WORK SAFELY!
Installation of this safety bellhousing requires working
underneath vehicle. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN
WORKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. Never get
near or underneath the vehicle until you are confident
that it is safely supported and will not move or fall from
its raised position. DO NOT USE A BUMPER JACK!
PREPARATION FOR INSTALLATION
1. Place the vehicle on a solid, level surface such as a
garage floor to ensure safe installation.
2. Raise the vehicle using appropriate lifting device and
support it using automotive approved support stands
having adequate load capacity.
3. Disconnect the negative (-) cable from the battery.
CAUTION: DO NOT BEGIN THIS INSTALLATION UNTIL
YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE IS SECURE
AND SAFELY SUPPORTED!
Installation Instructions
1. Remove driveshaft, starter motor, transmission and
stock bellhousing.
2. Remove pressure plate and clutch disc from flywheel.
3. At this point, we recommend that you check your
Lakewood Safety Bellhousing for proper alignment with
the crankshaft. This is not a difficult procedure.
Detailed instructions outlining the necessary steps along
with recommendations for correcting any misalignment are
included in these instructions.
Note: Check pilot bearing and replace if worn. Use
Lakewood #15976 bronze (factory type) or #15977 roller
pilot bearing.
4. After checking and correcting bellhousing alignment,
remove flywheel and prepare bloc kplate for installation.
On all applications using a block mounted starter, you
must remove the knockout in the starter hole of the
blockplate (see illustration and instructions for
correct procedure). If an early style bellhousing
mounted starter is used, DO NOT remove the knockout.
Use blockplate as is (the round hole in the blockplate
will correctly locate the starter nose assuring proper
alignment). Install blockplate over the crankshaft flange
and place over dowel pins in the block.
IMPORTANT: In order to comply and meet S.F.I.
bellhousing specification 6.1, it is mandatory that the
safety blockplate be installed with this bellhousing and
all containment fasteners supplied be used in their
correct location (see illustration).
5. Reinstall flywheel and clutch assembly. Be sure to
tighten fasteners using manufacturers recommended
torque specifications.
Note: We recommend the use of Mr. Gasket Ultra-Seal
premium fasteners for clutch and flywheel installation.
Flywheel bolts Mr. Gasket #912
Pressure plate bolts Mr. Gasket #910
IMPORTANT: Do not reuse the factory cast iron
flywheel! A high performance quality billet flywheel that
meets S.F.I. specifications is recommended for safety
purposes. Hays offers a complete line of high
performance clutches and flywheels to meet safety
requirements.
6. Remove clutch release bearing fork and pivot ball
from stock bellhousing. Reinstall the pivot ball into the
Lakewood bellhousing and attach fork clip onto the
pivot ball. Note: It is recommended to use Lakewood
#15501 Adjustable Pivot Ball in order to obtain the
proper fork geometry. A Heavy-Duty Clutch Fork #15500
is also available to fit most applications.
7. Position your Lakewood Bellhousing over the flywheel/
clutch assembly and slide onto dowel pins in engine
block. Fasten the bellhousing to the engine block using
the 3/8”-16 x 1” grade 8 bolts supplied. Secure the
blockplate to the bellhousing using the supplied grade 8
fasteners installed in the order shown on the illustration.
IMPORTANT: All fasteners must be used in their proper
location for the bellhousing to meet S.F.I. specification 6.1
Special Note:
Bellhousing #15003 includes a mounting kit
for installation in 1955-57 Chevrolets to adapt the housing to existing rear frame mounts.
8. Replace starter motor, transmission and driveshaft.
Attach clutch linkage and check for proper adjustment.
9. Reconnect battery cable.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Lakewood Safety Bellhousing
Chevrolet Applications
#15000, #15003, #15010, #15015, #15020, #15030, #15050, #15060, #15080
NOTICE: This safety bellhousing meets S.F.I. (Safety Foundation Institute) specification 6.1 when used
with the enclosed engine block plate and maximum containment fasteners supplied. It is highly
recommended that an S.F.I. approved flywheel and clutch assembly be used in conjunction
with this bellhousing for additional safety precautions.