Is there any benefit to fitting a metal sheet between the engine and box. I made a 2 part one myself and it doesn't fit very well. I can't see any proble in fitting engine and box together without the metal plate or am I missing something???

I've fitted the retro ford dust plate between my zetec and T9. Very nicely made out of stainless, not too expensive. It'll just stop too much crud getting into the bellhousing and potentially contaminating the clutch plate....

[Edited on 30/7/16 by ianm67]

The bell housing was the lowest point of the car on mine and was an open scoop with out the crud plate.

I always thought they were more of a block plate as above. To stop grease and dirt entering the bell housing area.

The Retro ford one is a good fit, with a modded blacktop sump a small extra closing plate is needed on the clutch cable side to fill a 1 by 2 inch gap.
I found loads of gravel and mud in the flywheel trigger holes from the when i didn't have one fitted, it could have easily damaged the crank sensor.

Dave

Without it the flywheel, clutch etc, looks very exposed.

I made my own out of tin plate.

I made mine out of some 1.5mm ali just to stop the crud getting into the clutch. Easy enough to cut out with a jigsaw being that thin. Just draw around the bell housing, mark the holes and where the openings are.
some pictures here in June 2012http://www.martinsfurybuild.co.uk/2012.html

[Edited on 31/7/16 by tims31]

On rebuilding my 2.0 Pinto I fitted the OEM Ford plate between the engine and Type 9 gearbox. I assumed the spacing was necessary and it would stop dirt entering the clutch area. I suspect Ford fitted it for a reason so most likely best to fit it.

Thanks folks.

Made one up now.