lightweight flywheel benefits?
03-06-2012, 12:27 PM
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lightweight flywheel benefits? Like the title says what are the benefits? SPecifically to a daily driven street car that will see the track often?
03-06-2012, 07:57 PM
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I was having this same discussion today.....the only benefit I see is that it drops about 20 lbs. Im running aluminum now and it is much lighter. Will your car rev faster? sure with it in neutral, but who cares? With it in gear I dont see accelerating a 3400lb car vs a 3380 lb car making much difference unless you race.
On the negative your car will require much more finesse to get it going from a stand still. You have to bring the RPMs up much higher when stopped on a hill. I havent stalled a car in 10 years but did when I first got aluminum. Not sure I would do it again. Its not unbearable...but noticeably more difficult to start moving.
Daily Driver = NO
Streep Strip = Sure
On the negative your car will require much more finesse to get it going from a stand still. You have to bring the RPMs up much higher when stopped on a hill. I havent stalled a car in 10 years but did when I first got aluminum. Not sure I would do it again. Its not unbearable...but noticeably more difficult to start moving.
Daily Driver = NO
Streep Strip = Sure
03-07-2012, 03:24 PM
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I literally noticed no difference going from an ls6 clutchd stock flywheel to a 15lb flywheel w/ a diamond stage 2 clutch. I use very little gas to start, absolutely no more than 1500 rpm if starting on an incline. If I was getting a new flywheel I would definately go with a lighter one, it could only help.
03-07-2012, 04:30 PM
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It does help with acceleration but does hurt getting a heavy vehicle from a dead stop to a rolling speed especially one with soft torque to begin with. I have absolutely seen them improve performance though. I use to sponsor a circle track racer who would cheat his *** off and he ran a lightened flywheel for years. He avoided getting caught by running a heavy flywheel until they checked flywheels out at the track which was usually early in the season. After that, he would swap it out of his lighter flywheel and kick some *** the rest of the season. He also had a lightened clutch pressure plate he would swap out depending on the track and who was racing him that event.
03-07-2012, 09:34 PM
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Fwiw.. I am very particular to say the least with what goes on my car and the slightest changes in drivetrain components, exhaust, etc. Anything to do with noise, vibration I am a stickler. Like I said I couldn't tell a difference with my 15lb flywheel (14lbs 10oz to be exact) in any way shape or form with daily driving.
Aside from the point made above with the loss of extra weight you miss out on some inertia from getting that stock heavy flywheel going off the line, but if you're like me you're not doing any 6k side steps anytime soon, so I can just launch at a higher rpm to compensate for this.
To sum it up, lighter = faster.
Aside from the point made above with the loss of extra weight you miss out on some inertia from getting that stock heavy flywheel going off the line, but if you're like me you're not doing any 6k side steps anytime soon, so I can just launch at a higher rpm to compensate for this.
To sum it up, lighter = faster.
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03-07-2012, 09:53 PM
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Fwiw.. I am very particular to say the least with what goes on my car and the slightest changes in drivetrain components, exhaust, etc. Anything to do with noise, vibration I am a stickler. Like I said I couldn't tell a difference with my 15lb flywheel (14lbs 10oz to be exact) in any way shape or form with daily driving.
Aside from the point made above with the loss of extra weight you miss out on some inertia from getting that stock heavy flywheel going off the line, but if you're like me you're not doing any 6k side steps anytime soon, so I can just launch at a higher rpm to compensate for this.
To sum it up, lighter = faster.
Aside from the point made above with the loss of extra weight you miss out on some inertia from getting that stock heavy flywheel going off the line, but if you're like me you're not doing any 6k side steps anytime soon, so I can just launch at a higher rpm to compensate for this.
To sum it up, lighter = faster.
If it's heavier than OEM, then you're offsetting the weight loss from the flywheel.
