Flywheel Help (which One)

[slow89]

Ok so im going with a mcleod super street clutch for my fox (gt40 setup, custom cam, etc) should be right about at 320rwhp and a drag racing setup. Ok so what is the difference between the ford racing billet steel flywheel and the ford racing cast iron one. Besides the obvious is there really a reason to spend the extra $100 and get the billet steel one. Also will this flywheel even work with my clutch? Don’t really want to go with the steel mcleod flywheel because that one is 309.99 lol

cast iron ford racing $128.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-flywheel-8195-50oz.html
Billet steel ford racing $229.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-steel-flywheel-8195-6bolt.html
Lightened steel mcleod 309.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/mcleod-steel-flywheel-6bolt-8695.html

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Ok so im going with a mcleod super street clutch for my fox (gt40 setup, custom cam, etc) should be right about at 320rwhp and a drag racing setup. Ok so what is the difference between the ford racing billet steel flywheel and the ford racing cast iron one. Besides the obvious is there really a reason to spend the extra $100 and get the billet steel one. Also will this flywheel even work with my clutch? Don’t really want to go with the steel mcleod flywheel because that one is 309.99 lol

cast iron ford racing $128.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/ford-flywheel-8195-50oz.html
Billet steel ford racing $229.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/frpp-steel-flywheel-8195-6bolt.html
Lightened steel mcleod 309.99http://www.americanmuscle.com/mcleod-steel-flywheel-6bolt-8695.html

It's all about the one being SFI rated to spin at XYZ RPM (usually over 10k).
A cast iron flywheel won't meet that spec, so It's cheaper. For a street car, or even a mild combo car, I'd have no problem w/ a cast iron flywheel. If you are gonna race it, and if you are gonna put either some serious power (over 400 WHP) or some very high RPM's (over 7k), then it may be a prudent investment to buy the steel unit.
A lightened flywheel is built to reduce rotational mass, the benefit being the engine will rev faster.

 

[rbohm]

mike nailed it nicely.

 

[stykthyn]

I found a fantastic deal on a steel unit and for street use I feel ZERO difference. If you are building a mild hci for weekend/pleasure I would stick with the stock flywheel.

 

[jrichker]

Heavy car = heavy flywheel. The flywheel stores rotational energy to get your lead sled off the line without bogging. Use a heavy flywheel when all your power is in the upper RPM range and you want some kick when you dump the clutch at part throttle.

Lightweight car = lightweight flywheel. Excellent idea for a car with a stripped out interior and lightened using all the tricks. Keep in mind that when you dump the clutch, the RPM's will drop if you don't have lots of power to keep them up. Lightweight flywheels may bog off the line, but are great once you get rolling. They are the best for road race type applications where the engine is constantly running up & down the RPM range. . Less rotational mass means the engine will accelerate and decelerate quicker.