[DeTomaso] Steel vs aluminum flywheel

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/7/12 21 18 39, kenn_green at yahoo.com writes:


>    I have a new McLeod steel flywheel (which I think had a removable 28 
> oz balance wt), and a new Hays aluminum internal balance flywheel.  One will 
> hopefully eventually go into a twin turbo street motor, looking for about 
> 800 FWHP and using 3.2 gears.  I was thinking that the steel flywheel would 
> be more forgiving with these gears, although when I ran a Dynomation 
> simulation, my motor would have twice the torque at 1,000 RPM of a normally 
> aspirated engine with a big cam and carb due to the cam the turbos like, so I 
> think either flywheel will work well on the street.
>  
>     Any thoughts on this?
> 

Plan on buying clutches on a routine basis--not because of the excessive 
power, but rather because of the excessively tall gears.   You'll need to slip 
the clutch all the time when leaving a standing start.   I know--I drove a 
3.2-equipped Pantera and it was miserable--even when fitted with 24-inch GT5 
tires in the rear (which turns a 3.77 into a 4.22, effectively).

He had an aluminum flywheel too, which is what necessitated all the clutch 
slipping.   You'd be much better off with a steel one, and I don't think 
you'd suffer any measurable negative effects since you'll have the turbos to 
overcome any resistance to rotation. :>)

Mike