Ultrabell Works!
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From: Katy, TX
Ultrabell Works! Some of you may remember when I did the huge wheelstand over a year ago, it shattered my bellhousing on my T350. I took some good advice from GeorgeC, and picked up an ULTRABELL SFI bellhousing, and had it installed on my T350 when I had it torn apart and checked out. I ended up selling that tranny, but I heard yesterday that the new owner has had one companies aftermarket flexplate come apart ( twice ). The first time apparently they caught it early. New flexplate was installed, and sometime later the outer ring sperated on it, and the piece basically shrapneled in the bell housing, and the Ultrabell did the trick, and contained it all.
Definately a worthwhile mod in my book, especially if your running any kind of power.
Larry
Definately a worthwhile mod in my book, especially if your running any kind of power.
Larry
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From: Hot Rainy Humid +2000 DA South Florida
I agree.. I bought my TH400 from JW with thier Ultrabell upgrade, that sucker is thick as hell eh?
It is heavier but it gives a little extra piece of mind. Better safe than.. you know...
Lee
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From: Your Reality Check Bounced...
Originally Posted by FEAR THE LS1
I agree.. I bought my TH400 from JW with thier Ultrabell upgrade, that sucker is thick as hell eh?
It is heavier but it gives a little extra piece of mind. Better safe than.. you know...
Lee
I have the JW Ultra Bell on my TH400. I have heard numerous horror stories about "budget" racers that have lost thier feet, or bleed to death on the way to the hospital from the flexplate exploding.
When your talking life or limb, there is no budget to consider.
When your talking life or limb, there is no budget to consider.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Katy, TX
Well I'm not gonna post it in here, because I didn't own the flex plates in question. The point of the post is just to let you guys know that there are some good safety options out there. I can tell you from experience that the bellhousing on the t350 I had was thin as hell. The Ultrabell is a very sweet unit.
My tranny guy, cut off the bellhousing on my t350, and mounted it to the fron pump. Didn't look like a monster job. As far as I know it didn't require a jig of any kind. I could try to dig up some photos.
My tranny guy, cut off the bellhousing on my t350, and mounted it to the fron pump. Didn't look like a monster job. As far as I know it didn't require a jig of any kind. I could try to dig up some photos.
no jig needed as far as I know, its located by the front pump. I never did one on a TH350 but I did a couple on powerglides and all you need is a cutoff wheel or sawzall. I never even got any instructions with them, just a bag of longer pump bolts and the bell housing..
I ruin the end of films...
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From: Taking back some video tapes
I had my factory housing hacked off at the tranny shop ahead of time. The UB bolts to the front pump, no problemo. Everything about it is thicker than stock. The case, flange, everything. It's aluminum too, so it's not that heavy. It was a no brainer for me since the pirate peg-leg look just isn't my style.
Arrrghhh!!
Arrrghhh!!
One important thing to check on the LSX when using this housing.. The bolts on the the back cover of the engine keep the housing from mating up with the block when you bolt the 2 together.
BEFORE bolting up to your tranny, bolt it to the engine first, with all bolts. Tighten bolts, then look from under the car, between the engine & housing, while shinning a light from the top of the housing. You will see the bolts & you will see a gap.
Now take the housing off. You will see impressions on the alum housing from the bolts. I think 3 of them. Get out your air grinder & recess those back.
I learned this the hard way, after I broke the flywheel. Lucky I still had a leak to deal with & had to take the tranny out. That's when I noticed the cracked flywheel.
I have some picks I could post on my website, if anyone is interested. Just a heads up. I wasted alot of time dicking with this... You dont have to.
BEFORE bolting up to your tranny, bolt it to the engine first, with all bolts. Tighten bolts, then look from under the car, between the engine & housing, while shinning a light from the top of the housing. You will see the bolts & you will see a gap.
Now take the housing off. You will see impressions on the alum housing from the bolts. I think 3 of them. Get out your air grinder & recess those back.
I learned this the hard way, after I broke the flywheel. Lucky I still had a leak to deal with & had to take the tranny out. That's when I noticed the cracked flywheel.
I have some picks I could post on my website, if anyone is interested. Just a heads up. I wasted alot of time dicking with this... You dont have to.
The Bull
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,578
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Yup, Harolds right. If you are not running a mid plate you MUST do this modification to the ultrabell or you will cause hell on your tranny.
The four top bolts along the rear cover protrude beyond the surface of the cover shown here.
You need to cut notches in the ultrabell to clear over the top of those, shown here:
If you don't do that you will misalign the bellhousing to the block. That will cause the converter to align with the shaft of the tranny and torque on the flexplate unevenly under load.
The ultrabell rocks for sure. Highly recommended if you enjoy walking and would like to remain that way.
The four top bolts along the rear cover protrude beyond the surface of the cover shown here.
You need to cut notches in the ultrabell to clear over the top of those, shown here:
If you don't do that you will misalign the bellhousing to the block. That will cause the converter to align with the shaft of the tranny and torque on the flexplate unevenly under load.
The ultrabell rocks for sure. Highly recommended if you enjoy walking and would like to remain that way.
Hmmm I just bolted my tranny up last week w/ultrabell and it seemed to mate up against the block just fine? Guess I am going to have to take a closer look. If there is no gap between the block and bell housing I am assuming it is fine. This is the first I have heard of this problem. Is this happening on all of these set-ups are just an isolated problem? thanks