[DeTomaso] Aluminum Flywheels
Rob Dumoulin
rob at dumoulins.net
Wed May 7 18:12:43 EDT 2014
Nice explanation Mike. I just ordered an aluminum flywheel for my
supercharged 350Z to go with my new clutch system. I am about to see how
much difference it makes when I get around to installing it.
I'm curious if the light weight of the Pantera would make it easier to
compensate for the reduction in mass. I don't ever remember stalling my
Pantera with my stock flywheel and would probably consider going lighter
when I do a clutch. I'm confident you get used to it.
Rob
On Tue, May 6, 2014 at 11:38 PM, <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 5/6/14 16 18 6, mghibli7 at hotmail.com writes:
>
> What's the general consensus on Aluminum Flywheels? Are they the way
> to go? Any drawbacks?
>
> >>>Like anything else that's "performance", they have advantages and
> drawbacks.
> Engines have flywheels for a reason. They exist to dampen the pulses
> from the ignition cycle, and also to conserve rotational energy so it
> can be used when it's needed. When you are setting off from a stop,
> that conserved energy is what lets the car start rolling. A car with
> no flywheel would be impossible to drive--the engine would stall the
> moment you tried to ease the clutch out.
> So, flywheel = good.
> The problem with a flywheel is that it requires a lot of power (or
> torque, if you prefer) to accelerate it. When you are at 2000 rpm and
> you put your foot to the floor, the engine is trying to speed up. Part
> of what is holding it back is the aerodynamic drag, and the flywheel
> effect of the wheels and tires, but part of it is the engine flywheel
> itself. It 'hurts' you when you are trying to accelerate the engine.
> A lighter-than-stock flywheel (whether it's aluminum or lightened
> steel) will allow the engine to accelerate more quickly, which in turn
> will allow the car to accelerate more quickly. It will also make the
> car slightly more difficult to drive gently, may make it slightly more
> difficult to downshift (at least until you get used to it), and will be
> considerably more difficult to drive in traffic. Whereas before, if
> you were creeping along in a line of traffic, you could let your foot
> off the clutch and just loaf along at 5 mph in first gear, now the car
> will buck and snort, and you will have to constantly dip the clutch,
> partially engage/slip the clutch, dip the clutch etc.
> So it really depends on how you drive the car. If traffic is no
> concern, you might really like it. If you want your Pantera to behave
> like a regular car, you might want to save the $500 plus balancing
> costs and stick with what you've got.
>
> >If they are recommended, whose are you using and how many miles do
> you have on it?
>
> >>>I don't know what kind of aluminum flywheel I have--I literally
> found it in my parts room one day and had no idea how it got there!
> Apparently it came to me in a huge stash of other parts and I simply
> failed to notice it, or thought it was a stock flywheel at the time.
> When I had my engine rebuilt, I switched. Since the entire engine was
> changed, I can't tell you the specific effect the flywheel has had.
> The old engine with the iron was a fair bit more tractable than the new
> one, but it also had half as much horsepower.
> Mike
>
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-------------- next part --------------
Nice explanation Mike. A I just ordered an aluminum flywheel for my
supercharged 350Z to go with my new clutch system. I am about to see
how much difference it makes when I get around to installing it.
I'm curious if the light weight of the Pantera would make it easier to
compensate for the reduction in mass. A I don't ever remember stalling
my Pantera with my stock flywheel and would probably consider going
lighter when I do a clutch. I'm confident you get used to it.
RobA
On Tue, May 6, 2014 at 11:38 PM, <[1]MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:
A A In a message dated 5/6/14 16 18 6, [2]mghibli7 at hotmail.com writes:
A A A What's the general consensus on Aluminum Flywheels? Are they
the way
A A A to go? Any drawbacks?
A A >>>Like anything else that's "performance", they have
advantages and
A A drawbacks.
A A Engines have flywheels for a reason. A They exist to dampen the
pulses
A A from the ignition cycle, and also to conserve rotational energy
so it
A A can be used when it's needed. A When you are setting off from a
stop,
A A that conserved energy is what lets the car start rolling. A A
car with
A A no flywheel would be impossible to drive--the engine would
stall the
A A moment you tried to ease the clutch out.
A A So, flywheel = good.
A A The problem with a flywheel is that it requires a lot of power
(or
A A torque, if you prefer) to accelerate it. A When you are at 2000
rpm and
A A you put your foot to the floor, the engine is trying to speed
up. A Part
A A of what is holding it back is the aerodynamic drag, and the
flywheel
A A effect of the wheels and tires, but part of it is the engine
flywheel
A A itself. A It 'hurts' you when you are trying to accelerate the
engine.
A A A lighter-than-stock flywheel (whether it's aluminum or
lightened
A A steel) will allow the engine to accelerate more quickly, which
in turn
A A will allow the car to accelerate more quickly. A It will also
make the
A A car slightly more difficult to drive gently, may make it
slightly more
A A difficult to downshift (at least until you get used to it), and
will be
A A considerably more difficult to drive in traffic. A Whereas
before, if
A A you were creeping along in a line of traffic, you could let
your foot
A A off the clutch and just loaf along at 5 mph in first gear, now
the car
A A will buck and snort, and you will have to constantly dip the
clutch,
A A partially engage/slip the clutch, dip the clutch etc.
A A So it really depends on how you drive the car. A If traffic is
no
A A concern, you might really like it. A If you want your Pantera
to behave
A A like a regular car, you might want to save the $500 plus
balancing
A A costs and stick with what you've got.
A A A >If they are recommended, whose are you using and how many
miles do
A A A you have on it?
A A >>>I don't know what kind of aluminum flywheel I have--I
literally
A A found it in my parts room one day and had no idea how it got
there!
A A Apparently it came to me in a huge stash of other parts and I
simply
A A failed to notice it, or thought it was a stock flywheel at the
time.
A A When I had my engine rebuilt, I switched. A Since the entire
engine was
A A changed, I can't tell you the specific effect the flywheel has
had.
A A The old engine with the iron was a fair bit more tractable than
the new
A A one, but it also had half as much horsepower.
A A Mike
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