project insanity

[Roger King]

Let's keep a sense of proportion chaps - Ford production cars of the period, millions of them, used aluminium cast bellhousings. Under normal usage, including some pretty powerful cars, this is perfectly adequate. If you are going to drag race, with 1-2,000 horsepower unleashed in a fraction of a second, a bit of extra strengthening might be a good idea. OK, Mustangs had a thin sheet metal tunnel which might help a little bit, but I have never come across a Mustang, or any other sixties Ford, have a bellhousing shatter under normal and reasonable spirited fast-road use. If you're building a track car that might be a different matter - but original 289s and 427s had cast aluminium.

[Paul Blore]

There are plenty of pictures on the net of relatively mundane cars that have had a flywheel let go Roger. Granted, they were being abused, but it does happen.
The thing to bear in mind with the '60's Fords is that the flywheel was well forward of your feet so even if the flywheel did let go, you'd still be okay.
As I said, it only needs to happen once to ruin your day.

Paul

[Migge]

Paul,

The engine needs to run?

[Paul Blore]

Paul,

The engine needs to run?

Yes, sorry Migge, we didn't make that absolutely clear. The engine needs to be running to present any risk whatsoever. On that basis, you're going to be completely safe, probably indefinitely.

[Roger King]

Be nice to Migge. He's never heard an engine running in a Cobra. Migge, what you'll find is a very loud noise coming from somewhere under the bonnet, with more coming out of the back (or sides) of the car. This is called a 'running engine'. Don't worry, it's supposed to do that - but it might be a way in the future yet.

Hang on, who am I to talk? Fourth year, and counting...

[Migge]

Ah,

Wait a minute, I remember my Magnum 427 a few years ago and I think this engine was running because I have driven it a few thousand miles

[StewbieC]

Sehr Schoen!

[Migge]

Vielen Dank