Fly Wheel question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
Fly Wheel question
I have heard from a few friends that switching to an aluminum fly wheel is a bad idea because you lose alot of torque. I guess my question is to those of you who have switched, any big diffrence?
I know the engine revs faster with aluminum but is the loss of torque that big or cause you any problems at all?
I know the engine revs faster with aluminum but is the loss of torque that big or cause you any problems at all?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 3
From: Chapel Hill NC
You won't lose torque, you'll gain it. Energy not needed to turn the flywheel is available to turn the rear wheels. You'll also lighten the car by about 12 lbs - easier to accelerate, easier too stop.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,396
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
As said above, you don't lose torque, but some drivers may perceive a loss of torque because the lighter flywheel allows the engine to "bog" more easily upon clutch engagement when driven easy. This is because the heavier stock flywheel's inertia prevents the engine from slowing down much when you release the clutch. (That same inertia also slows down the engine's ability to increase rpms, which is why you're thinking about going to a lighter flywheel in the first place.)
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 3
From: Chapel Hill NC
Originally Posted by Duck916
As said above, you don't lose torque, but some drivers may perceive a loss of torque because the lighter flywheel allows the engine to "bog" more easily upon clutch engagement when driven easy. This is because the heavier stock flywheel's inertia prevents the engine from slowing down much when you release the clutch. (That same inertia also slows down the engine's ability to increase rpms, which is why you're thinking about going to a lighter flywheel in the first place.)
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,396
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
Originally Posted by tcmc5
IMHO there's no downside to this mod (other than cost) unless, perhaps, you're drag racing where the greater inertia of the stock flywheel may enable better launches with slicks. I don't drag race my car but I drive it very aggressively on the track and pretty aggressively on the street and there is no "bogging" at all. As for accelleration, the lighter flywheel is a definite plus and clearly superior to the stock unit which is twice the weight.
