Lightweight Flywheel Recommendations
Lightweight Flywheel Recommendations So, I’m in the middle of my swap/build, and it’s time to buy a flywheel. I was wondering if you guys could make some recommendations.
Background info:
2001 BMW 540i Sedan (~3800 lbs)
2003 Iron LQ4 6.0 block
Stock bottom end
317 heads milled .026” to 66cc chambers for raised compression
Yellow LS6 Springs
Stock LS2 cam out of a 2005 Corvette
Some sort of custom headers (modified shorties)
F-body accessories, LS1 intake manifold
Stock rebuilt T56
3.15 BMW M5 rear end
Diamond Clutch, Stage 2, brand new (off a member on here)
My goal is to have a fast revving, responsive car that is fun to drive with a light flywheel. However, I don’t want something that has revs drop too much between shifts, and I don’t want to have trouble getting the car going on the street as I live in the city. By no means am I wary of using the throttle to get the car moving, I just don’t want like a 12lb flywheel or something insane like that.
Car will probably see the track once a year (if that). More of a comfortable road trip highway bruiser.
I did some preliminary research, and found that many members are happy with their lightweight flywheels. I obviously don’t want stock weight flywheel, and I was reading that the 18lb flywheel is a great aftermarket choice for most people. I think that’s a great choice, but here’s my question:
Do Monster, TDP, Diamond, Tick, etc sell flywheels individually, since I already have a clutch?
Would you recommend going with a diamond flywheel since I have a brand new Diamond Clutch going in?
Is there any cheaper alternative to the vendors listed above? Spec, maybe?
Any flywheels I should watch out for or avoid?
Thanks everyone.
Background info:
2001 BMW 540i Sedan (~3800 lbs)
2003 Iron LQ4 6.0 block
Stock bottom end
317 heads milled .026” to 66cc chambers for raised compression
Yellow LS6 Springs
Stock LS2 cam out of a 2005 Corvette
Some sort of custom headers (modified shorties)
F-body accessories, LS1 intake manifold
Stock rebuilt T56
3.15 BMW M5 rear end
Diamond Clutch, Stage 2, brand new (off a member on here)
My goal is to have a fast revving, responsive car that is fun to drive with a light flywheel. However, I don’t want something that has revs drop too much between shifts, and I don’t want to have trouble getting the car going on the street as I live in the city. By no means am I wary of using the throttle to get the car moving, I just don’t want like a 12lb flywheel or something insane like that.
Car will probably see the track once a year (if that). More of a comfortable road trip highway bruiser.
I did some preliminary research, and found that many members are happy with their lightweight flywheels. I obviously don’t want stock weight flywheel, and I was reading that the 18lb flywheel is a great aftermarket choice for most people. I think that’s a great choice, but here’s my question:
Do Monster, TDP, Diamond, Tick, etc sell flywheels individually, since I already have a clutch?
Would you recommend going with a diamond flywheel since I have a brand new Diamond Clutch going in?
Is there any cheaper alternative to the vendors listed above? Spec, maybe?
Any flywheels I should watch out for or avoid?
Thanks everyone.
With a car that heavy and a rear gear that high I would recommend a heavier, stock weight flywheel. Your engine will be more responsive with no load with the lighter flywheel. But it will also bog much easier because the lost rotating mass of the light weight flywheel. When launching the car it will be much more difficult to keep the engine up in its power band.
I highly recommend the Monster 28lb billet flywheel. They are very nice quality.
http://www.monsterclutches.com/shop/...8lbbillet.html
I highly recommend the Monster 28lb billet flywheel. They are very nice quality.
http://www.monsterclutches.com/shop/...8lbbillet.html
If you really think a lightweight flywheel is what you want for your set up, I would go with the Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel weights 12.5 and its not too expensive, about 350... I would go with that over that off-brand ebay flywheel
can you guys elaborate for me what's the relation between weight, gearing and flywheel decision? i'm a newb in this area. Thanks in advance
I have ls7 clutch with the heavy *** flywheel, i think they weigh around 25 pounds.
