Is it o.k. to use a stock clutch with a lighter flywheel? It's nothing pro or real light and it's only 12lbs (ACT Streetlight). I was gonna look into a ACT stage I or II clutch but I don't want to buy one if it's not "needed". The clutch barely has over 20k miles and I don't want to replace it yet so I just wanted to know.

Btw, we're talking about a stock D16z6/5-spd tranny with basic bolt-ons. It won't see some huge changes for awhile.

 

good question, i'm also thinking of a lightweight flywheel. I am rebuilding a zc motor and i'm thinking of getting a lighter flywheel, maybe a new clutch. somebody answer the man!

 

While the lighter flywheel might slow the car down depending on intended applications, stock clutch will be fine.

 

It can slow the car down? Maybe I took that the wrong way but I always thought the car would "gain" power from the free'd up horsepower given by the lighter flywheel vs the heavy stock.

 

Well... every time your car moves, it has to move every part of the drivetrain. The flywheel is part of the drivetrain - as are the wheels. Spin a lazy susan - pretty easy. put some bricks of the lazy susan - more difficult to get up to speed. The loaded lazy susan takes longer to get up to speed, but can reach about the same speed. The loaded lazy susan also keeps spinning longer. How does this apply? Lighter flywheel gives better response - quicker launches. It also means you must shift faster beuse the revs will drop quicker. The reason the flywheel has mass is to keep the engine spinning smoohly - pistons only push vertically, the flywheel helps turn the vertical motions into a circular motion. A lighter flywheel will affect the idle. It will not idle as smooth.

Experts please give input.

 

yes, I think "freeing up" hp is a good way to put it. Increase responsiveness = decreased drivability in this case. lighter wheels should result in similar advantages to a lesser degree without the disadvantages.

 

Thinking about it some more... lighter flywheel may not give you as good a launch if you want to drop the clutch with the revs up... engine may stall or bog down... I think the biggest advantage with a light flywheel is you should get better response when accelerating. If you wanted to have better passing ability on the road, perhaps. Probably would help when driving windy roads too when you are constantly accelerating out of corners. Of course I don't know any of this for fact, just thinking and writing. Maybe somebody who actually understands will chime in soon

 

I bet if you had a super heavy flywheel and you got the revs up before dropping the clutch, you would really be able to lay down some rubber. wouldn't be fun to drive I thin. Would be harder to stall - good to learn to drive stick with

 

Basically what you've said so far is my understanding of it as well, but I agree an expert opinion would be nice. I've never driven a car with a lighter flywheel so it'll be interesting when I take it out on the road. Good thing is if I don't like it I can always just sell the flywheel and put the stock back in.

 

must be no experts here?

 

an expert already gave his input, you didn't like my answer??????

What is the intended application????

NA setups.

Drag racing, go heavy/stock, road racing go light, autox go midweight, 10-12 lbs.

All assuming you have traction, 7500 rpm launched on 15 lb stock CX flywheel, 20x8x14 MT's at 12 psi.....on ZEX @ 75 shot. You have to get the car moving, thus the heavy flywheel. Once moving the lighter flywheel will help, but most times not enough to overcome the better launch with the heavy flywheel.