I want to know is it really worth it to get a lightweight flywheel? I am in the process of changing the clutch and wondering. 250.00 sure is alot to spend to learn something. For my broke *** anyway.

 

once you get a flywheel, youll never go back to stock. i love mine. cusco 8lbs.

 

I think what you need to ask yourself is what do you use this car for? A lightened flywheel does three things: 1. reduces overall weight of vehicle. 2. reduces weight at crankshaft, therefore SHOULD gain some hp (especially at peak rpm) 3. reduces rotating mass at crankshaft, which WILL increase the rate at which the engine can gain rpm (it revs quicker). It also has a detrimental effect on drivability, i.e.- low rpm, low speed driving; you will most miss a reg. flywheel in stop and go traffic. So, if you do alot of cummuting, say no. If you want strictly performance gains, say yes. What I do recommend you do, no matter what flywheel you choose to run, is have the whole clutch/flywheel assembly balanced, before you install it. This will do more longevity of that engine than most things you can do for it. Balanced rotating mass is a beautiful thing.....

 

you can always have one lightened..

I had one at 12lbs.. and loved it..
and 12lb is considered safe....stock is 19

 

How much dose it cost to get one lightened??

 

1. reduces overall weight of vehicle. 2. reduces weight at crankshaft, therefore SHOULD gain some hp (especially at peak rpm) 3. reduces rotating mass at crankshaft, which WILL increase the rate at which the engine can gain rpm (it revs quicker).

That is pretty much all you need to know

 

I did mine for $100..

 

How much did you have it lightened??

 

from 19 to 12lbs as I said up above..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Outsane &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had one at 12lbs.. and loved it..
and 12lb is considered safe....stock is 19</TD></TR></TABLE>

edit: ****, beat me to it

 

Thanks for the help guys. What area did they machine off to drop that much weight??

 

drilled holes in the flywheel surface area... alot like a drilled brake rotor...
I never slipped a clutch after wards...

 

ok I was kidding..
on the opposite side of the surface area.. thats the only place to take off weight..

flattened most of it.. and took a little extra off the outside... is the outer most wieght that makes a difference when things are spinning..

 

What size and how many holes were they? The reason i ask is that I am a machnist and I will just do it myself on a rotary table

 

I guess my typing skills were not fast enough. Thanks for the info.

 

you might as well get a good flywheel while you're in the process of changing your clutch, and btw, what kinda clutch are you getting, if the clutch is real harsh, it will eat away at your flywheel (stock), so it would be better to get an aftermarket fly anyways.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blueHwrench &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. reduces overall weight of vehicle.

This is not relevant your talking about a few pounds at the crank, but you migh be talking about how it makes the vehicle appear lighter to the engine.

2. reduces weight at crankshaft, therefore SHOULD gain some hp (especially at peak rpm)
A light weight FW will NOT give you any higher peak HP or Torque
3. reduces rotating mass at crankshaft, which WILL increase the rate at which the engine can gain rpm (it revs quicker).
You said three things but they all are the same.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Simply PUT the advantage of a Lightweight FW is Acceleration. Bottom line. the Car is able to accelerate quicker. This is the purpose of a Lighter FW in a performance arena. The Lighter the FW the Quicker the Acceperation. and the less drive able the car becomes on the Street (Stop and go Traffic)
put it this way many people will say they enjoy the light FW and their FW is 6 pounds and it is totally streetable, but the fact is that it is a USER PREFERENCE.
Since there is less store energy in the FW the RPMS will fall off as quickly as they increase.
Decrease in fuel Economy, more wear and tear on the drive train due to lack of consistency. I enjoy my 10.5 pound FW it is a dream to drive and not too much different in drivability.


BTW this has been discussed in the tech forum it's a good thread on the subject