Hello gents,
Looking at a JW Ultra bell for my TH400 in my 1999 Camaro.
Trans is currently equipped with a transbrake, on a radial tire, single 84mm turbo, LS1 5.7 but will be LC9 5.3 in the future.
Will be around 800 whp on pump gas and 900-1,000 with meth but mostly ran at 800whp shifting at 7,000-7,500rpm.
More street than track, might see the track 6-8 times a year.
Is an Ultra bell a good idea or overkill for what I'm doing?

 

Probably overkill at the 800 mark, but will spending around $1000 for the bell and machining make you feel more comfortable when you lean on it? Do you have a SFI flexplate at minimum?

I think at the 1000whp mark with an OEM block that it starts to make more sense to have some additional safety items in place. It's always good.... til it isn't.

 

Not really lol, I feel comfortable cutting the old bellhousing off myself so it would just be the Ultra bell for cost.
I was watching Raceweek coverage, and a guy had his bellhousing break and spin the trans in the car and tear a bunch of stuff up so it got me thinking.
I'm not looking to cut stupid low 60' times with it or high rpm trans-brake launches, it makes 5 lbs. on the brake at 3,000rpm which I'll probably have a hard enough time with lol.
It does have an SFI flexplate in it and a transmission blanket over the top, didn't wrap the whole thing due to heat.
I won't be doing a whole lot at the 1Kwhp mark, factory crank, and block won't take too kindly to too much of that, the occasional hero dyno/pass run is about it.

 

They used to be a couple hundred bucks.....I did my own, it was pretty easy.
Either the bell or a shield is required if you go to an NHRA track that bothers to check.
I also believe you can get one that uses the top bolt on the LS which adds an extra measure of attachment.

If not taking it to the track, I don't think I'd bother.

 

I will be taking it to the track but not with any regularity or super serious intent to be competitive.
Just a fast street car that may see the track if the opportunity presents itself.
ATI makes a nice one for $350 and my trans guy said he'll install for $100 which is tempting.

 

Hey I know this is old, but I thought I could add something that may help. I have a fabrication/machine shop and back in 2010 or so started repairing cracked transmissions and bell housings for local guys. Most of the guys that blow apart th400 bells are offloading/rock crawlingfrom what I saw..

I started running tig welds on the bellhousings as reinforcement ribs building out the weld about a 1/4" high running welds the length of the bell, and then wrap a few across the diameter of the bell as well.. have never seen one I reinforced break afterwards..

 

That's good to know, I talked to a few streetcar guys in the 1K-1,500whp range over on Yellowbullet and they haven't had any issues running the factory case on their turbo setups so I opted to leave it for now and put the cash back into my house.

 

Wow that's pretty damn good on stock case still.

 

Honestly, I still have a hard time believing it, but one guy has a 3rd gen Camaro with a 555" BBC with twin S480's making 1,800whp and he's been running a stock case so.....

 

FYI I bought an ATI from Summit, look like a quality piece haven't installed it yet hoping to in the next few weeks. I like the price over the other.

 

Maybe do a nice walk through on it if you can?
I've seen a couple videos on it but they leave something to be desired.

 

I didnt have much of a choice as my case had a couple holes broken off but bit the bullet and bought one. When my tranny guy built mine I had him cut off the old and install the new.

For me it was a need and gave me piece of mind. I think right now im shooting for 800 hp but like the idea that if it comes apart my legs will be okay.

As my old man said before I built it, how much are your legs worth?

 

I kind of agree but when things blow up and cut off your feet it's not the bellhousing that does that, it's the factory flex plate and or cheap converter that fails.
I invested in SFI rated components there, so the bell housing is secondary or at least until the trans comes out for a refresh.