1994 Honda Civic EX D16Z6

I've been planning on purchasing a ZEX Lightweight 6.7lb Flywheel for a while... And right when I have the money, the only Ebay seller that was carrying them, has run out... $160.00shipped was his price. This sucks, but life goes on.

A member on this forum has offered to sell me a Clutch Masters 7lb Flywheel for $200 shipped... $40.00 more than I wanted to spend, but I'll be flexible.

So, is there a quality difference between the two Flywheels in any of your honest opinions? $200.00 Shipped a good deal?

Just looking for some input before I buy,

Thanks in advance,

 

And the Thread moves up...

 

just wait and get the zex or get a ACT flywheel they are better then both in my opinion

 

go with whichever one you want. both flywheels should work the same!

i dont think i need to explain this.


item...7 lb flywheel..... quality...both well known companies

 

ever consider the Fidanza 7lbs flywheel? i've read its nice. just do some research on flywheels.

 

I hear you Rota

This is a build up in progress... I'm making the the rest of the car ready to accomidate my Turbocharger set-up I will soon have on.

So I figure, the motor wont be Naturally Aspirated for long, so I may as well get the transmission ready for a 60bhp-80bhp increase... I think a Stage I and a 7.0lb lightweight flywheel will do just fine... Any objections?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ZedEx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I figure, the motor wont be Naturally Aspirated for long, so I may as well get the transmission ready for a 60bhp-80bhp increase... I think a Stage I and a 7.0lb lightweight flywheel will do just fine... Any objections?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most likely. I would still go with a chromoly flywheel though. Mine weighs in at 8.37lbs. and is light enough for me. My turbo has one and going out of boost is not a problem between shifts, like other people said it would be.

 

Get whichever is lighter and cheaper. Quality is similar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get whichever is lighter and cheaper. Quality is similar.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah... I just got the fidanza and frankly I can barely tell it's lighter...

the lighter the better. the fidanza is like 7lbs and it has a replaceable cast iron friction surface... so it's light like aluminum (cuz it is) and grips well like cast iron (cuz it is)...

Overall happy with it but again... not really all that easy to tell the difference... of course I hadn't driven my civic in a while when I did the flywheel so I might not be remembering how it was before.

 

FYI: Clutchmasters flywheels are made by fidanza...

 

Check out the Sponsor Marketplace Performance forum. There are currently a couple of specials for Fidanza flywheels priced between $185-$190 shipped. The Fidanza is a great choice and would be my recommendation (or Clutch Masters, which is basically the same piece).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NonovUrbizniz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah... I just got the fidanza and frankly I can barely tell it's lighter...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

What did you have in their before? My 94CX stock flywheel is only a few pounds lighter than my stock 89 CRX Si, and I can totally tell the difference when shifting...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94eg! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What did you have in their before? My 94CX stock flywheel is only a few pounds lighter than my stock 89 CRX Si, and I can totally tell the difference when shifting...</TD></TR></TABLE>

i second that.. how could you not tell the difference? the factory one is around 18lbs. you have to hit the gas a lot harder from a dead stop with a lightened flywheel as opposed to the stocker, but once your rollin vtec pulls a lot harder. Don't know if i'd go with a zex flywheel though, but thats just my opinion!!!

oem b16 flywheel on left, fidanza 7.5lb on the right

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NonovUrbizniz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah... I just got the fidanza and frankly I can barely tell it's lighter...

Overall happy with it but again... not really all that easy to tell the difference... of course I hadn't driven my civic in a while when I did the flywheel so I might not be remembering how it was before.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I hate to be the antiricer once again, but a lightweight flywheel isn't a mod that you should necessarilly look into if you don't road race or autocross your car. It's not really a modification that helps a lot on the street because you use more gas to get it started down low - thus losing mileage - and it has the unfortunate probability of dropping you further out of your powerband when you shift like a normal person - i.e. 95% of the time.

Now if you road race or autocross, this can be invaluable as you can transition from steady to full throttle and back again much more smoothly and precisely as well as rev-match and heel-toe quicker. At the end of the day, there's probably a better $200 modification that you can find that doesn't involve pulling your transmission off.

Just my experienced, educated $.02 .

 

actually... Archidictus i partially agree and Also wish to chime in. By adding a lightened flywheel free's up paracitic loss . which is where you get your power from. that helps the engine when normal driving. i noticed an improvement when i installed one on my street VW i drive. now you can go too light with flywheels and it will be horrifingly bad but a balanced flywheel that is lightened a few pounds is always a nice upgrade piece.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I hate to be the antiricer once again, but a lightweight flywheel isn't a mod that you should necessarilly look into if you don't road race or autocross your car. It's not really a modification that helps a lot on the street because you use more gas to get it started down low - thus losing mileage - and it has the unfortunate probability of dropping you further out of your powerband when you shift like a normal person - i.e. 95% of the time.

Now if you road race or autocross, this can be invaluable as you can transition from steady to full throttle and back again much more smoothly and precisely as well as rev-match and heel-toe quicker. At the end of the day, there's probably a better $200 modification that you can find that doesn't involve pulling your transmission off.

