I had a (possible) brainwave today. Would it be easy to save $100 by purchasing a cheap 11lb flywheel off eBay (or used), and then mate it up to the FM "happy meal" style Stage 1 clutch and pressure plate? Seems simple, but just wanted to see what other people thought and couldn't find any other specific instances of this on the internets.

 

You will always get what you pay for.

What ever you do, get it balanced and you should be good to go.

 

Save 100 bucks up front, pay 50 bucks for balance, then another 50 for machining when the wheel wobbles and you'll have a mediocre setup.

 

Sounds like an easy way to lose a foot.

 

Hey look here where there is an active thread talking about how their cheap ebay flywheel does not work properly.

 

Why not just get a factory 1.8 flywheel from Partsgroup for $35.00?

 

I was hoping to go light weight instead of stock. But yeah, valid points everyone. I guess I'll try to find a used complete happy meal instead. Thanks!

 

How about using a 1.6 flywheel which is lighter, and using a stronger ACT clutch arrangement if you are looking for a cheap solution. I happen to have just such a setup sitting on the shelf in my garage.

 

I had no issues with my F1 cromoly ~12 lb flywheel, other than having to buy new bolts to hold down the clutch cover. I had its and the FM clutch balance checked and it was at zero.

 

Nah, EVERYONE unanimously agrees the FM stage 1 is the perfect clutch for a higher powered DD. I want to stay with that. I just figured a flywheel is a flywheel for the most part.

 

Someone sell me your FM Happy Meal!!

 

Or... you could always join NASA for a year, and take advantage of the deep discounts Exedy has for NASA members.

IIRC, the stage 1 clutch is $60 less than places like Goodwin sell them for.

And they have 1.8 flywheels too.

Just saying...

 

Yeah, thought about the same before buying my Goodwin Exedy HD Stage 1 clutch+ 12lb flywheel setup. (Exedy Happy Meal Combo) Just wasn't worth the risk of something going wrong like severing my foot then having to R & R it all. Figured it was one of the few upgrades I was going to do, but worth every penny spent. Good ROI, you'll feel it every time your rev!

 

I ended up finding a great deal on a used 1.6 Fidenza flywheel and ACT HD clutch stage 1. The clutch will probably be changed out at some point, as my eventual power goal is 200-225whp. But that should be a pretty nice little setup for now. My only worry is the super-light 7lb flywheel for street drive ability.

I think you guys are right. Do the nicer parts on the clutch. The best way to save money is take your time and buy them used.

 

I'm late to the party but I have and F1 lightweight flywheel with FM1 clutch. Flywheel is great. Clutch is great. Just make sure you use the pilot bearing and throw out bearing from the FM kit and get the F1 flywheel resurfaced before you install it.

 

Thanks for the input Scotty. So its true then, for anyone who finds this thread later. This setup will work, but you just need to get the flywheel resurfaced.

 

So to be clear: you're saving $100, then spending $50 of it to have your inferior product re-surfaced for no other reason besides it being a crappy knockoff made without any sort of proper quality control, and that's OK with you over getting a proper name brand part to begin with?

Mind - blown

 

Wait you resurfaced a brand new fly wheel before first use?

 

People like that are so funny. perhaps they need the 50 bucks in savings to buy more ******?

 

Thats the MiataTurbo way to say it