×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Contact US

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Bellhousing Material

Bellhousing Material

Bellhousing Material

(OP)
hi there i am currently looking into making our own bellhousings for racing formula fords. ive decided to machine the part from 3 big billets but am unsure of which material to use. Any material suggestions?

Thanks mike  

RE: Bellhousing Material

FF has been around since the 60's and has been supported by dozens of mfgrs...
Since bell housings are available in Al and  Mg in both cast and billet...
Since both new and used parts are widely available world wide...
Since, it appears to me you wish to practice on the mill...
My suggestion is a very nice grade of South African Ironwood!

Can't say as I've ever seen one made of that...Unique, for sure!!!

Rod

RE: Bellhousing Material

You can get 2024-T3 or T4 in billets that are big enough for a bellhousing.  It's strong as steel, and machines like butter.

That was the good news.

There may be locked-in stresses, though, so you would want to rough it out 1/4" oversize, let it move around while you cut it, then finish it to size.

 

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Bellhousing Material

...which all sounds about as much hassle as casting it in the first place.

 

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

RE: Bellhousing Material

Next week at Road America will be a 40th anniversary of FF race and there are already almost 300 entries.  

It is only a guess, but I'll just bet you will find most anything in FF, including bell housings.  Well, perhaps not one made of SAIW.....;o)

Rod

RE: Bellhousing Material

passionwagon,

6061 alloy is the most readily available aluminum in large sizes.  It can be purchased in large diameter (up to 16 inch) bar, or in thick (up to 12 inch) plate.

It should be purchased in a -T6 heat treat condition (ie. the best condition for machining) and rough machined to within about 1/8 inch of the final shape.  Then you should send it out for a stress relief, followed by re-solution heat treatment and artificial age hardening.  Then you can finish machine it without worrying about distortions in the finished part.

The added benefit of 6061 aluminum is that it can be weld repaired if damaged.

Making a billet FF bell housing may seem excessive, but entire engine blocks are now commonly made from billet in F1 and top-fuel NHRA.

Good luck with your project.
Terry

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members! Already a Member? Login


Resources

Low-Volume Rapid Injection Molding With 3D Printed Molds
Learn methods and guidelines for using stereolithography (SLA) 3D printed molds in the injection molding process to lower costs and lead time. Discover how this hybrid manufacturing process enables on-demand mold fabrication to quickly produce small batches of thermoplastic parts. Download Now
Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
Examine how the principles of DfAM upend many of the long-standing rules around manufacturability - allowing engineers and designers to place a part’s function at the center of their design considerations. Download Now
Taking Control of Engineering Documents
This ebook covers tips for creating and managing workflows, security best practices and protection of intellectual property, Cloud vs. on-premise software solutions, CAD file management, compliance, and more. Download Now

Close Box

Join Eng-Tips® Today!

Join your peers on the Internet's largest technical engineering professional community.
It's easy to join and it's free.

Here's Why Members Love Eng-Tips Forums:

Register now while it's still free!

Already a member? Close this window and log in.

Join Us             Close