Bell housing Cast or alloy?

[cb500t]

Sorry for such a stupid question but my car is about 20 miles away...is the standard bell housing cast iron, I ask because a friend has just offered me an alloy one

[Boosted LS1]

Lots of bell housings are made from aluminium. If it's been made for your make of car/engine it should be fine and save weight to.

[glenrobbo]

Grab it! I'm pretty sure the standard Type 9 bellhousing is cast iron.

My old Capri box was no lightweight anyway when I had it on my chest laying under the car doing a clutch change!

[TVR-Stu]

From memory, I think there is a difference between the starter fitting. I think the cast one is for a two bolt starter and the alloy one has a three bolt starter. (Or it's the other way around!)
Something to look out for anyway.

[greymrj]

Mine is cast iron, 2 bolt starter and **** heavy, spare ditto.

[phillpot]

Standard will be cast iron, alluminium ones from Sierra XR 4x4 (and possible others) will in theory fit but as has been mentioned the starter is different.

Haven't yet gotten around to fitting mine because the starter I have (3 bolt) has the solenoid on the side which fouls on the chassis. Something like a Wosp Starter would solve the problem.

You'll also need the engine plate, that thin metal spacer thingy that goes between the back of the engine and the bellhousing.

[glenrobbo]

It's called a 'sandwich plate'.

But it has very little nutritional value I'm afraid.

[magpies]

glenrobbo said:

It's called a 'sandwich plate'.

But it has very little nutritional value I'm afraid.

has plenty of iron in it - so must be good

[glenrobbo]

magpies said:

has plenty of iron in it - so must be good

The whole gearbox assembly is certainly good for giving the old haemorrhoids a work out:
It's $@&#£%÷ heavy!!

Edited by glenrobbo on Thursday 20th July 22:49