aluminum flywheels - any long term users?

[34T]

thinking about an alum flywheel for the 3.4 when it goes in but I don't want something that might come apart a year down the road, either. Has ANYone run one (or had long experience with them generally) for several years?
How much abuse? Run it at the track (any track) or high rpm highway driving etc etc?
I want to get some idea of how these compare to a std ole steel one. Might be of use to a lot of people - and yes, I looked; LOTS on clutches but nothing I could find on any lengthy useage of an alum flywheel. Maybe they just don't last????....... Can they be resurfaced? Are they just too expensive? What race cars are using them (might be interesting); Maybe something on brand names and customer service/support, too.

AND lets make this for those who have experience, good or bad, NOT just opinions; you know how it goes - an opinion and 25 cents will get you a cup of coffee.....

[SappySE107]

Good luck then, since you only want those with a DOHC with long term experience to tell you about them.

[34T]

you're right; I am going to put this request up as many places I can; just got back from a week away so I have to squeeze some work time in with the postings!!!!
But actually, even someone who has run one (kinda hard hopefully) for a year would be worth hearing about. What I HOPE to find is some kind of common thread or denominator - ie too light and they fail; anything to do with extended high rpm use; what happens with constant 'banging' at the dragstrip; anything..........

[SappySE107]

Michael is the only person I know of to have one in a DOHC. I drove it and it was fine to me. Still, why are you limiting yourself to asking DOHC owners. The pushrod owners outnumber DOHC owners and its all the same. You also needto know how it affects the heavier cars compared to lighter. They have steel insert on them for the contact area...so there isn't much of an issue for you with how long they last.

[34T]

hi Ben
yup; I am going to ask this question as many places as I can; just haven't done it yet.
but thx for that input. I guess I am interested in how the different thermal expansion materials work out over a zillion cycles of heating/cooling and then with stress and vibration thrown into the mix; also if there might be a manufacturer(s?) to look out for.... which is always helpful.

[SappySE107]

Fidanza or something. Brad would know, he bought one and then sold it (didnt do the 5 speed swap). The fiero guys have used it, do a search on fiero.nl and I bet you get all the info you need. Id get one if I was tearing my trans off to do a clutch, but I wont tear it apart solely for that. A lighter car would be better suited for it but I didnt have any issues with it in michael's car when he let me drive it.

[gsnickle]

Well I don't know if this will help, but I have been racing my TDC fiero with an alumnum flywheel for about 5 years, and that has been one of the least problematic parts of the car (the clutch is a whole other issue). The only problem is that I am using an Isuzu 5spd not the stock tranny for the tdc. I know that they are very different beasts, but I dont know if the flywheel is any different. I am using a flywheel for a 2.8l pushrod v6. It has the same bolt pattern and is nutral balanced like the 3.4 tdc.

thanx
Garth

[34T]

hey Garth that is very helpful; do you have a brand name? Did you try any other brand prior or is the first experience with alum? And when you say racing is it 1/4 mile or endurance (road) or what, ANDDDDD how much time or distance or whatever (some indicator of total use) would you put on it?
Excellent input.
THANKS!!!

[Gemmer]

Would a lighter flywheel add HP to the wheels by reducing rotating mass and thus lowering the percent of drivetrain powerloss?

Just wondering

[Streetrodder83]

Techinically it won't add hp, but free up Hp that is already there. Reducing weight at engine speed is the best way to free up hp, secondly weight reduced at axle speed is the next best thing. Followed by reducing overall vehicle weight.

[gsnickle]

Well the car started out as a road course/scca solo II car for the first three years that I had the engine and flywheel in it, and then I moved over to the drag racing. The company that I got the flywheel from is no longer in business, but the same flywheel is now available from the fiero store (www.thefierostore.com) for about $400. The flywheel that would be used in a TDC set-up would be an 88 fiero V6 application (neutral balanced).

As for total use I have about 15000 miles of primarily racing on the car and the flywheel is fine (i know I just had to change a clutch). The flywheel givith and it takith away. You will see a gain in the acceleration of the engine, and it will be a little bit more free reving, but you will pay a price. First the idle quality will go down (surging and overall a bit rougher than you are used to) and second the ability to get out of the hole well will become significantly more difficult. The loss of rotational mass does not allow for the storing of as much energy as the heavier flywheel and will make the good launch zone a smaller target to hit correctly.

Overall I like the flywheel for what it helps with in my application, but if you use the car for street driving I am not sure that I would sacrifice the drivability for the small gain that would result.

Just something to think of.

thanx
Garth