Flywheel Material

Dave Gantz · 02-28-2014, 10:48 AM

Years ago, generally, different weight steel flywheels were used for launching a drag car. Aluminum flywheels were used for circle track cars, to accelerate quicker, not having to worry about the launch. (At least that's the way I always had heard it.)
Are aluminum flywheels used in drag racing these days? (Or before?) I see a lot of them for sale, and with the advent of adjustable clutches, I was wondering if maybe the combination of aluminum flywheel and adjustable clutch (base and centrifugal) has changed things.

tj310 · 02-28-2014, 11:10 AM

http://www.advancedclutches.com/metalcoverclutches.htm This is a link to pictures that show the extent that they go to to reduce flywheel weight. ---Trevor

Mike Pearson · 02-28-2014, 02:56 PM

Back when I ran a stick in my car which was before all of the good clutches of today the difference from a 14 lb aluminum flywheel with a steel face to a 25 lb steel wheel was 2 tenths. This was in SS/J. Back to back tests on the same day. Many moons ago though!!

older racer · 02-28-2014, 03:08 PM

hi, BINGO, had same results also. lw is faster, simple physics!! same holds true today.

randy wilson · 02-28-2014, 08:43 PM

Most people say the aluminum is faster, and I'm sure in most cases it is, but in our SS\CS 291 c.i., 6.50 rear, 3.29 low, a rag street strip clutch, and a 30 lb. fly wheel was .06 quicker back to back, then a soft lock, and aluminum 12 lb. flywheel. I know, it surprised me, but then maybe we had the wrong tires, or something.

b.guggenmos · 03-01-2014, 12:04 AM

There used to be an old rule of thumb that said flywheel weight should be 1% of the vehicle weight. But that was back in the day of a 2400 lb. pressure plates or the discs with four pucs. They bite hard and break parts. Brian

joespanova · 03-01-2014, 09:20 AM

Inertia. I went from a 30 lb steel wheel to an 15 lb aluminum and picked up roughly .15 or so. I'm sure there are application exceptions.....but generally everyone benefits from the lighter parts now a days. Faster recovery at the gear changes , clutchless transmissions , adjustable light weight clutches , data loggers .....all expensive stuff............but always the std. of fast "manual" or as I like to refer "semi manual" stick cars. The difference being , clutch assisted or clutchless.
I don't consider "clutchless" as a true "manual".

james schaechter · 03-01-2014, 09:48 AM

We tried lighter back to back testing years ago and the heavier stuff was quicker. We finally stayed with the lighter pieces long enough to figure it out and it was much quicker than the heavy clutch flywheel parts ever were. I think the heavy stuff had an easier tuning window, but if you figure out how to use the lighter equipment, it is better all the way around. There is a learning curve. There are some real good choices out there for transmissions and clutches that were not around before. The clutches we run today in our stocker are waaay better than the stuff we had in our modified car in the 90's!

Dave Gantz · 03-03-2014, 12:28 PM

I guess the answer is, "It depends".
I like what you're saying, James. Gotta work on each and see what ends up fastest.

02-28-2014, 10:48 AM	#1
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 537 Likes: 134 Liked 251 Times in 125 Posts	Flywheel Material Years ago, generally, different weight steel flywheels were used for launching a drag car. Aluminum flywheels were used for circle track cars, to accelerate quicker, not having to worry about the launch. (At least that's the way I always had heard it.) Are aluminum flywheels used in drag racing these days? (Or before?) I see a lot of them for sale, and with the advent of adjustable clutches, I was wondering if maybe the combination of aluminum flywheel and adjustable clutch (base and centrifugal) has changed things.

02-28-2014, 11:10 AM	#2
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material http://www.advancedclutches.com/metalcoverclutches.htm This is a link to pictures that show the extent that they go to to reduce flywheel weight. ---Trevor

02-28-2014, 02:56 PM	#3
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,417 Likes: 597 Liked 1,880 Times in 562 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material Back when I ran a stick in my car which was before all of the good clutches of today the difference from a 14 lb aluminum flywheel with a steel face to a 25 lb steel wheel was 2 tenths. This was in SS/J. Back to back tests on the same day. Many moons ago though!! __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

02-28-2014, 03:08 PM	#4
older racer Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 208 Likes: 13 Liked 63 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material hi, BINGO, had same results also. lw is faster, simple physics!! same holds true today.

02-28-2014, 08:43 PM	#5
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material Most people say the aluminum is faster, and I'm sure in most cases it is, but in our SS\CS 291 c.i., 6.50 rear, 3.29 low, a rag street strip clutch, and a 30 lb. fly wheel was .06 quicker back to back, then a soft lock, and aluminum 12 lb. flywheel. I know, it surprised me, but then maybe we had the wrong tires, or something. __________________ don,t have one

03-01-2014, 12:04 AM	#6
b.guggenmos Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 68 Likes: 18 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Flywheel Material There used to be an old rule of thumb that said flywheel weight should be 1% of the vehicle weight. But that was back in the day of a 2400 lb. pressure plates or the discs with four pucs. They bite hard and break parts. Brian

03-01-2014, 09:20 AM	#7
joespanova Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ga. Posts: 521 Likes: 7 Liked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material Inertia. I went from a 30 lb steel wheel to an 15 lb aluminum and picked up roughly .15 or so. I'm sure there are application exceptions.....but generally everyone benefits from the lighter parts now a days. Faster recovery at the gear changes , clutchless transmissions , adjustable light weight clutches , data loggers .....all expensive stuff............but always the std. of fast "manual" or as I like to refer "semi manual" stick cars. The difference being , clutch assisted or clutchless. I don't consider "clutchless" as a true "manual".

03-01-2014, 09:48 AM	#8
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,976 Likes: 1,261 Liked 1,384 Times in 288 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material We tried lighter back to back testing years ago and the heavier stuff was quicker. We finally stayed with the lighter pieces long enough to figure it out and it was much quicker than the heavy clutch flywheel parts ever were. I think the heavy stuff had an easier tuning window, but if you figure out how to use the lighter equipment, it is better all the way around. There is a learning curve. There are some real good choices out there for transmissions and clutches that were not around before. The clutches we run today in our stocker are waaay better than the stuff we had in our modified car in the 90's! __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

03-03-2014, 12:28 PM	#9
Dave Gantz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Verrry South Jersey Posts: 537 Likes: 134 Liked 251 Times in 125 Posts	Re: Flywheel Material I guess the answer is, "It depends". I like what you're saying, James. Gotta work on each and see what ends up fastest.