Hey everyone, I posted awhile back and found out I could get a SM Flywheel for my '93 Vette and would perform better than the aluminum. The GM part number 10125379 I was told to use from GM parts direct but I found another flywheel for '93-97 camaro part # 88990394. This one looks like it lists for only $78.99 if you do a search on google for that part #. Does anyone know if this flywheel will work the same as the other SM and just take off the .090" to get to the correct thickness?

 

95 LT-1...................

 

make sure it's the FW for the LT1, and not the V6.

Also, be ready for additional noise from the ZF.

The heavier DM absorbs lotsa noises that come from the ZF.

Also, get them matched balanced or you WILL have a vibration.

 

Cool, it's for the LT1. I'll have to take it in and get it ground and match balanced to my DM when I get it out.

 

I'd also strongly recommend a sprung clutch disc.

As bogus warns - be prepared for much more noise. I have a single mass setup (LT1 Camaro flywheel with an unsprung clutch disc) on my 90 and it is much noisier than stock.

I am not sure if this is an essential, but you may need to machine the flywheel some. Perhaps someone else here can clarify.

 

See my homepage for part numbers used on my conversion...

Good Luck.

 

Where can you get a sprung clutch disk? Every disk I've seen for the corvette doesn't have springs.

 

Here is the rest of the story:

1) I will warn again about noise. There is a resonance effect that will make this thing a pain in the *** between 1500 and 2000 RPM.

2) The LT1 flywheel will need to be cut down .090.

3) The friction disk to use is the Camaro LT1 part.

4) The pressure plate must be Corvette.

5) All pressure plates are made by Valero.

6) SMFW MUST be match balanced. This is where the new flywheel is balanced to match the out-of-balance condition on the old flywheel.

7) Check the C4 Tech FAQ for more details.

 

Has anyone just scuffed the factory flywheel and installed a new clutch?

I have 110,000 on the 94 I just bought. Im sure im on borrowed time with the clutch.

Everything is smooth though, but I have heard you cannot cut a factory FW.

Any thoughts. Or, just suck it up and drop for new FW when the time comes?

 

I just recently put in a Camaro LT1 flywheel with a Mcleod sprung clutch disc(for a Camaro) and a new LT4 pressure plate.

While there is some noise, it is not that bad and you really have to listen for it to notice. It is more noticeable when the engine is under a heavy load. My tranny is a blue tag though, and I have read that the black tag trannies are a bit noisier.

For those that don't know, the noise is actually gear rattle in the ZF6. The dual mass flywheel is designed to minimize the fluctuation of forces going to the transmission keeping the countershaft gears in the tranny from making the "rocks in a can" noise. Those with a rougher idle due to an aftermarket cam will probably experience more noise.

Look at bottom of this page for a better explanation:
http://www.zfdoc.com/faq.htm

As far as balancing goes, all LT1 engines(camaro, C4, etc.) left the factory with a balance to a certain spec. That spec allowed GM to make their flywheels balance close enough so that they didn't have to match it to an engine. So if you use the GM Camaro flywheel, you don't have to match balance. The flywheels do have holes around the edges for counterweights to fine tune the balance, but it probably won't be necesary.

I didn't bother match balancing my camaro flywheel, and I think the engine is actually a little smoother now. I had a small vibration that I only noticed in my rear view mirror and that is now gone.

As far as driveability, the clutch pedal is very nice and I have absolutely no clutch chatter. You would think it's a factory setup (which to some extent it is). The flywheel still has enough weight to be able to get the car rolling by just letting out the clutch, but is a lot lighter for slightly better acceleration.

If anyone is interested in doing the swap, I recommend you go to No Go's website and read his page. His parts list is accurate and recommended. It sure did make my swap a much easier task and now I am ready for a top end replacement. Thanks, Tim!

 

I guess I have another problem then. I think I'm gonna be stuck runnin with an unsprung clutch disk cause I have a '93 Corvette, so black tag ZF which is different disks from the blue tag which is interchangeable with the Camaro, or that's what it looks like to me after reading some other postings, any other ideas or am I stuck runnin with the unsprung disk?

 

The only difference between blue and black tag trannies is noise. They are were just internally built a bit different, but they use the same clutch components. Get a camaro sprung disc and you will be ok. Do not use a solid disc with a SM flywheel.

 

Not true the difence is the TO bearing the P/P and clutch plate are the same. Call Carolina clutch or Spec to confirm but I am 90% sure because I bought a 90 set up for my 94 and the only part I changed was the TO bearing

 

I was wondering about whether or not if I should use a sprung clutch disc on my conversion. I am swapping my 91 L98 for a SBC with a 2 piece rear main seal and I will be deleting the DMF for a SMF. And I was told to use an unsprung clutch disc.

But just as you recommended, I don't think an SMF with an unsprung clutch disc is a good combo.

 

Hey Andy,
turns out my vibration may be traceable to a presure plate being out of balance - not the flywheel. Do you have any idea if 20 grams out is enough to cause the vibration? I assume it is!

Carl Johansson

 

I put a steel SMFW in my 94. Got it and the clutch kit from Carolina Clutch. Set up works great, engine seems to spin up much quicker and keep the rpm's available.

As someone said earlier, you only hear it if you know to listen for it. Not as light as the aluminum so that may be why it doesn't really make noise. I had to stay with steel for the NCCC class I run auto-x in.

 

When I had my head/cam car, my brother-in-law did it by hand when he installed an OEM replacement clutch (The Last Detail). I never had a problem with that setup prior to stroking the motor and going with a McLeod Street Twin.

Mike

 

I have had experience with both the sprung and unsprung disks. I have an Fidanza alumninum flywheel and a spec stage three disk. The best thing to do for the noise is to run down to your local BMW dealer and get that Castrol TWS. I had an unsprung hub disk in my car and could not stand the noise! I switched the disk to a stage 3 which is sprung. It was a lot better, then I replaced my tranny fluid with the TWS and that cured my problem. Almost no noise. After a while of driving the fluid breaks down and the noise starts to come up. Still nothing you can't handle.

Oh yeah also, get the flywheel match balanced... you will be glad you did. Mine was a mile off.

Hope this helps!