Lightened Flywheel?

[DSM_GSX4life]

What does a light flywheel actually do???? Is it worth the money?

 

[leet]

It frees up rotating mass, increasing the response of the engine.

They are very much worth it. I run a Fidanza wheel myself. For general use, I would recommend the ACT though.

 

[FASTSPOOLINGST]

yes, it's worth the money, but i would just wait till your clutch needs changed, then do both at the same time

I have the XACT flywheel. I've had it in two of my cars and I love it.

 

[DSM_GSX4life]

are there any obvious differences in driving???

 

[FASTSPOOLINGST]

rpms match shift points better, cuz the less rotating mass causing the rpms not to dip at shifting. As soon as you shift, that is what rpm you will take off from and quicker in your other gears.

I hate to break this news to you, but on a crappy t.v. show called horsepower t.v., they had a ricer civic. They put a fidanza in it and dyno'd it. It only yielded like 2 or 3 horsepower at the wheels.

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

I had an 8.5lbs ACT Prolite flywheel on another car, and you'll really see different engine characteristsics, rather than massive HP increases. Also, considering that you have a turbo, a lighter flywheel will help decrease the spool-up time of the engine/turbo. Which means you'll be in your power band faster.
Also, you'll notice somewhat of a BIG difference in 1st and 2nd gear, in terms of how fast the engine will rev, and there will be a slight increase in acceleration. (Although above 2nd gear, the increase is not as noticeable.)

But be careful with a lightweight flywheel, because it drops revs FAST.
The engine will lose momentum (or rather the crankshaft) quickly, and you'll need to catch the RPM's on it's way down.
Whenever you shift, you'll have more control as to where you want the RPM's to be in respect to your gear ratios. You'll sorta have to learn how to drive your car all over again.
But the mod is well worth it because it makes a little HP, decreases spool-up time, allows for more control over RPM placement, and increases acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear.
Also, a lighter flywheel is like lightnening components on the rotating assembly. (Everything that hangs on the crankshaft.) If 4g63t engine were to have SUPER-light weight customized parts hanging on the crankshaft (flywheel, crank, pistons, rings, rods) made from graphite, or titanium or carbon fiber, the engine would wind-up from 1k to 8k in a snap. (Maybe the tach needle would move like boost needle ) j/k


I hope some of this helps.

 

[DSM_GSX4life]

yea it does help. thanks a lot. Another part added to my wish list. One more question. Which brand and type would you guys recomend or are they all the same?

 

[UCSLugRacerX]

ACT and Fidanza I'm pretty sure are the same flywheels. There are aluminum ones, and cromoly ones. I've seen them from 8lbs all the way down to 6lbs on other cars. I would advise against milling a flywheel to save weight, becuase it increases the probability of cracking or warping, as aopposed to a flywheel ALREADY build for being light weight.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[my95tsi]

If you go too light you run into drivability issues. Driving a car with an ultralite flywheel is pretty damn hard to get started. It almost feels like your clutch is sliping when you try and start off slowly in 1st. I would stick to an XACt flyhwheel, i'll be getting one in a couple weeks along with a 2100 and lsd.....

 

[leet]

If you go too light you run into drivability issues. Driving a car with an ultralite flywheel is pretty damn hard to get started. It almost feels like your clutch is sliping when you try and start off slowly in 1st. I would stick to an XACt flyhwheel, i'll be getting one in a couple weeks along with a 2100 and lsd.....

You get used to it very quickly. It's not near as bad as people make it sound, and it has more pro's than con's. Unless you drag, then get the XACT.

 

[turbo90gsx]

Also, considering that you have a turbo, a lighter flywheel will help decrease the spool-up time of the engine/turbo. Which means you'll be in your power band faster.

Yes I put on the XACT Streetlight fly on about a month ago, and have noticed my 14b reaches 16.5lbs of boost around 2700 rpms, compared to the old 2950. Huge differece. I also have noticed a large gain in uper rpm power as well (like 5500-6500 rpms). Deffinatly worth the money .