Aluminum Spool
 

Looking for feedback on aluminum spools, good/bad or indifferent. Has anyone done a back to back against a lightweight steel spool on a chassis dyno?

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

NO- But the weight of your car is usually the determining factor as to wehther or not you can/should use an Alum Spool---2800 pounds is about the break off point over that a steel under an alum one. Maybe if you have a heavy LOW horsepower combo you might be able to get away with it but you will have to monitor the R&P closely---Otherwise steel will be the way to go---Also think of this if you take off 2 pounds of spool weight the engine thinks that you took 7-8 pounds of vehicle weight out cuz of the rotating mass is now less---Comp 387

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

We risk running them in our SS '56 & '57 Chev's at 3700 lbs with a trans brake and steep gearing...of course one broke in the water at Dallas a few years ago at 8 cars...that hurt...worth an easy .08 in our cars. In talking with Mark Williams tech, of course like all "on-the-edge" parts subject to inspection and breakage...at the wrong time

Risk reward

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

It will be of most benefit to low HP cars with steep gearing....

When considering which parts of rotating mass to eliminate, you work you way down from the mass with the most diameter, and remember that the speed at which you are attempting to accelerate that mass is a huge factor in the effect at the time slip.

A vehicle with a starting line ratio of 15:1 would benefit more than a vehicle with a starting line ratio of 9:1 from all mass behind the transmission being lighter, long stories and wild theories short.

A properly lightened steel spool might actually have a very similar moment of inertia that an Aluminum spool, because of the weight being removed at a farther radius point from center.

Obviously, the part of the vehicle's rotating mass that would have the least effect on moment of inertia would be drilled axles, the benefit of that is more in reduction of total rotating mass and unsprung weight.

goob- if b*llsh*t were a bidness, I'd be a billionaire.......;)

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

what is the heaviest car you should run a spool in

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

I had one in my 3530 lbs LT1 98 Camaro and it made it less than 20 runs. The guys at strange told me so but I thought I was smarter! Well I was wrong. I have been told the guys running one from Mark Williams are living. For a 12 bolt it requires machining the case for a larger OD bearing. I think it is a lot of work and money for a very small gain. After installing the lightest steel spool from strange I saw no ET loss! Just my 2 cents

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

I have been running one since 1999. Thousands of runs with a stick leaving at 6800 in a 3300lb car. Mark Williams builds the best stuff

Re: Aluminum Spool
 

The M/W stuff has it's own spline angle, superior for sure.