well i just bout an 87 IROC-Z friday night and love it...it has a couple minor problems (headliner falling down...no high beams..ect..) and was looking at the exhaust..."darn not true dual exhaust...ohh well" and what did i see? "is that the torque converter and flex plate spining?....will it hurt anything for now (gona fix it as soon as posible) if i drive it like that. i want to swap to a manual trans as soon as posible like in a couple months from now maybe even fall..will it hur anything? thanks

mike

ps...and ohh i dont know how long it has been driving like this so far!!

 

There's a plastic inspection cover that's supposed to cover the converter and flexplate. You probably want to replace it at some point to keep road grime and gravel from getting up there.

 

um maybe i didnt say it right.....i have no bell houseing...i can see everything!!! is this safe!?? thanks

 

You have a bell housing... Theres just a cover on the bottom thats missing.

 

if you had no bell housing then your tranny wouldn't bolt onto the engine, and then you would really be in trouble.

 

A bell housing is actually a manual transmission component. It encloses the clutch assembly.

Automatic transmissions attach directly to the engine. The bottom of the tranny housing is open for access to the torque converter or flexplate bolts. The access cover can be plastic or stamped tin. It offers no structural integrety to the tranny (except on some 4x4's who have a cast aluminum cover). The cover is strictly just a cover to prevent mud and dirt from getting up in the converter and flexplate.

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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
461 Big Block installed and ready for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

[This message has been edited by Stephen 87 IROC (edited May 01, 2001).]

 

Thanks alot guys/gals i was really about to **** a brick for not having a bellhousing. my car was on the ground and i was not able to see the top of the bellhousing. It wont hurt anything by not having it on...i am thinking about swaping to a T56 down the road (like as soon as i can get the money...late summer early fall) should i just not worry about it cause i am getting a new transmition anyway? thanks again

mike

 

I've had my laugh for the night, thanx man!


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'88 RS (originally 2.8)
-350, .040 over, vette alum. L98s, stock tpi.
-305 injectors & chip
-TES headers & edelbrock cat back
-3.73 gears, 700r4.
Best with 2.8-17.4@77mph
Best with 305-15.0@93mph
Best with 356-13.7@101mph
on a 2.050 60 ft.
(Damn the 2.8!)

 

haha, I took Mine off too, Dont worry.


To lazy to put it back on~


And Stephen, Ford Automatics have a Removeable Bellhousieng as well




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60 Ranchero - Project ( Money Hole )
85 Sport Coupe LG4 - Daily Driver
Reader's ride -> My Ride

Just another Hot Rod kid, or thats what they all tell me.
Livin' the Stereotype

 

Automatics do have bellhousings persay, most of them are not removable, but are still referred to as attached bellhousings. Besides the technical mumbojumbo you can call it a cornflake for all I care.

Anyhow, I would reinstall the flexplate shield. The rock idea comes into play as mentioned above, what really sucks is if a rock flies up there, nicks a tooth off the flywheel (long shot) and then the engine stops eventually on that tooth (starter won't be able to engage, just spin freely). It's a slim chance but for a $5 piece of scrap tin/plastic it's worht it.

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1984 WS6 Hardtop Trans Am
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 T-top Trans Am
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101