What is everyone's opinion on lightweight flywheels?

FORSFED · 02-04-2005

I'm a little unsure about how much I like the aluminum Fidanza flywheel I have in my car and wanted to hear what others opinions are who have run them in their cars.

The one thing I do like about it is that the motor does rev extremely quick. But, I think a lot of that also has to do with my lightweight and fully balanced rotating assembly as well.

Things I don't like about it are when I come to a quick stop the engine usually kills and upon coming to a normal stop, the engine will rev up to like 1500 and hang there for a few seconds before coming back down to a normal idle. Has anyone else experienced anything like this or is it just me? Is there a way I can tune this out? Any other suggestions or opinions? Ultimately I'm debating on whether or not to use a stock one again...

**JET** · 02-04-2005

Yeah, I think the fidanza is a little too light for a car without balance shafts. It depends on the application though, for autox it would be fine, but normal driving it makes lauching more difficult. The ACT seems to be a good mix, but the Fidanza seems to have a better surface for higher HP cars and it is replaceable.

Jakey · 02-04-2005

Are you still running a stock ECU? What is your idle set to? You may find this thread on Tooners to be quite interesting as it is in regards to the stalling issue you are also running into: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/show...0&page=1&pp=25

Also, From what I've been reading (yes reading, not personal experience), the SSG is a great option for a flywheel.

carltalon · 02-04-2005

I'm running the ACT and have pretty mutch the same symptoms when slowing down or stopping. I can usually keep the car from stalling if I wait till the last second to push the clutch in before comeing to a stop.

MustGoFaster · 02-04-2005

I have a fidanza, and none of the issues you guys describe. I like it.

At-Least-It's-An-Evo · 02-04-2005

I had the ACT and had no issues you guys speak of also. I wasn't able to tell a difference in drivability.

**1ViciousGSX** · 02-05-2005

I have the Fidanza billet flywheel.

Light flywheels are a "give to get" kind of thing. You will give up some drivability issues with launching and possibly have low idle stalls when pushing in the clutch too soon, but once your car is lauched, you should see an improvement. The less power it takes to turn the flywheel is more power getting to the ground. This would only apply to hard acceleration though.

02-05-2005

I have a fidenza 8lb flywheel and no balance shafts, I've only ever had the car stall on me once just from pushing the clutch in and the car had a mis from bad plug wires so that certainly didnt help. Otherwise the only time I notice it is just around traffic driving that i have to make sure to keep the rpms up a bit more leaving from a stoplight when i'm slipping the clutch. Launching I cant really say if there is a huge difference because I have tires that just spin when I launch, a stutter box and my stock clutch wouldnt let me launch before because it slipped so bad.

Alpine TSi · 02-05-2005

I like my ACT, I have noticed the RPMs hang longer between shifts, and that is all that matters to me.

A//// Guy · 02-05-2005

Wow I didnt know this many people had lightened flywheels. Is it really worth the few extra horses? Sure there are a few gained but is the price justifyable? Just curious if anyone has a dyno camparison. I would only thing between shifts keeping the rpms up would help, but if you have NLTS then theres no gain.

I agree that less weight = more power, especially rotating weight but Im curious as to how much is gained and what are the disadvantages of just runing a stock flywheel?

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 02-05-2005

They do next to nothing for power, especially on a dyno where you usually run in 4th gear. They are required for safety reasons once you start making a lot of power. They help road racer guys rev match a lot quicker because the rev up and rev down much quicker when you are out of gear.

john · 02-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustGoFaster

I have a fidanza, and none of the issues you guys describe. I like it.

Same here.

john · 02-05-2005

They are not that expensive Peter. I believe I bought mine for somewhere around 220 or so off ebay. Not sure if shipping was included or not.

santa · 02-05-2005

well I wouldn't run one just because I saw what happen with Speedfreaks car... The bolt's being ripped right out of the flywheel... thats not cool. Yes he was running what a 3100 or 2900 I cant remember off the top of my head, but still it ripped them right out..

Kevin

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 02-06-2005

That was because the throwout bearing went to pieces and destroyed everything in the area. If you plan on making a lot of power, you better run something. It would even less cool to have a stock flywheel come apart at 9000RPMs and come through your hood.

A//// Guy · 02-06-2005

Yea they are not that bad as far as price goes. Just didnt know you needed a non stock one when you make it up there in HP. Although, everything adds up as far as I see it, thats what I meant as far as price goes.

Im going to be taking my tranny off again to replace my clutch since that is what I think is the problem... pressure plate lost its tension making the clutch engage very very low.

Is it worth it to buy a diff flywheel while im in there? Or should I just skip it and get a FPR or springs/camber kit instead? Those are my options for this summer.

MustGoFaster · 02-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecoli

It would even less cool to have a stock flywheel come apart at 9000RPMs and come through your hood.

Main reason I have it. And when you take into account the fact that buying it saves you $35-45 on getting your flywheel machined, (the first time you put it in) it looks a bit less expensive.

02-06-2005

I have a twinn disc clutch with intergrated flywheel. The whole assembly weights less than 14lbs. It revs like a crotch rocket, but its gonna take a bit of tuning to get it to not die when i push the clutch. Overall though I really like it

J

FORSFED · 02-06-2005

Well, it sounds like there's an even mix of opinions from everyone. From what I'm gathering, it seems like it'd be a wise choice to just keep the Fidanza I am using and work on tuning and adjusting things to keep it from stalling. My question is what things would I need to look into changing? Is there much that can really be done or is this a problem with the ecu where the engine is decellerating faster than it thinks it should be?

To answer Jakey's question I do have an eprom ecu with all of the goodies but no change to the idle speed.

Super Bleeder!! · 02-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustGoFaster

Main reason I have it. And when you take into account the fact that buying it saves you $35-45 on getting your flywheel machined, (the first time you put it in) it looks a bit less expensive.

so fidanzas are already stepped right out of the box? for ACT or what depth?