03-07-2012, 10:33 PM
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I've in the past with old school chevys had lightweight flywheels on my setups and really could tell a difference when driving the car over a heavy 30# flywheel. It just seemed more responsive all through the rpm range.
So on my LSx swap into my 79 Z28, I opted for an Xact pro lite billet flywheel which is supposed to weigh like 12# or so. I don't have it running or driving yet, so I cannot comment on how it works, but I am sure its gonna only help with acceleration. If the car is geared right, it will take off the line under normal driving just fine.
So on my LSx swap into my 79 Z28, I opted for an Xact pro lite billet flywheel which is supposed to weigh like 12# or so. I don't have it running or driving yet, so I cannot comment on how it works, but I am sure its gonna only help with acceleration. If the car is geared right, it will take off the line under normal driving just fine.
03-08-2012, 11:45 AM
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You may also want to consider most aftermarket clutch/pressure plate combos are heavier than stock. I'm in the middle of installing a Monster level 1 with a 18# flywheel and the assembled pp/clutch disc/fw is only 4#s lighter than the stock assembly, if I had gone with the 28# flywheel it would have been 6#s heavier than stock. just something to think about I can't comment on actual performance benefits at this moment.
03-08-2012, 12:01 PM
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After mine was installed it felt like it revved faster through the gears but the biggest difference I can feel is when I bang 2nd gear the tires chirp instead of breaking loose.
03-08-2012, 12:41 PM
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Less weight on the drive train is always a Plus IMO. It's like discussing the benefits of a light weight pulley IMO.
How so? any track times to back that up or just butt dyno talking?
03-08-2012, 02:49 PM
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Talk to anyone who has a pretty full weight car that can hook at the track it causes the car to tend to bog down more because its light weight. The heavier fly wheel helps keep the motor spinning off the line because of the centrifugal force. I learn this after I bought mine....
03-08-2012, 03:18 PM
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Talk to anyone who has a pretty full weight car that can hook at the track it causes the car to tend to bog down more because its light weight. The heavier fly wheel helps keep the motor spinning off the line because of the centrifugal force. I learn this after I bought mine....
It's safe to say that the initial energy stored in the heavier flywheel will provide more stored energy upon launch and make the car hit harder on gear shifts, BUUUUT, is this enough to compensate for the extra energy that the engine uses to spin the heavier flywheel while accelerating???
I wish someone had back to back testing. I'll go back to the track as soon as our 1/8th opens (which would likely be more advantagious to a heavier flywheel) and see what happens.
03-08-2012, 04:04 PM
#18
I've used a Fidanza LS2 13lb flywheel on my LS7 clutch for about 6 years. First 4 years were with a built LS1, last 2 years with a built LS3. RPM's climb faster but also fall faster, you might need to work on the idle tune especially if you're cammed. Just like anything, you'd get used to it on the street. Don't have any hills near me so I can't say how much effort on hills.
Interesting info here, especially in the PDFs:
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/flywhee...heel_works.htm
Interesting info here, especially in the PDFs:
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/flywhee...heel_works.htm
03-08-2012, 06:41 PM
#19
I think it's safe to say everyone understands the concept, we were interested in actual results which you gave your opinion on, but now are referring to what other people say.
It's safe to say that the initial energy stored in the heavier flywheel will provide more stored energy upon launch and make the car hit harder on gear shifts, BUUUUT, is this enough to compensate for the extra energy that the engine uses to spin the heavier flywheel while accelerating???
I wish someone had back to back testing. I'll go back to the track as soon as our 1/8th opens (which would likely be more advantagious to a heavier flywheel) and see what happens.
It's safe to say that the initial energy stored in the heavier flywheel will provide more stored energy upon launch and make the car hit harder on gear shifts, BUUUUT, is this enough to compensate for the extra energy that the engine uses to spin the heavier flywheel while accelerating???
I wish someone had back to back testing. I'll go back to the track as soon as our 1/8th opens (which would likely be more advantagious to a heavier flywheel) and see what happens.
