I'm debating on getting a lightweight flywheel or not and the main reason is because I've heard from some people in the past that it can hurt your times at the track. I'm also planning on using nitrous with the rebuilt motor and just not too sure how the flywheel and nitrous combo will work as well. Anyone had any experience with this?
When the light flywheels hurt is when people do not adjsut there driving to them. They rev quicker, but also lose rev quicker, you need a faster shift to keep them up. I have driving a J with one, and had no problems, I also usually do not lift on the gas when I shift either.
The disadvantages are that you've got less momentum to pull the car forward when you engage the clutch and the revs fall faster if you let off the throttle.
To compensate for this, you'll generally launch at a higher rpm and with more throttle and keep on the gas at least partially when shifting, though not enough to hit the rev limiter.
Now the big advantage is during all times when the clutch is fully engaged which is, obviously, most of the time. During this time, the engine doesn't need to use nearly as much power to spin a big heavy wheel and instead has that power available to haul your car forward.
This is the same advantage you get from using lighter wheels, except it's directly at the engine itself.
The lighter the flywheel, the more of a balancing act launching becomes. You'll find that out soon enough. You'll be able to shift faster, but that usually doesn't make up for the time lost in the first 60' feet, unless you learn how to launch it with the new flywheel. To add insult to injury, a nitrous car is tricky to launch as it is (unless you use a progressive controller), so why would you want to put a lightweight flywheel on a nitrous powered car when really, you won't need one. If you're spraying a big enough shot, the extra weight of the flywheel will actually help you get out of the hole without frying the tires unmercifully.
They can make launching tricky, and inconsistant. It's worse if your car is heavy, and it flat out sucks in stop and go traffic in my experience.
15.3 @ 89.97mph, 14's on the way?
It did LOVE to rev though, just not practical for my daily driving needs.
15.3 @ 89.97mph, 14's on the way?
i say go for it... i got the light fylwheel, stage 3 clutch and quaife LSD and WOW!!!!!! what a difference it made...very fast rev up and down, so i got the B&M short shifter and you just shift faster ...
The First Twin Charged jbody
blue car (R.I.P) - 240whp @7psi..
silver car - 305whp 315lbs.tq @15psi (91 Octane) or 420whp & 425lbs.TQ @20psi (94 octane+Alcohol Injection)
All dynos run on a Mustang dyno
I agree with what everyone has said, i had to up my launch rpms or the car would bog off the line, then it felt like the car was sluggesh the whole run.
ONLY All Motor Quick 8 H2 (GMSCB 2005)
Best times of 2005
60' - 1.955 (9/30/05)
330' - 5.987 (9/30/05)
1/8 - 9.312 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 74.85 (9/30/05)
1000' - 12.213 (9/30/05)
1/4 - 14.670 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 92.78 (9/30/05)
Website: www.benwenzeljr.com
I just finished my ecotec motor swap, and i have the fidanza flywheel and stage 3 SPEC clutch
I haven't raced at the track yet this year since opening day is in march
but on the street the car feels like it hauls mega ass off the line (altho I admit 1st is usually a lot of noise n tire spin)
I'd say that with the clutch/flywheel, an rksport intake and cat back I should easily be in low 15s and if anything, I think the flywheel made the car faster off the line (i've driven other more modified eco 5 speeds that don't feel as quick out of the hole)
time will tell... track days coming soon
Ben Wenzel Jr wrote:I agree with what everyone has said, i had to up my launch rpms or the car would bog off the line, then it felt like the car was sluggesh the whole run.
Did you run those times in your sig with the lightweight flywheel in? I was under the impression that it helps a good bit.
2004 Cavalier
13.2@105........
Mods...
BFG Drag Radials
Saab Turbo kit
2.5 exhaust, w/cutout
Spec Stage 2+ Clutch
I went a 15.01 with the steel flywheel , at the begining of the 05 season. I guess what im saying is when the aluminum flywheel is in, their is less centrifucial weight when you launch. The steel one helps keep the car from bogging.
