You may have seen my post about clutch flywheel selection, so my question is for those who have an aluminum flywheel. How do you like it? Do you think that it may be too light? What benefits and negatives have you found about it? I am concerned because I don't want to get a flywheel that is too light. I need streetability. Thanks for your responses.

Also, post the weight of your flywheel if you know it, thanks.

 

Well, I have an OS Giken twin plate clutch with an AL flywheel, and it is titally streetable. We test drove the new motor and clutch around the block numerous times and it worked great. Throttle response is much faster due to the significantly less weight. I definately recommend it. Don't forget to get the counterweight with one if you do get one.

 

My next car will have one.

 

how much of a difference was there from a dead stop?
what about when you left of the throttle do the rpms just die?

how would it work out with a N/A in autox?

oh yeah what about going up hills. any trouble there?

 

I used to have an aluminum flywheel. My clutch dint get along with it too well. It kept slipping. So I took it back and got a lightened steel flywheel. Works great. My new clutch likes it alot.

If you do get one, I hope u have better luck with it.

 

Mine's in my sig. I am quite satisfied with it - acceleration thru 1st gear and 2nd gear is seat of the pants improved. Only drawback is when I have my A/C on and push in the clutch the engine will die sometimes (I either feather the gas or disengage the A/C).
I read on hear a while back that the dashpot can be adjusted to compensate but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Hills don't make any difference. When you're going up hills you're usually at at least 2500-3000rpm anyway so you've got plenty of torque in a TII.

Engine revs faster/ If I'm sitting at a stop for example and ease the rpm up to 2-2500 and then blip the throttle deeply the tach races noticeably faster - sounds cool.

I had read (and still do) that on the flip side of the coin you lose rpm faster in between shifts. I'm sure that's true - it's just physics, but I've never found it noticeable or detrimental.

Another thing I'd heard about was that I'd have to slip the clutch a lot to get going - what a crock of s***. I probably get rolling at about 1100 rpm with minimal intentional slip.

When you first start out, it will feel different, but by the time you've picked up some groceries and gotten gas or whatever there's nothing to it.

One other thing, I was advised to get the SS braided clutch hose and install during this upgrade, which I did.

I have retained stock pedal feel, just engages a little closer to the floor. Keep in mind this is how MY car behaves with THESE components.

As far as if I'm happy with the weight - I had a choice of 9.5# or 11#...I'm glad I went with the lighter one.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

 

Ok, it simple as this.

If your looking for maximum go, go Aluminum.

If your looking for something for your daily driver, Aluminum is not the way to go as it requires excessive slip clutching (comparied to lighten steel) for normal starts to avoid stalls as the lack or weight also substantially reduces the inertia the flywheel would otherwise provide. A real drag if your stuck in stop and go traffic.

So, if your daily driver go for the compromise and go Lighten Steel.

Speaking from experience.

 

Just curious, what model/year car was that on? I think that a heavier car would make a light flywhel less streetable. I dont think it would be as hard to drive on a light car as opposed to a heavier one.

 

I don't have those problems - car is quite streetable. What aluminum flywheel / clutch setup did you have? I'd be interested to know what combination did not work so well for you...

 

I have a 9.5 lb. flywheel with a clutchnet 6 puck clutch with springs and ACT pressure plate. This is on my convertible. The acceleration is great, but I can't get a decent launch at all. Once I get going it's fine, but I do lose a little between shifts. If you're going to drag race you should stick with a stock flywheel.

 

I'm a Racing Beat fan, so I focus on their products which was in this case as well.

The car I used the Aluminum Flywheel was a fairly light car, my (sniff now crunched parts car) '79 Limited Edition. It was always my daily driver and communting into the city was a total drag.

Went to the lightened flywheel on the same car, been a lightened flywheel fan ever since.

I put a lightened flywheel on my '88 Vert with good results also. Pleased, especially considering it weights about 500 lbs more than my '79 LE.

For perspective, I'm not a street racer. Daily driving looking for better go at lights and passing is my focus. Ok, ok. also the occasional freeway or light to light friendly competition too. :-)

My friends that go to Pomona Raceway might feel differently.