Alum. vs. Steel Flywheel

[macx]

Having had an aluminum flywheel on a thoroughly hopped up 426 hemi, here's my take on it - especially the inertia thing.

If you have a relatively lower torque engine
and/or fairly wide spread gears (like with a 3.xx rear instead of a deeper 4.xx rear), you may want the greater stored energy of a heavy flywheel to carry the momentum thru the upshift so your engine doesn't bog.

If you've got the torque and/or the deeper/closer gears where you don't need that extra rpm inertia/momentum, a lighter flywheel will allow the engine to rev/accelerate faster.

A lighter flywheel doesn't give you extra power, it just allows your existing
power to rev faster.

 

[maverick0716]

I bought a 10.5" flywheel from a mustang in the scrapyard and got it resurfaced. I also went with a Centerforce II clutch. On a street car I don't think an aluminum flywheel would be worth the cost.

 

[STANGateURlilSS]

On A Street Car.. A Stock Iron.. Or Billet Steel Flywheel Is The Way To Go.. Unless Your Racing.. There Really Is No Need For An Alum Flywheel..

And As Stated Before 300 Bucks On A Flywheel Is Not Gonna Make You Too Happy.. And For Your Mods.. I Woudl Just Go Get A Newer Stock 10.5" Flywheel And Have It Resurfaced And Run A King Cobra Or Ford Hd Or Spec Stage 1 Or 2 Clutch.. No Need For A Alum Flywheel

 

[Euphoric306]

wow... its amazing to see people who think that getting an aluminum flywheel is gonna make u accelerate faster.....

think of it this way.... it may save a few pounds off the weight of your car, and off the weight of you drivetrain, but the only way a lightweight flywheel will affect your performance is when the clutch isn't fully engaged... like when taking off (more chance of stalling because aluminum FW carries less inertia and won't recooperate the engine) or when just revving your engine

when the clutch IS fully engaged, the engine, FW, is all directly hooked up to your driveshaft, differential, axles, wheels, tires, and in turn, the entire weight of your car. just because you put one little piece lighter weight, its still pushing your entire car, and isn't going to make you accelerate faster by any practical measurable amount.

as for the 2mph gain... track conditions, tire temperature, ambient temperature, shifting speed, gasoline impurities.. there's no way to ensure that the flywheel alone caused that gain.

 

[90mustangGT]

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. 5-6-7K rpm is really spinning fast, moving a weight in a circle is sill moving weight, and when you have to spin it that fast, in a short amount of time, that takes a lot of energy. Energy that could go into the wheels.

A heavier flyweel will store energy, but then again it will take more energy to get it moving. So, when you launch the heavier will definatly be an advantage, but after that, it's just going to be a burden.

If your launching big slicks, full drag suspension, I can see where steel would come into an advantage, but on Drag radials or on street tires, you don't need the help with launch and it's just going to be more drag.

 

[5spd GT]

wow... its amazing to see people who think that getting an aluminum flywheel is gonna make u accelerate faster.....

think of it this way.... it may save a few pounds off the weight of your car, and off the weight of you drivetrain, but the only way a lightweight flywheel will affect your performance is when the clutch isn't fully engaged... like when taking off (more chance of stalling because aluminum FW carries less inertia and won't recooperate the engine) or when just revving your engine

when the clutch IS fully engaged, the engine, FW, is all directly hooked up to your driveshaft, differential, axles, wheels, tires, and in turn, the entire weight of your car. just because you put one little piece lighter weight, its still pushing your entire car, and isn't going to make you accelerate faster by any practical measurable amount.

as for the 2mph gain... track conditions, tire temperature, ambient temperature, shifting speed, gasoline impurities.. there's no way to ensure that the flywheel alone caused that gain.

My thinking exactly...I get the same thinking with the aluminum driveshaft as well. Guess what? I have one of those and think the same thing. No difference except less dead weight and better balance