10.5" vs 11" clutch? Does it matter?

[buening]

I have started gathering some of the components for my T56 swap and have come to a minor snag. Quicktime claims their conversion bellhousing accepts a maximum of a 10.5" clutch and 157t flywheel. D&D Transmission and Summit both sell this bellhousing. McLeod has a conversion bellhousing that will accept an 11" clutch and 164t flywheel. At what point should I consider an 11" clutch or should I not even consider a 10.5" clutch? The motor is a fairly stock 351w with an XE262 cam. There are eventual plans to add some aluminum heads and eventually do a 408 stroker but who knows how far in the future that may end up being after this trans swap. The wife keeps hinting about having kids, so it may be 20 years before that stroker kit happens :cry

I do have longtube Hooker Comp headers and am thinking the smaller Quicktime bell would minimize any clearance headaches with the headers. I plan on going with a hydraulic throwout bearing and hydraulic clutch M/C, so no fork to mess with on this conversion. The price between the two bellhousings and two clutch diameters are minimal. The 11" clutch and McLeod bell is slightly cheaper. Does the clutch diameter really make that much of a difference, or am I meddling in a minor detail here? :wstup

[Fast68back]

Isnt there a difference in the balance of the 157 and 164 flywheels? Wont it depend which dampner your running.?

[buening]

Nah they have 28oz imbalance flywheels in both 157 and 164 t.  For example:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RAM-1527/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RAM-1505/

The 164t really adds alot of weight to the drivetrain.

[johnpro]

One thing that may play into your decision on the bellhousing is that the McCleod comes pre-indexed.  I'm not familiar with the Quicktime, so don't know if it does.  I know that Lakewood bells don't, and you have to index them.  Just bolting on the McCleod and not worrying about it was pretty nice.

You most likely will have some clearance issues with the McCleod bell on the driver's side.  I had to flatten one tube on my Hooker Comps to clear the McCleod bell.  Mine is for the TKO-600, though, so your mileage may vary with the T56 one, but I doubt it.

I'm no expert, but I'd say the 10.5 vs. 11 is really going to make no difference on your build.  When you put the 408 in, you'll have to yank the engine anyway, so you can always change to an 11" easily at that time.

[buening]

When you put the 408 in, you'll have to yank the engine anyway, so you can always change to an 11" easily at that time.

But if I went with the Quicktime bellhousing this would not be possible, since the max it allows is the 10.5".  I would also have the 157t, which a 11" clutch would not bolt to.   I think I'm just going to get the McLeod and deal with the clearance issues.  The McLeod has the clutch fork opening at the 9 o'clock position whereas the Cobra T56 has it at the 7 o'clock position.  This won't matter much to me since I'll just be routing hydraulic lines, but FYI to anyone considering this with a clutch fork.