question on lightweight flywheel
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 0
From: Brownsville Tx
question on lightweight flywheel
I've been thinking of upgrading my clutch in the near future, and I am considering installing a lightweight flywheel while im at it. Pretty much the only reason I want to do it is because I really like how the engine revs up and down so incredibly quick. It sounds like a race car and I think its just plain cool. Just wanted to hear from others who have or have had this, is there any kind of driveability issues that come with it? Is engine braking while driving on the street more pronounced? Is there less torque at very low rpm? Any other pro's or con's about doin this? Thanks!
-George
-George
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 125
From: laguna niguel ca
I've had two light flywheeled clutch systems. First was the LUK gold series with the fudenzza AL flywheel. Hated it. you need to give much more rpms to get moving. The second is what's in my C6 behind my new 427 motor. It's the TEXTERALA street set up with a steel 18 lb flywheel. I didn't want it because of my previous experience. But I let my tunner talk me into it. Same problems, don't get the R's right big time chatter. Light flywheels have there place on road racing tracks where quick accleratioin is needed off the turns. But for street driving give me a 35lb flywheel anyday. You can inch along in traffic easy or cruise around parking lots all day. Drag racers use even heavier flywheels to launch there cars. It's all about inertia and torque, and torque talks on the street. As I speek my tunner is balancing a LS7 clutch and will replace the texterala ASAP. Even though my motor makes 525rwhp, it's a street car and will never see the track.So the stock LS7 clutch is just fine for my needs. Speaking from experience.
andreas g
andreas g
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,796
Likes: 1
From: Annandale VA
I had a Mcleod aluminum flywheel & clutch combo in a Camaro SS, and loved it. I also had a carbon fiber driveshaft. The entire combo was silky smooth, perfect for the street. It was especially smooth when shifting. I also picked up some free HP.
I think the secret is not to go too light. The Camaro weighed over 500 pounds more than my C6, yet I never had any problems with any aspect of driveability.
I think the secret is not to go too light. The Camaro weighed over 500 pounds more than my C6, yet I never had any problems with any aspect of driveability.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I've had two light flywheeled clutch systems. First was the LUK gold series with the fudenzza AL flywheel. Hated it. you need to give much more rpms to get moving. The second is what's in my C6 behind my new 427 motor. It's the TEXTERALA street set up with a steel 18 lb flywheel. I didn't want it because of my previous experience. But I let my tunner talk me into it. Same problems, don't get the R's right big time chatter. Light flywheels have there place on road racing tracks where quick accleratioin is needed off the turns. But for street driving give me a 35lb flywheel anyday. You can inch along in traffic easy or cruise around parking lots all day. Drag racers use even heavier flywheels to launch there cars. It's all about inertia and torque, and torque talks on the street. As I speek my tunner is balancing a LS7 clutch and will replace the texterala ASAP. Even though my motor makes 525rwhp, it's a street car and will never see the track.So the stock LS7 clutch is just fine for my needs. Speaking from experience.
andreas g
andreas g
People always confuse the clutch contribution to needing more revs for clutch engagement. My RAM 921 garbage needed to be over 1600 rpm to get it going without chatter.
I guess the moral of the story is that it depends on the clutch. If you have a rough clutch with a lot of clamping force, it will need the extra weight to dampen the engagement without bogging, chattering, or stalling.
My LS7/ Fidanza is smooth as stock and revs quick. I will never have another clutch set-up for ther street. If you are heading to the strip then try the combo out first. I had great success with the spec 3 w/ fidanza too. The clutch matters on this but it isnt the flywheel causing the need to rev; its rougher engaging clutches.
As always if anyone wants to try my combo out send me a PM and we can meet up if it helps your decision. The only giveaway that it isnt stock is that it holds the power and revs really fast.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Jun 11, 2007 at 11:08 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,598
Likes: 0
From: indianapolis indiana
i have a fidanza and a stock clutch plate and pressure plate. noisy as hell and you have to rev it big time to get moving. i put it in my race car because i wanted to know if it would be good for my c6. i won't be doing it to say the least. now the fidanza is 11 lbs and stock is like 40....somewhere in between like say 25 or 30 would save you some pounds and still have some drivability .... and maybe not be so loud. if you let it set in neutral everyone will be looking at you wondering why you brand new corvette is making some much noise.....now it if u got numbers on the side that diffrent
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,827
Likes: 352
From: Albuquerque NM
I had a Fidanza light flywheel and a Spec II clutch in my Heads/cam C5. LOVED IT for the street, with my combo it was OK for the drag strip. It rev'd much quicker, was smooth as stock for normal use, clamped hard and didn't slip at the strip. And it freed up about 10 rwhp.
I have not messed with the Z's clutch/flywheel....yet
I have not messed with the Z's clutch/flywheel....yet
