Lakewood Bellhousing block saver plate

Can someone tell me if you can use the lakewood bellhousing without a block saver plate? If so.......

The directions have you measuring from the block side of the plate to the flat part of the adjustable pivot ball, this measurement should be 4.750". But without the plate and not knowing how thick the plate should be we don't know how to account for the difference in the 4.750" measurement.

The directions also show that the thickness of the stock flywheel is .960" and our aftermarket steel flywheel is 1.112". All of these measurements from Lakewood take into account the thickness of the stock flywheel and using the block saver plate.

The other issue we have is the clutch fork is not lining up with the adjusting rod end. We can force it in place, but it is not right and is binding. Its like the fork is 1/2" too high.

Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

sorry I can't help you because I'm having trouble with the lakewood thing myself. Looks like the geniuses at -------- eng. sent me an olds/ poncho bellhousing. bad enough I had to wait a month and a half for it, now I'm trying to find one myself but even the lakewood site skips right over the endangered buick. Should have bought the aluminum one for a hundread bucks when the nationals came to bellvue. I know my whining didn't help you with steel plate.... but anyone know where I can get a BUICK LAKEWOOD????

 

Might want to look into going with a McLeod bellhousing. I have heard the quality control is MUCH better. I currently run a Lakewood with the block saver, but I bought it off a Buick guy who had Lakewood make it for him back in the 70s, so mine is one of the 1st ones made for the Buick and the QC must have been better back then. From everything I have read McLeod is the way to go now a days.

 

Well, we might have to go that way. Looks like the block saver is 1/8" from what I read from a post, but after taking that into account, and adjusting the ball down, the fork doesn't have enough throw without enlarging the opening on the bellhousing. Its a good solid piece, but what a pain in the butt.

 

I dont use the blocksaver plate with mine.
Adam

 

Thanks Adam.

Did you have any problems installing it? Did you also have to grind out the hole where the fork goes through?

 

Hi Rick,
Nope, none at all. I do remember that I had to extend the pusher rod from the fork to the z bar for extra adjustment. I now have a modified Corvette release fork in there, noone was making a repro when I needed one.
It fits tight but no grinding needed.
Adam

 

The only other thing I can think of would be the input shaft bottoming out in the pilot bushing. I sort of went through this a last year. a board member had one for sale with no block saver plate. the price was right so I called lakewood, and they told me they don't make a saver plate for the buick. Turns out olds and pontiac have the starter on the other side so they won't work either. with out major modification. sooo I gave up at that point since I really don't need it.

 

I have the last blocksaver plate from Lakewood for the 350, as it was discontinued. I'm unsure if the 455 is different. I had no problem when test fitting everything together, except I used the Lakewood clutchfork and the lower linkage needed extended.