Bellhousing Copy advice please!

[rougemont]

I have an aluminium bellhousing that I would like to get some copies made of, any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly received , thanks.

[GreenV8S]

I guess you're looking for a foundry that deals with prototypes. I've never dealt with any but I believe they exist. Probably worth looking for local aluminium foundries and asking whether they can do (or recommend somebody else who can do) prototype casting.

I understand that copy casting doesn't always produce an accurate match, and for something like a bell housing that might be an issue, but people who do this for a living would know all about that.

[stevieturbo]

Flotech used to make bellhousings....can't even find them on a google search though

And I know there are guys who have had stuff made years go, Martin/Reyland was one place, think they got theirs cast then CNC'd elsewhere.


Low volumes ? Maybe find somewhere to scan and CNC from billet ?

high volumes then looking into castings might be viable.

In the US...this guy seems to be a bit of a genius when it comes to bellhousings.

https://www.facebook.com/bill.hincher

[Steve_D]

If you are only talking about a few then I would look at 3D metal printing.
Even if you have them cast you will still need to have them machined so starting by 3D scanning your original followed by coordinate measurement of the critical bits will give you the CAD file you will need for machining or 3D printing.

Steve

[tapkaJohnD]

I wonder if 3D printing is up to making such load bearing parts yet, but certainly it could be used to make a mould.
In Oz a unique Delage engine block was re-made by scanning it to 3D print a mould, from which a new block could be cast.

See: https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/MF/Areas/Metals/L...

John

[Boosted LS1]

OP I make castings in iron (turbo exhaust manifolds) or aluminium (intake manifolds, itb's etc). Reproducing a bell housing can be done.