Posted By: Big Squeeze
Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 03:55 AM
Anyone done a back to back test, in a 10 second car with slicks????? 
Steel versus aluminum flywheel????
Posted By: fourgearsavoy
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 04:05 AM
Quote:
Anyone done a back to back test, in a 10 second car with slicks?????
There was a discussion about this over at www.umtrnorth.com a while back with some good information
Gus
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 04:08 AM
Quote:Quote:
Anyone done a back to back test, in a 10 second car with slicks?????
There was a discussion about this over at www.umtrnorth.com a while back with some good information
Gus
I looked through there and didn't find anything....so I started thread over there too......
Posted By: fast68plymouth
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 04:18 AM
its the clutch/flywheel combo really.
with an aluminum wheel, you're going to need something(clutch or tire) to slip more, to keep from pulling the motor down too far on the launch.
on my buddies stocker, the aluminum wheel is slightly quicker....when the clutch is working right.
with an aluminum wheel, you're going to need something(clutch or tire) to slip more, to keep from pulling the motor down too far on the launch.
on my buddies stocker, the aluminum wheel is slightly quicker....when the clutch is working right.
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 04:47 AM
Quote:
its the clutch/flywheel combo really.
with an aluminum wheel, you're going to need something(clutch or tire) to slip more, to keep from pulling the motor down too far on the launch.
on my buddies stocker, the aluminum wheel is slightly quicker....when the clutch is working right.
I was planning on calling you in the AM to ask your thoughts........I've been looking into getting a Soft-Lok and Hyatt's recommending an aluminum flywheel.........I was curious if anyone here had done any good back to back tests.......
I know that when I race cars that are similar in ET, my car with a steel flywheel, leaps about a 1/2 car length on each gear change when power shifted, and I'm assuming that's from the inertia of the stored energy of the steel flywheel at 6,500........and I'm guessing it won't do that as much with an aluminum flywheel???
Posted By: AndyF
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 08:13 AM
It is going to depend on the combination. Weight, gear ratio, trans ratio, torque curve, etc.
Lighter is faster except when it isn't. You can spend a lot of money trying to wring out the last few tenths. If it is just a bracket car I'd use something bulletproof and not worry about the last couple of tenths. If it is a class car then open the wallet and start testing.
Lighter is faster except when it isn't. You can spend a lot of money trying to wring out the last few tenths. If it is just a bracket car I'd use something bulletproof and not worry about the last couple of tenths. If it is a class car then open the wallet and start testing.
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 01:19 PM
Quote:
It is going to depend on the combination. Weight, gear ratio, trans ratio, torque curve, etc.
Lighter is faster except when it isn't. You can spend a lot of money trying to wring out the last few tenths. If it is just a bracket car I'd use something bulletproof and not worry about the last couple of tenths. If it is a class car then open the wallet and start testing.
It's my street car.......and I want it to go as fast as it can go.......I'm thinking of doing a back to back test myself.......Do you think Mopar Muscle might be interested in the article, if I document everything?
Posted By: polyspheric
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 02:21 PM
leaps about a 1/2 car length on each gear change when power shifted
You're getting back some of the power used to accelerate the flywheel. A light wheel won't do that, because it didn't use that power - it ll went to the tires.
A light wheel means re-learning your launch technique, including RPM, clutch slip, and chassis setup. If you get it right it may launch as well (probably not better), and the accel in low gear after the tire hooks is always better.
For a street roll-it-out-and-punch-it (no traction loss) it's faster in 1st, almost no effect in 4th.
You're getting back some of the power used to accelerate the flywheel. A light wheel won't do that, because it didn't use that power - it ll went to the tires.
A light wheel means re-learning your launch technique, including RPM, clutch slip, and chassis setup. If you get it right it may launch as well (probably not better), and the accel in low gear after the tire hooks is always better.
For a street roll-it-out-and-punch-it (no traction loss) it's faster in 1st, almost no effect in 4th.
Posted By: perfmachst
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 06:59 PM
hi, few years ago, done a test between heavy and light wheels. the aluminum wheel was .20 faster. also , could launch at a higher RPM, didn't have the flywheel effect of spinning the tires.the MPH was about 2 MPH faster. this wad with a B&B clutch and rag disc.very postive clutch. tim hyatt is very good at figuring clutch /flywheel setups. all this in a 340 duster /stocker. running 11 sec.
Posted By: oldiron
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/29/10 08:11 PM
Quote:
hi, few years ago, done a test between heavy and light wheels. the aluminum wheel was .20 faster. also , could launch at a higher RPM, didn't have the flywheel effect of spinning the tires.the MPH was about 2 MPH faster. this wad with a B&B clutch and rag disc.very postive clutch. tim hyatt is very good at figuring clutch /flywheel setups. all this in a 340 duster /stocker. running 11 sec.
I would add that if you are going to drive hard on the street/ or lots of passes w/o cool down the steel wheel is more reliable. AL FWs have a steel insert held w/rivets. Steel/AL expand at different rates and have popped lots of rivets and warped inserts. I usually run 2 stick classes and sometimes (when I'm almost on my game), its round robin at least for a few rounds. Just something to consider. I'm prob going back to steel FW and steel pressure ring on the clutch assembly. A little slower is OK since we don't get paid to go faster.
Posted By: fast68plymouth
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/30/10 02:47 AM
Quote:
68 Barracuda 4 Speed/Jerico, New Best! 1.35 60', 10.13 @ 131, slowly, very slowly, getting faster - NA LD Wedge
Greg, sounds like that thing is coming around nicely
Posted By: Big Squeeze
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/30/10 03:44 AM
Thanks for the info guys..... that's what I was looking for......
that's what I was looking for......
Posted By: fourgearsavoy
Re: Steel versus aluminum flywheel???? - 11/30/10 03:47 AM
I talked to a few of the "seasoned" veterans over at UMTR and there were many conflicting opinions on both sides of the fence.In general I came away from the discussion with the understanding that if your engine can recover quickly from the RPM drop at the hit and gear changes then the aluminum will be quicker 
But if your specific combination needs the inertia of the big heavy wheel then it will run more consistent and stay "up on the pipe" through the gear changes.Just like most street/strip stick guys I try to balance on the edge 
I have a lightened steel wheel 23# with a really heavy Hays Mark XII plate and it seems to work with my mild stroker 
Gus
But if your specific combination needs the inertia of the big heavy wheel then it will run more consistent and stay "up on the pipe" through the gear changes.Just like most street/strip stick guys I try to balance on the edge I have a lightened steel wheel 23# with a really heavy Hays Mark XII plate and it seems to work with my mild stroker Gus