Just my experienced, educated $.02 .</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your argument is well put (though I'm a bit unconvinced regarding the fuel economy issue). However, in my opinion, there's also a large element of personal preference involved with this modification. I never had the opportunity to road race or autocross my car, nor has my brother (at least not yet). However, we both strongly prefer the driving experience provided by a very lightweight flywheel such as Fidanza's. Indeed, it's not ideal for everyone and isn't something I'd necessarily do unless it was time to replace the clutch anyway, but for some individuals it may still be worthwhile from an enjoyment standpoint, even if they don't race recreationally or competitively.

Also, I think that it goes a long way to demonstrate just how subjective this particular modification can be, since we both appear to have extended experience with such flywheels, but probably don't have the same personal preferences towards them. That being said, it's always good to hear from all sides when considering something such as this.

 

As I mentioned I haven't driven the car in a while so the difference is hard to tell... I don't really remember how fast or slow the car was... It's definately noticable when you first get going in first as you have to give it more gas but not that much...

As far as whether I auto-x or road race... no but this is my second car so that's basically how I'm driving it for the most part anyway... and when I am just driving around normal it hasn't affected the drivability negatively at all..

I just didn't get a chance to drive the car before I installed the flywheel too much because it wasn't registered for a while...

I actually got on the highway behind my buddy in his 70 impala and were always getting on it from 20-80 or so and he's usually WAY in front of me which wasn't the case this time... but again it's hard to guage since I haven't been driving this car...

It seems like a rocket ship compared to the 05 legacy wagon (base not gt) that I have been driving...

 

I didn't want to come off sounding like no one should ever add this to their car, but in my personal vehicles, I'm not doing so unless I plan to extensively track the vehicle. Nothing's cuter than rolling up to a stoplight with your 12.7 : 1 compression GSR hatchback and realizing when you go to take off that your car shut off as you were coasting because it slowed down too hard .

Just personal experience, fellas. Happy modding .

 

The only form of racing that I perform is Auto Cross... So I suppose a Lightweight Flywheel would benefit me very well.

I think the Set-Up will be quite nice once I get it boosting... I'm wondering how it will handle until then with my basically stock Z6

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didn't want to come off sounding like no one should ever add this to their car, but in my personal vehicles, I'm not doing so unless I plan to extensively track the vehicle. Nothing's cuter than rolling up to a stoplight with your 12.7 : 1 compression GSR hatchback and realizing when you go to take off that your car shut off as you were coasting because it slowed down too hard .

Just personal experience, fellas. Happy modding .</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL... No you're totally right... I was actually thinking about not doing it because my friend has a 90 gti 16v that he put a stock shaved flywheel in and it freaking dies left and right... he's gotta heel toe on the street to keep it running in certain cases...

I was expecting some loss of drivability for the benifits... but I was suprised when the drivability is fine other than the initial getting used to bumping the throttle more to get it going off the line.

I got it more because I had some extra money and was planning on changing out the trans and clutch anyway...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your argument is well put (though I'm a bit unconvinced regarding the fuel economy issue). </TD></TR></TABLE>

A flywheel is an energy capacitor. The heavier a flywheel is, the more energy it stores at a given speed. An 18lb flywheel stores quite a bit more engergy at 750rpms than a 7lb unit. This is one of the big reasons that street cars must leave the line at such low rpms for best resuts. With yoru 7lb flywheel installed, once you go to leave the line, that stored engery is no longer waiting to help accelerate the car. Now you need ot compensate for this w/ added combustion. I can't say how badly it would effect your fuel economy, but it sure will make a difference (especially in stop & go traffic).

 

Is your avatar a dude moshing?

 

well just for my sake i guess . I have a 99.5 2.0 and i have a custom built tranny that i built for it out of a 1.8t and then it has the 2.0 4.25 final drive and 5th gear and then a VR6 sport clutch and a G60 Carrado Lightened and balanced flywheel. now this flywheel isnt no 6-7 pounds. it's around 12 but compared to the 20 ish + pound stocker it's a great difference and really livened up the motor a great deal.

so i would do the upgraded flywheel if it's time to do a clutch and if it was me i wouldnt go insanely aggressive on the light side unless it's a full race car.

just my .02 cents

-CJ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94eg! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A flywheel is an energy capacitor. The heavier a flywheel is, the more energy it stores at a given speed. An 18lb flywheel stores quite a bit more engergy at 750rpms than a 7lb unit. This is one of the big reasons that street cars must leave the line at such low rpms for best resuts. With yoru 7lb flywheel installed, once you go to leave the line, that stored engery is no longer waiting to help accelerate the car. Now you need ot compensate for this w/ added combustion. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is more or less true, but you neglect to include that the additional energy which the heavier flywheel is storing and/or releasing had to come from somewhere, and that source is, as you phrased it, "added combustion". What the final effect of these differences in flywheel weight, rotational inertia, etc., is on overall fuel economy is almost certainly not something that can be determined without actual comparative testing, but I would be willing to speculate that the effect is not terribly significant either way.

 

dude,
for sohc
both ZEX and clutchmasters have the EXACT SAME flywheel,
made for them by fidanza

its around 7lbs or so...
saw some places list it at 6.5 some at 7.5
some at 8..
its just varyations in the reporting of the weight, but the products are all the same
(i'm guessing they all have the same 7.5lb fw just different scales).

sorry if someone already mentioned this.