Heres a link to my 2005 season
http://www.benwenzeljr.com/2005.htm , you can see my first few runs, and when i put in the clutch/flywheel install. I want to say on 4/20/05 is was only about 40 deg that day.
hope I answered you question.
-Ben
ONLY All Motor Quick 8 H2 (GMSCB 2005)
Best times of 2005
60' - 1.955 (9/30/05)
330' - 5.987 (9/30/05)
1/8 - 9.312 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 74.85 (9/30/05)
1000' - 12.213 (9/30/05)
1/4 - 14.670 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 92.78 (9/30/05)
Website: www.benwenzeljr.com
Just had another thought, that 15.01 doesn't make the top 15 fastest runs.
http://www.benwenzeljr.com/Best_2005.htm
So it must make a difference
Im out
-Ben
ONLY All Motor Quick 8 H2 (GMSCB 2005)
Best times of 2005
60' - 1.955 (9/30/05)
330' - 5.987 (9/30/05)
1/8 - 9.312 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 74.85 (9/30/05)
1000' - 12.213 (9/30/05)
1/4 - 14.670 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 92.78 (9/30/05)
Website: www.benwenzeljr.com
At least it looks like it would make you go faster lol
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
In NHRA stock eliminator, a lot of the small block guys run an extra *heavy* flywheel...I believe they call it a "Reactor" wheel...it helps launching on slippery tracks, and maintains momentum between shifts.
With a narrow powerband, you don't want a lighter flywheel because the revs will drop below the powerband unless you keep your right foot fairly well planted.
But if you're using nitrous I'm assuming you don't have to worry about tiny NA powerbands like I was thinking about... sorry.
Not to get too of topic but whats your view points on say a turbo setup. If I plan to see boost at about 2,000 rpm then should I even run the aluminum flywheel? I never read about it or thought about it affecting your launching and stuff. Do you guys think I would be better off just selling it?
~Boost. Its what's for dinner!~
my brother dropped .5 off his 1/4 mile times with just the addition of the Spec Flywheel and clutch........ before the setup, consistant 15.5/15.6's...... after the setup, consistant 15.0/15.1's..... no other changes......
Your not going to notice a rev drop between shifts....... unless you shift like a 89 year old woman....... and in that case, you dont belong on the track.
SPD RCR Z -
'02 Z24 420whp
SLO GOAT -
'04 GTO 305whp
W41 BOI -
'78 Buick Opel Isuzu W41 Swap
Quote:
unless you shift like a 89 year old woman
dont talk about me like that lol j/k
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
granny shifting not double clutching like you should
-Ben
ONLY All Motor Quick 8 H2 (GMSCB 2005)
Best times of 2005
60' - 1.955 (9/30/05)
330' - 5.987 (9/30/05)
1/8 - 9.312 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 74.85 (9/30/05)
1000' - 12.213 (9/30/05)
1/4 - 14.670 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 92.78 (9/30/05)
Website: www.benwenzeljr.com
what does double clutching exactly mean? i can never figure it out
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090440
itd what older cars needed to have done to properly shift, you engague the clutch, slip the car in gear, ddriveeeeee, then engauge the clutch to take it out of gear, once out of gear you let the clutch out, then engauge the clutch again to put it into second then you driveeeeeeee so when shifting it's, engauge, out of gear, disengauge, engauge slip into gear and drive, each time you shift into a new gear.
Yea, something like that
-Ben
ONLY All Motor Quick 8 H2 (GMSCB 2005)
Best times of 2005
60' - 1.955 (9/30/05)
330' - 5.987 (9/30/05)
1/8 - 9.312 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 74.85 (9/30/05)
1000' - 12.213 (9/30/05)
1/4 - 14.670 (9/30/05)
M.P.H.- 92.78 (9/30/05)
Website: www.benwenzeljr.com
^^^Reading that just made my head hurt
to update....
Nitrous Nate wrote:
At least it looks like it would make you go faster lol
I have that exact setup
14.9 @ 90mph on my first trip to the strip
all I have on top of that is an intake and catback exhaust (not monumental mods either)
So i think the flywheel & clutch helps a bunch so long as you can drive
i'm on crap tires too.. nothing special
