Thoughts on clutch, bell housing and starter

[Pat]

As my engine build is getting closer to completion at Prestige it’s time to start shopping for a clutch and bellhousing and I’m looking for suggestions. Car is an RCR, 363 engine and ZF trans. I was looking at the Safir package. I’ve read here it’s a good package but is a smaller flywheel better with a 363 with 500+ hp/torque? Do i need a smaller flywheel clearance wise in an RCR? Was figuring a larger flywheel would be heavier and better for the engine and probablly easier to get a starter for.

so looking for thoughts and suggestions on what others have used with this sort of combo. I’m thinking I would run a slave cylinder also for he zf fork and would need a mounting location on bellhousing or do people just eliminate the fork completely on the ZF? I’m open to any suggestions to make life easier.

thanks,
Pat

 

[Bill Kearley]

First you have to think exactly what the car will be used for.
If I have mine apart for any reason I will go a McLeod twin disc for less peddle effort, an external slave and for street use I'd go with a standard steel flywheel
Check your input shaft length for fit. I found my Kennedy bell housing to be to long and not enough pilot bearing support even after talking to Griffin trans axel in Texas and experiencing very little help.

 

[Pat]

It will mostly be used for street, with maybe an occasional friendly track day. Definitely want to go with a steel flywheel. I had heard good things about the Kennedy bellhousing.

 

[David Garton]

I chose to use the Safir package as ground clearance was one of my worries. Also it uses a steal flywheel and is a dual disc diaphragm pressure plate so it will have a soft pedal. I did not want to disassemble the trans from the engine for a leaking internal slave style throw out bearing and theirs has an external mount. I have had members say they were very pleased with the set up. Hope this helps.

 

[Pat]

I chose to use the Safir package as ground clearance was one of my worries. Also it uses a steal flywheel and is a dual disc diaphragm pressure plate so it will have a soft pedal. I did not want to disassemble the trans from the engine for a leaking internal slave style throw out bearing and theirs has an external mount. I have had members say they were very pleased with the set up. Hope this helps.

Thanks, I’m leaning with them now. What starter did you use and any fitment problems?

 

[David Garton]

Thanks, I’m leaning with them now. What starter did you use and any fitment problems?

Kit came with an adjustable nose starter. Already proven assembly. Your welcome.

 

[Randy Folsom]

Thanks, I’m leaning with them now. What starter did you use and any fitment problems?

Safir provides a starter that fits their reduced size bell housing and flywheel. The starter is compact, has reduction gearing and it is a beast. Designed to be more than capable of turning over high compression big blocks.

 

[Rod Dittmar]

I went with the Safir pkg on my 363/ZF and am very happy with it so far. It has everything needed to attach your ZF to the engine including a starter. It all fit nicely and assembly was a breeze. However, depending on your oil pan, you may have to make a minor modification to it to allow for clearance to the starter as shown in the attached pics.

 

[Lee Patterson]

What oil pan is recommended that does not require cutting and works with the Safir kit? thanks in advance

 

[David Garton]

Mine is a Tee style pan and it clears the starter.

 

[Rod Dittmar]

Pat, what car are you building? I should have added that my 363/ZF is in an RCR40, and the Oil Pan is a 6qt. Aviad 155-55362. It fits nicely in the tight quarters of the chassis and does not protude below it. I maybe wrongly assumed that your powertrain is going in something similar.
Rod

 

[Lee Patterson]

Not building yet. Just figuring out my plan for when I do. thanks