Light Flywheel
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener On
Light Flywheel
Eckler's sell a 12.5 aluminum flywheel for LS1's that I am considering in order to reduce tire spin. Does anyone know what a stock LS1 flywheel weighs? Has anyone had any experience with running a light flywheel? Advantages? Disadvantages? I would assume that the lighter flywheel would reduce inertia and make it easier to get off the line. (but you know what they say about assume? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 760
Likes: 27
From: Farmersville Texas
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
I believe the stock Flywheel weighs 37-40 pounds. I have the aluminum flywheel and can say that my wheel definitely don't spin as much. Especially when shifting into 2nd. Before, my tires would spin quite a bit shifting had into 2nd. Now, not much at all, and my car dyno's at 349rwhp and 368rwtq.
I will say that starting out in 1st is little more difficult. The car shutters a little from time to time, if you're starting off slow.
I will say that starting out in 1st is little more difficult. The car shutters a little from time to time, if you're starting off slow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 91
From: California
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
the LS6 flywheel that comes in the package everyone buys weighed in at 25 pounds here. I'll bet the one your looking at is the Fidanze aluminum one. Check the pricing your seeing with Ecklers with others on the forum. The Fidanza goes for about $300ish, I got mine on a sale a couple years back for my Camaro and it was cheaper. The Fidnaza weighs 12.5 pounds, and is 1/2 the weight of the stock flywheel.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener On
Re: Light Flywheel (Brannon)
Thanks Brannon. Do you have the 12.5lb flywheel? Did you notice an improved throttle response? Your HP and TQ numbers look great. Do you think that the lighter flywheel contributed to these numbers?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 1
From: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
They are about 11 or 12lbs lighter and are very responsive however you need to learn to drive all over again to avoid heavy chatter. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener On
Re: Light Flywheel (lager99)
The chatter was mention by Brannon in this thread who put the light flywhell in his car. My 62 has a tube chassis and with the LS1 and Keisler TKO600, weighs just 2775lbs. My understanding is that the lighter the car, the lighter the flywheel and vice versa. From the reasearch that I've done so far, if the flywheel is too light for the car, clutch/car will tend to shutter/chatter when starting out with too low an RPM. I'm hoping that someone else out there can verify this.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 760
Likes: 27
From: Farmersville Texas
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
Thanks Brannon. Do you have the 12.5lb flywheel? Did you notice an improved throttle response? Your HP and TQ numbers look great. Do you think that the lighter flywheel contributed to these numbers?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
i have finally gotten used to mine
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: UpState NY
Re: Light Flywheel (z-u-later)
I have the SPEC III with the Aluminum flywheel, I have small amount of chatter. Seems as though there are times when taking off it's not too bad at all, then there are times if you catch it just right the entire car shakes violently. I'm getting better at keeping the chatter to a minimum. One final note, from the discussions I have seen. If you have a good installer & you break it in slowely the chatter should be to a minimum. Overall, I'm use to it and it's not a major issue.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener On
Re: Light Flywheel (z-u-later)
Is clutch chatter a problem? What about wheel spin? Did you notice that it was easier to get it off the line without so much wheel spin? If you had to do it over, would you change anything (a bit lighter flywheel, a bit heavier?)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener On
Re: Light Flywheel (steveNY)
Thanks Steve. I'm not familiar with the terms "spec II" or "spec III" clutch. Can you fill me in? Are these GM clutches or an after market piece? Do you recommend the spec III with the lighter flywheel? 
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
I had an aluminum flywheel on my last car - didn't notice a visible performance gain, but I absolutely loved the sound of the free-reving engine!! I haven't picked one up yet for my '01, but I will sooner or later.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: UpState NY
Re: Light Flywheel (R6T2Corvette)
The SPEC III is an aftermarket clutch. I had the installer put in a new clutch with a aluminum flywheel (the whole package). It does Rev quicker. When shifting it feels like stock except there is a little chatter sometimes starting off light on the peddle. The spec III claims to handle approx 600 HP. The difference between the SPEC II & III is the plate material which relates to how much HP the clutch can handle.