Adding a window/inspection hole in Quicktime or similar scattershield.

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cpearce

cpearce

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Good morning,

A good friend of mine has agreed to machine an inspection port and or window into my Quicktime bell. Does anyone have images or measurements of what you have done, or had done to your bell? I wish to be able to measure clutch departure, as well as have access to the levers on my pressure plate. My friend is a very accomplished machinest and fabricator, he has asked me to find out exactly what and where to make the openings.

I saw another member on FABO that simply made an opening, without adding a removable plate. Is the plate necessary?

I have spoken with Quicktime/Holley about this and was quoted $750USD for the window, $250USD to recertify (mandatory for them, not needed by me), plus shipping both ways from Canada. This ends up being cost prohibitive for me, and more than the bell cost me new.

Any help or direction anyone can provide is most appreciated.

@perfacar @Newbomb Turk @SlantedDart
 
I’ve seen guys do it at the track with a hole saw, just to pass tech. I don’t think it’s a process that needs a trip to a machine shop but I DO think you should pay for the recert after doing it.
 
^^I once cut some 1 1/2" holes in 5/8 plate with a hole saw, FOUR of them (holes, not saws). Slowest drill press you can get your hands on, easy on the pressure, and LOTS of cutting oil.
 
TT5.9mag said:
I’ve seen guys do it at the track with a hole saw, just to pass tech. I don’t think it’s a process that needs a trip to a machine shop but I DO think you should pay for the recert after doing it.
Click to expand...
Why do you feel I need a recert? I am just a weekend warrior out there for fun, this car won't be pushed to its limits. My camshaft declares this to be a max 6500rpm package. Perhaps I'm missing something in my analysis of the scenario?
 
Quicktime bellhousings are junk compared to the older
Lakewood models. My RM-6073 is on the scrap pile. Anyone see the pictures of the gasser with the flywheel through the cowl? That's your Quicktime when it fails. They are flimsy IMO.

That said, I have 3 SFI certed bells ( 2 LW, 1 Browell) that have inspection windows. I will get you more specifics later today.
 
You don't want to be this guy!

58543099_2612414425454515_1913950045435068416_n.jpg


3618587A-7A61-4069-A325-319BE232FACD.jpeg
 
cpearce said:
Why do you feel I need a recert? I am just a weekend warrior out there for fun, this car won't be pushed to its limits. My camshaft declares this to be a max 6500rpm package. Perhaps I'm missing something in my analysis of the scenario?
Click to expand...
I guess I thought you raced your car. My mistake.
 
TT5.9mag said:
I guess I thought you raced your car. My mistake.
Click to expand...
Bracket racing on weekends, correct.

This is why I am asking people in the know. To be honest I had thought the quicktime bell was overkill for my needs, erring on the side of caution. Rightly or wrongly, I viewed the recert on my bell a way for the manufacturer to claw more money from me, and perhaps not necessary in MY application. For a max effort racecar I wouldn't have asked, it would have been a given.
 
cpearce said:
Good morning,

A good friend of mine has agreed to machine an inspection port and or window into my Quicktime bell. Does anyone have images or measurements of what you have done, or had done to your bell? I wish to be able to measure clutch departure, as well as have access to the levers on my pressure plate. My friend is a very accomplished machinest and fabricator, he has asked me to find out exactly what and where to make the openings.

I saw another member on FABO that simply made an opening, without adding a removable plate. Is the plate necessary?

I have spoken with Quicktime/Holley about this and was quoted $750USD for the window, $250USD to recertify (mandatory for them, not needed by me), plus shipping both ways from Canada. This ends up being cost prohibitive for me, and more than the bell cost me new.

Any help or direction anyone can provide is most appreciated.

@perfacar @Newbomb Turk @SlantedDart
Click to expand...


You NEED a window. I think there is a rule on how big it can be but I’m not sure on that.

I can measure the window in my can but it’s barely big enough. And I told them on the phone (twice) and put it in my written directions to put the big window in it.

I’m sure my cert is up again but I’m not paying them to do the job twice.

I can adjust the clutch but it’s tighter than I want.

Scatter shields without a window are pretty much worthless IF you want to tune the clutch.

And all stick guys should be learning clutches and clutch tuning.

There’d be less breakage (by far) and quicker and faster ET’s and MPH.
 
67Dart273 said:
^^I once cut some 1 1/2" holes in 5/8 plate with a hole saw, FOUR of them (holes, not saws). Slowest drill press you can get your hands on, easy on the pressure, and LOTS of cutting oil.
Click to expand...


I think you get one hole for checking plate departure.

You can wreck a can doing that.
 
TT5.9mag said:
The above is for supercharged or nitrous applications. Normally aspirated is here;

https://www.sfifoundation.com/wp-content/pdfs/specs/Spec_6.1.pdf
Click to expand...

I can’t find it now and maybe the D6 tech director told me you can have up to two holes in the can, not counting the window.

Or maybe he said no holes with the widow. Any way I know a guy who uses one hole in the bottom of the can for plate departure and another hole in the face of the bell housing so he can change base pressure.

I’m pretty sure he could do that rather than a window.

At this point before I drilled anything I’d call whatever Division tech director you have for whatever region you are in and ask him.

I was told if the can is older than 2006 or some arbitrary year they won’t even recert them.

Or maybe it was they wouldn’t put a window in it.
 
Looks to me like you can have one “inspection hole” and one “adjustment window”.
 
TT5.9mag said:
Looks to me like you can have one “inspection hole” and one “adjustment window”.
Click to expand...


I’m trying to find my notes but I think you have it correct. I remember it being convoluted (NHRA has to convolute everything) because I didn’t want the hassle at the track.

I’m pretty sure you are correct. If I can find my notes I think they would verify that.
 
If you read the SFI instructions they are hard to follow and contradict specs depending on how you read it.

My understanding is that you can have two 1" holes in the block saver for cooling (bbm needs two for galley plugs ala Lakewood). You are also allowed to have an air gap inspection hole along with the window. Depending on which spec you are following you might need up to 12 bolts for the big window which applies more to 8"+ depth bellhousings that are used with 2 or 3 disc clutches.

The diagram above shows 8 for your typical door car. The document also goes on to speficy the size of the clutch fork hole for a door car to be bigger than a tube car.
 
My suggestion would be to get in touch with the safety person, with the sanctioning body where you may be racing. See what race close to you that he or she will be attending and go meet them. In my experience, the IHRA safety people are top drawer and answer your questions not to mention they will show you in the rules. Unfortunately the rule books are in CD form theses days rather than printed matter.
 
I have one for weights and base adjustments and one for air gap for the clutch disc. Probably 3-1/2x3-1/2 used 1-5/8 hole saw four spots then cut off wheel to connect them. Then a single 1-5/8 one for the disc inspection. Probably wouldn’t pass cert but I figured it’s at the bottom and my feet are at the top..
I almost did it in the top if you can tell. But I didn’t want to blow any more holes in my car!

IMG_3257.jpeg
 
I would just make a simple oversized template for the hole out of something like 1/4" plate. Bend the template to lay tight against the bell, then use that plate as a guide for a plasma cutter. The piece you cut out of the bell can be used as the plug, just make a bolt flange that can be welded to the plug.

Grant
 
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