you that a flywheel or pressure plate come apart? Your trans material makes no difference to a bellhousing.

 

[Projectile Dart]

I have a 68 dart with a stock 360 currently
When build it up I don't expect myself to ever go past let's say 450-500hp at the crank so not a crazy high hp motor. Just depends on what parts and budget I have available for the build at the time. But more realistically I think I would be closer to a really healthy 400hp mark.
I currently have a 727 and would be swapping everything to a manual, but I'm hounding parts and I see some stuff nearby me along with Fall fling coming up. I just want a little research to push myself in the right direction.
Let's say I'm going to be shifting at anything below 5k rpm, don't plan on racing much at the strip.
I am only fearful of the clutch blowing up because I've seen the carnage that CAN happen when they do, which is why I'm asking at what point does it make sense to go that route whether I'm racing or not. I like my legs and I intend to keep them but I'm not sure if I'm just being extra paranoid.

 

[33IMP]

Rather be safe than sorry? If the budget allows, buy a scattershield. If you don't have a bellhousing and have to buy one anyway, why not buy something to save your feet.
(Saw, in person, not on the net, a guy with a high-winding 55 chevy small block blow a flywheel. He was VERY lucky to get by with only a broken ankle. Pieces of flywheel an clutch went through the passenger door, the roof, and the windshield.)
In my humble opinion, anyone that races a car with a cast iron flywheel and an aluminum bell is nutz!

 

[67Dart273]

I have a 68 dart with a stock 360 currently
When build it up I don't expect myself to ever go past let's say 450-500hp at the crank so not a crazy high hp motor. Just depends on what parts and budget I have available for the build at the time. But more realistically I think I would be closer to a really healthy 400hp mark.
I currently have a 727 and would be swapping everything to a manual, but I'm hounding parts and I see some stuff nearby me along with Fall fling coming up. I just want a little research to push myself in the right direction.
Let's say I'm going to be shifting at anything below 5k rpm, don't plan on racing much at the strip.
I am only fearful of the clutch blowing up because I've seen the carnage that CAN happen when they do, which is why I'm asking at what point does it make sense to go that route whether I'm racing or not. I like my legs and I intend to keep them but I'm not sure if I'm just being extra paranoid.

THAT POWER LEVEL I would run a shield. PERIOD

 

[65wgn440]

I would think a 400hp street car with a HYDRAULIC lifter camshaft, would not require a blowproof bell. Just buy a billet flywheel if you want some peace of mind.

 

[dirty white boy]

you gonna bang a gear or 2?? like ya feet???? buy the scattershield!!

 

[CRUZE 418]

So did the '69 sb have an aluminum bell? Pretty sure that I had a 10 1/2" clutch in it, but it's been 53 yrs!