General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata
View Poll Results: Buy a light flywheel or skip it?
LWFW
74.19%
No
25.81%
Voters: 31. You may not vote on this poll

Lightweight Flywheel?

Old 07-04-2010, 11:23 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
boileralum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 1,105
Total Cats: 229
Default

I'm a big fan of lighter flywheels. I pulled a 1.56 60' (ET Street Radials ftw) in my 95 300ZX with a 12# flywheel. Sold that car and bought another Z with a sotck flywheel but better built motor (slightly higher compression pistons, cams, GT28RS turbos vs the GT28R turbos on the 95) and hated driving it by comparison. Oh yeah, both cars had the same model RPS clutch. You get used to the flywheel pretty quick, and if you like to rev match, it is a lot of fun to do so in a car w/ a light FW assembly. I made sure I bought a LWFW when I turbocharged the 94 Miata because of this experience. It is a mod I will probably do on every modified car I ever own now.
boileralum is offline  
Old 07-04-2010, 11:38 PM
  #22  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
fooger03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 4,140
Total Cats: 229
Default

Originally Posted by boileralum
I'm a big fan of lighter flywheels. I pulled a 1.56 60' (ET Street Radials ftw) in my 95 300ZX with a 12# flywheel. Sold that car and bought another Z with a sotck flywheel but better built motor (slightly higher compression pistons, cams, GT28RS turbos vs the GT28R turbos on the 95) and hated driving it by comparison. Oh yeah, both cars had the same model RPS clutch. You get used to the flywheel pretty quick, and if you like to rev match, it is a lot of fun to do so in a car w/ a light FW assembly. I made sure I bought a LWFW when I turbocharged the 94 Miata because of this experience. It is a mod I will probably do on every modified car I ever own now.
I DO revmatch / clutchless a lot...like, there are some days that i dont even think about not using the clutch, and 5th to 3rd clutchless is pretty common for me on the highway
fooger03 is offline  
Old 07-04-2010, 11:56 PM
  #23  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
NA6C-Guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham Alabama
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 45
Default

My worn out trans make clutchless shifting a bit tough, but I still do it quite often. My old Prelude used to see 80% clutchless, except for taking off, and if I was trying to do some fast shifting, otherwise daily commuting, I almost never used the clutch. Was always very smooth and easy to glide into gear. It also had a lightweight flywheel.
NA6C-Guy is offline  
Old 07-05-2010, 05:20 PM
  #24  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
miata2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dover, FL
Posts: 3,143
Total Cats: 174
Default

Clutch and light flywheel has always been my first modification. I love it.

That business of them hurting your ET's at the dragstrip is a wives tale that just won't die. I have the lightest Fidanza I could get my hands on at the time, and have run good numbers at the track. You do have to launch at a higher rpm. On slicks, it may slow your 60' just a hair, but you more than make up for it on the big end.

I never thought a light flywheel was a problem on the street. I adjusted my driving style accordingly.
miata2fast is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:23 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Tekel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Beckley, WV
Posts: 851
Total Cats: 37
Default

Not hijacking but I am in the same boat sorta...
I have a light fidanza that I am up in the air about installing. It seems like every discussion there are people on both sides of the fence and this one is no different. I am going to be in there eventually installing a new clutch I have so I won't be going in there just for the flywheel. Install it or sell it and put the $$ towards wheels/tires?

Originally Posted by miata2fast
I never thought a light flywheel was a problem on the street. I adjusted my driving style accordingly.
How will it feel different in street driving?
Tekel is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 09:28 AM
  #26  
Miotta FTW!
iTrader: (24)
 
Splitime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicagoland, IL
Posts: 4,290
Total Cats: 31
Default

If you have driven cars with them and hated it. Don't.

Personally I love lightweight flywheels.
Splitime is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 10:07 AM
  #27  
y8s
2 Props,3 Dildos,& 1 Cat
iTrader: (8)
 
y8s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Fake Virginia
Posts: 19,338
Total Cats: 573
Default

I love my 8 lb flywheel with my 8 lb clutch. zing!
y8s is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 10:17 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
soloracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 782
Total Cats: 4
Default

I decided to go ahead and do the 13 pounder. It's lighter, but shouldn't be too drastic.

I figured that I'll be lucky to have the car back on the road and tuned by mid August and If I need a radiator, I'll worry about it then. By then I won't have been hemorrhaging cash for a few weeks and $200-$300 won't hurt as bad. My real hope is to get through a couple months of enjoying the car this year before putting it away in November or December, then do the rad next spring.

....maybe by then I can afford some hot coilovers....;-p
soloracer is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 10:45 AM
  #29  
Elite Member
iTrader: (30)
 
levnubhin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Va Beach
Posts: 7,329
Total Cats: 12
Default

Has anyone here ever had the stock flywheel lightened?
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
levnubhin is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 11:09 AM
  #30  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
soloracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 782
Total Cats: 4
Default

I pondered that until I talked to a friend that had it done. He had to instruct the machine shop to remove the weight ring. They said it was done. Then he had to take it somewhere else to have it balanced. Said it was a pain and it cost him too much time and over $100 before it was all over. He said he wouldn't bother again and just order a new one already done.
soloracer is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 11:41 AM
  #31  
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
ZX-Tex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
Default

Originally Posted by levnubhin
Has anyone here ever had the stock flywheel lightened?
Yes. Weight ring removed, 1.8L clutch. The shop that machined my short block did it, and then balanced it with the pressure plate as an assembly. I forget what they charged, maybe about $100. No big deal, just dropped it off and they did it all.
ZX-Tex is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 07:13 PM
  #32  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
miata2fast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dover, FL
Posts: 3,143
Total Cats: 174
Default

Originally Posted by MMeador


How will it feel different in street driving?
The car is easy to stall when leaving from a dead stop. You have to be a little more aggresive with the throttle. It takes a little practice.
miata2fast is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 08:46 PM
  #33  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

What is so great about a light flywheel on a track car? I don't know what I'm missing aside from driving Johnfag's with the 14lb complete clutch from 949 which is Ferrari like.
hustler is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Full_Tilt_Boogie
Build Threads
84
04-12-2021 04:21 PM
graexodus
Miata parts for sale/trade
5
10-26-2015 01:48 PM
Wino
General Miata Chat
0
09-23-2015 08:35 PM
concealer404
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
8
09-17-2015 12:04 PM
main
Meet and Greet
1
09-05-2015 12:39 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Lightweight Flywheel?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:18 AM.