Vented Clutch Bell-- Make your own?

[MustangMan]

I've been seeing a few posts on here of late about using a vented clutch bell to keep everything cool.

I've seen vented flywheels too as well...

Instead of buying a bunch of clutch bells for my various cars and trucks, couldn't I simply drill a couple of carefully measured and spaced holes, then deburr them, to allow cooling of the clutch area? Same for the stock cast flywheel too I would assume.

What's everyone's take on this? :shrug:

For instance, I could see on my RS4 drilling three 5/16-inch holes in a triangular setting... Like this: :nuke:

Just throwing the idea out there for some comments.

Thanks.

 

[SuperMaxx83]

dont quot me on this but i thnk ihas to be balanced for oit to work cuz i tried it on a traxxas flywheel and the crank bearings went out in like 3 tanks of hard running anfd i think that is my problem changed it around and no mo probs

 

[X_Gamer7]

yes, your idea should work presuming you make sure everything is perfectly balanced and even. The only suggestion I have is not to make it triangular. The idea of a vented clutch bell is to catch the air (not too much that it effects performance though) and blow it across the engine. You need to have the cuts at some sort of an angle to catch the air, like a fan does.
later

 

[vbgagnon]

Don't do it! If your not 100% accurate you going to have a cb bearing blower upper on your hands. Kind of like this...If you were to drill and slot your rotors on your car, would you do it? Or would you leave it to the professionals that make these for a living and buy the good stuff? Easy question for me to answer....let the engineers and precision machines do their jobs.

 

[DirtRacinFool]

I race with a guy who drills out all of his clutch bells and flywheels just to lighten then up. It also works to vent and keep the parts cool. He's been doing it for years without causing balance problems. If your careful, measure and drill everything accurately, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Plaidfish]

drill press/vice/straight edge/pencil
not hard stuff to come by

 

[MustangMan]

Vb...

I have drilled my own rotors, so I guess I can handle this...

Yes, the drill press at my shop and some careful measurements should be all I need. Just curious if any else had done it.

As far as X_Gamer's comment, trying to make an angular cut like a fan is really asking for trouble, balance wise. Drilling straight holes or machining slots is the best for balance and you will still get plenty of cooling IMO....

EDIT:

I think the quick smilie I used for an example might be misleading. When I say a triangular pattern, I mean the location of the ROUND drilled holes, not making triangular cuts...

 

[FastEddy]

bearing blower upper

Now this is something even I can understand.