Lightweight flywheel. Worth it for drag racing?
 

So with my recent aquisition of a 6spd, I am going to be doing a tranny swap. While I'm in there, I am going to replace the clutch as well.
My question is, should I go with a lightweight flywheel? The car will mostly used for drag racing. I realize that any reduction in rotating mass is a good thing but I've heard people say that it makes it harder to launch. Any thoughts?

In theory I believe it hurts your 60ft times, but its not enough for me to care about. I can pull a 1.7 and I have a 8lb flywheel.

I was hoping you would chime in on this :) if I could bust out a 1.7 60ft I'd be really happy. Sadly my best has been 2.0. You have a fidanza flywheel?

I like my FM 10.3lb, though I don't drag my car, wheel hop would destroy it. Launches are just as easy as before, very very minimal change to how it drives. Worth it? Do you mind spending the money on something that wont really do much for you? I didn't mind.

So you didn't notice any difference with the lighter flywheel?

I know a few guys that have drag raced with extra heavy flywheels. Might be worth trying to drive two cars back to back and see what you like. I have and like the lightweight flywheel in a street / autox car, but drags are a different story.
--Alex

when I had my turbo installed, the lower rev felt abit lag. After the flywheel was in, it rev'd much happier. Not much gain afterward.

I not entirely sure what brand my flywheel is. It came off a parts car with just a few thousand miles on the clutch(ACT)/flywheel at the time, I am pretty sure it has the CM ClutchMasters logo, but its 8.X lbs for sure.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that it won't do much for you. A 10lb might not be as noticeable, but my heel-toe downshifts are faster and smoother with the lightweight flywheel. Thats the main reason I wanted one.

Not much, but I'm n/a. I didn't notice any major change with my turbo RX7 either. Some people claim its night and day, but to me its so minimal, its almost non existent. Driveability is still great, even going from stock to 10.3lb flywheel and ACT HD clutch, it only took me the first few stop signs to get used to it. As far as revs, it does rev a bit faster disengaged but as far as driving around, I can't tell anything has changed.

But yes, the revs do climb faster, so I guess it does do something for shifting. But as far as everything else, not much. Mine is a daily, so I'm not too worried about heel toe.

I pulled a 1.53 60' in my 300ZX w/ a lightened flywheel. I'm not really convinced by all the arguments against it.

a heavier flywheel probably only benefits certain cars than can stuff huge rubber in the back otherwise you'll just spin and hop. for the miata the only downside i could see is that maybe it would be a little less forgiving having less margin for error

Much quicker in first two gears because the acceleration of the flywheel is multiplied by the gear you are using. Faster shifts because rev matching occurs more quickly.

Rotating mass at engine speed is the drag racer's enemy. Rotating mass at the driveshaft's speed is the next biggest enemy. Rotating mass at the wheels is last rotational mass enemy. And at the wheels it is 4 times more important than non-rotating mass in the vehicle with regard to acceleration. Wheel weight counts the least, but look how much drag racers pay attention to it. Don't take these guys word for it, google it.

When the car was NA, it made a big difference in 1st and 2ed gear. When boosted, Im not sure as ive never had a heavy flywheel. Youll have to rev the car higher when starting to move/launching it because of the less rotational mass. Rev matching is very quick, so thats a plus. My fidanza has a replaceable friction surface too, which is cool.

Wes just use launch control, then it doesn't matter!

lol

:edit: Mine must be a Fidanza, it has a replacable friction surface too. Cardriverx, was yours silver?

I must be the odd ball in this group, I got rid of my 8lb flywheel for a heavier one.

Well, I am thinking that i'm going to stay with the stock one for now. I really didnt want to spend the money on the flywheel but if a bunch of people said "omfg my car was soo fast with a lightweight flywheel" then I was going to consider it. Thanks for the input, guys!