Is it really necessary to run both, or is one or the other safe? Just wondering, I have a Lakewood and I'm buying a billet flywheel, but it just seems redundant.

Does the NHRA require both?

I think this becomes a personal judgement call unless you're putting ita all in a top fuel car!

How many thousands of stock cast flywheels were and are out there that see significant rpm without problems? Likewise with the bellhousings.

If there had been anticipated problems the factories likely would have done something about it.

However, when you REALLY push the envelope, this is where organizations like NHRA step in, not so much to protect the user but for their own preservation - imagine what their insurance rates would be like if these things were blowing apart and injuring spectators!

Do we need both in a street car that see's occasional strip use? Not likely. One or the other is likely overkill and both are definitely overkill. But it boils down to how much you value your own body parts. Considering how inexpensive billet flywheels are, why wouldn't you use one. Bellhousings, well, that's a little more obvious to an NHRA inspector. However, check the rules 'cause like a lot of things, they may only be required for certain classes.

hi for a street car , prob not . as for racing, yes both are required
also, cannot run a stock pressure plate. must run a blow proof clutch. just foor for thought.

Well that was going to bring me to my next thread, what pressure plates/clutches are SFI approved? I've never one seen advertised that they are...

I think most of the major brand race clutch companys(McLeod, Ram, Bonnafante(SP?)and so on) advertised theres as SFI approved spec #??? I had to buy NHRA aprroved scattershields, flywheels and clutches when I raced my stick shift stocker 30 yrs ago

I highly recommend the billet flywheel and also the steel can
The flywheel is almost a required piece due to the aggressive materials that are used in todays clutch discs.The metallic disc material will actually wear out the softer factory flywheels and they cant take the heat generated by the new clutches.
I just could never see why you wouldn't want a steel bell
Most of the new B&B units from Mcleod,Hays,and Ram are SFI approved and are made with explosion proof steel plates.
I don't know if Centerforce plates are approved though I hope they are explosion proof because I will be trying one on the street this year
My advice is the piece of mind is worth the price you pay for safety when you engine is singing around the 6800 mark
Gus

Gus I run a CF in the 65.Been in for probally 8 years now.Great clutch.I didnt check if it was SFI though.I do run all else blow proof.I had a clutch blow in my 60 Dodge once.Luckily it was at about idle and just broke the iron bell and dented the floor.Rocky

I will be bolting it to a billet wheel but I am still not sure what disc I am going to run How is the CF disc holding up? I have always used Ram and Mcleod discs
Gus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9vpcyxvvC8

A lakewood bell was the first thing I bought before I started racing back in the 60's. I ran for years with the stock flywheel before going to billet. The reason I bought the bell housing was that a guy I new that had a built small block chevy went to the track , had a clutch/pressure plate explode and it killed a spectator. The real kicker on that one was he had a lakewood that he could have put on but said it was to heavy. Another guy that I used to race with , also chevy, had one explode . Parts came up through the floor continuing through the dash and out the cowl. broke his foot and also pinned him in the car as the transmission tunnel peeled open it wrapped around his foot. Just remember that a stock aluminum bell housing isn't going to stop anything . You can do what you want but I would go with the bell housing first for safety and piece of mind.

Gus the CF dual friction I have is holding up great.I ran McCleod for years then went CF.It been in at least 10 years.The last 5 driven a lot on the street and some strip.Still works like new.It does hook good I think better than the 3500 pound McCleod B&B I had in.I did change TO bearing though.I went to an old NOS Timken.Rocky