I have ls7 clutch with the heavy *** flywheel, i think they weigh around 25 pounds.
Last edited by raysadude; Jan 5, 2013 at 08:57 PM.
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Gear ratio comes into play because with a numerically higher gear ratio like 4.10 it requires less power to run the wheels because the added leverage of the 4.10 gear allowing the engine to stay in its power band. With a numerically lower gear like 3.15 it requires the engine to work harder to get the car rolling because the higher gear wants the engine to turn less RPM.
And the weight of the car causes everything to have to work harder to get it moving from a dead stop.
I hope that was clear as mud lol.
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Verdad Gallardo With a heavy flywheel spinning on the back of the crankshaft it will retain a lot of inertia. When an object is in motion it wants to stay in motion. So when you apply the clutch the heavy flywheel will turn that twisting motion into the drivetrain without bogging the engine down. With a light flywheel it will not make as much inertia and will be bogged down when applying the clutch.
Gear ratio comes into play because with a numerically higher gear ratio like 4.10 it requires less power to run the wheels because the added leverage of the 4.10 gear allowing the engine to stay in its power band. With a numerically lower gear like 3.15 it requires the engine to work harder to get the car rolling because the higher gear wants the engine to turn less RPM.
And the weight of the car causes everything to have to work harder to get it moving from a dead stop.
I hope that was clear as mud lol.
Gear ratio comes into play because with a numerically higher gear ratio like 4.10 it requires less power to run the wheels because the added leverage of the 4.10 gear allowing the engine to stay in its power band. With a numerically lower gear like 3.15 it requires the engine to work harder to get the car rolling because the higher gear wants the engine to turn less RPM.
And the weight of the car causes everything to have to work harder to get it moving from a dead stop.
I hope that was clear as mud lol.
so, is that why with the lightweight flywheel once you apply the clutch, the flywheel(which is lighter and has less inertia) will slow down faster than it would with the heavier flywheel and bog the engine?
Not sure if i get it right, but i'll try. Thanks for the explanation.
so, is that why with the lightweight flywheel once you apply the clutch, the flywheel(which is lighter and has less inertia) will slow down faster than it would with the heavier flywheel and bog the engine?
so, is that why with the lightweight flywheel once you apply the clutch, the flywheel(which is lighter and has less inertia) will slow down faster than it would with the heavier flywheel and bog the engine?
They're wonderful cars minus the somewhat unreliable and finicky engines. I was tired of worrying about potential problems with VANOS, timing chain guides, 1000 oil leaks from valve cover down to pan, and the inevitable cooling system failure.
The goal for this one is an extremely comfortable long distance cruiser that can lay the hurt on some unsuspecting cars, while staying bulletproof and reliable.
The goal for this one is an extremely comfortable long distance cruiser that can lay the hurt on some unsuspecting cars, while staying bulletproof and reliable.
Haha i hear ya bro, i traded my e36 m3 for the 540, met the guy in connecticut and drove back to oklahoma.
The minute i got in oklahoma, the fan clutch locked and the fan went boom...left a dent on my hood..
Still i miss the car alot, i drove all the way to california and back to oklahoma and it was the best trip ive had. Weird thing was the car gave me zero problem when we were on trip lol
The minute i got in oklahoma, the fan clutch locked and the fan went boom...left a dent on my hood..
Still i miss the car alot, i drove all the way to california and back to oklahoma and it was the best trip ive had. Weird thing was the car gave me zero problem when we were on trip lol
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Auckland, Nth Is, New Zealand.
I wouldn't think the engine efficiency loss w/ a heavier flywheel would really be worth the difference. And to answer the other question, Yes, there are many heavy flywheels made by various places. 25lb, 28lb & 30lb
I use the lightweight fly for most applications and it works great. When looking at rotating weight, you have to look at the weight of the clutch and flywheel. For example, a Diamond kit w/ light flywheel weighs 43lbs and a stock clutch/stock flywheel is 49lbs. 6lbs is barely noticable, as its only 12% less.
