maystg

I'm doing a 5 speed swap in my 97 ex, and should I go for a lighweight flywheel? or just an oem flywheel? Keep in mind this is just a daily driver, and will be my first manual car. I've driven manuals before and am decently good at it, but not perfect.

Fliptard

lightwieght will let your engine rev and slow down faster, if your driving down the highway and let off the gas, your car will slow down quicker because a heavier/OEM flywheel helps keep up the momentum of the engine, but then takes longer to rev up.

maystg

Well I understand that part. I know that they flywheel has the weight to help keep the engine turning. But what I'm asking is for daily driving would it be easier to drive using an oem vs. a lightweight? I've heard of cars stalling out because the flywheel is too light, and that's the last thing I want.

VTEC_Viking

Just get a street version. The major difference is as mentioned, the inertia on the flywheel changes the characteristics if it is lighter or heavier. If it is lighter it will loose inertia faster under load and going up hills therefore you will be at higher rpms most likely under these conditions than if you had a stock flywheel. On straightaways it would be faster because of less parasitic drag to build up to the same rpms. Make sense?

maystg

Oh it makes perfect sense. I believe im going to just use an oe flywheel just because it seems easier to deal with in traffic, which I will have to deal with on a daily basis because I'm moving to a big city. Thanks for the input

Hidenplanvew

I did a 11lbs flywheel, I like it .. OEM is 19lbs nice on the highway and not to bad in traffic

maystg

So you don't have any issues with it tryimg to stall out? And is it a pain to drive in traffic? Or just in general?

dglassmyer

I can speak to the benefit of a lightened flywheel.

I was in your shoes a few years prior to my manual swap wondering the same thing.
I went with an Exedy stage 1 clutch kit and a Fidanza 8 lb flywheel.

It may be a bit of a change for those who have become used to having a factory flywheel in their manual accord, but I cannot think of one downside to having installed mine.

Theres no stalling, its just as easy as any other manual car to drive, and it gives the engine a much more spirited feel.
I am very pleased with mine and think you will be happy if you decide to get one as well.

Hidenplanvew

never had any stalling issues at all, its takes alittle getting use to. It will allow the tires to spin alittle when turning from a stop if I get alittle to hard into it. I like it tho, you do give alittle more gas when starting from a stop too.

maystg

So what would be a good weight to start out with. Like I said I've never owned a manual, only driven a few and did good at it. But I'm still not perfect. So should I go with an 11lbs or an 8 lbs?

maystg

Also what do you guys think about an F1 Racing chromoly flywheel? Ive heard their clutches are iffy (which is why I'm doing an Exedy clutch) but are their flywheels good?

Fliptard

Just go on ebay and get an Exedy clutch and findanza flywheel kit, I believe you can get a couple different "stage" options, I got a like 7lb flywheel and stock clutch (stage 1) and was under $300 I think, if you get stage 2,3 or so price goes up, but not much.

Fliptard

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXEDY-CLUTCH...237585&vxp=mtr

dglassmyer

Be aware of fakes...

http://www.exedyusa.com/multimedia/s...tations1fw.pdf

Fliptard

hmm, interesting. So far my "exedy clutch" and "findanza" flywheel work pretty good.

Hidenplanvew

I have a F1 Chromo and exdy and havent had a problem with it yet. I have only around 10k on it so far, I did the clutch and flywheel in May.. I just dont drive it to much. Only thing I would say to o if you do get a F1 is take it to a machine shop and have them balance it. Its a 20 (for me it was) doller peace of mind to know its safe to 10k.

J...H22

So the flywheels aren't balanced from the factory? I would think they were machined to be balanced for each transmission application. Good info to know on that though.

maystg

Did you have it machined just because F1 Racings products are known to be cheap or unreliable?

Also How long did it take those of you who did the 5 speed swap? What kind of time frame do I need to do this? Just so I can make sure I won't need my car for this period of time. Also what about cost, how much did it cost you?

Fliptard

probably could do it in a weekend, as long as you have everything and nothng breaks, goes wrong.

Hidenplanvew

I would say a weekend too...

They are balanced but I trust my machine shop so if they say its good to 10k, I know its good. I do it with alot of stuff tho too, I just like to be able to sleep at night..

maystg

So the f1 flywheels are only good for 10k miles?

sweet_lou

they will last longer if you dont beat the **** out of you car and you can get different stages

sweet_lou

and most of the time the oem will cost you more

MAD_MIKE

That would suck if it were true. I believe he means 10K rpm.

kd97accord

I've got the F1 Racing flywheel and found a nice difference over stock. Engine feels like it has some new life in it, which makes it much more fun to drive. Would recommend it.