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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

How will it feel different in street driving?

 

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

Personally I love lightweight flywheels.

 

I love my 8 lb flywheel with my 8 lb clutch. zing!

 

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

 

Has anyone here ever had the stock flywheel lightened?
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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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.