Advice for flywheel

[rtking]

Hi All - trying to figure out what flywheel people would recommend. I will need to purchase a new flywheel (can't find the original one - though I'm sure it'll turn up when the project is done!) Seems there's billet steel and aluminum flywheels, but they're all rather light at 11 pounds (billet steel) and 9-10 pounds (aluminum.) While allowing the engine to rev freely is nice, I'd like something that will impart enough inertia to get the car rolling without a lot of revs. Plus I'm mostly convinced to use a SPEC Stage 2+ clutch, so not much slipping of the clutch is available from what I understand.

Any thoughts / recommendations on aluminum vs steel for a weekend and occasional track car? Or would taking a stock 20.5 pound flywheel and having it turned down and lightened to roughly 18 - 19 pounds work?

[Under Pressure]

I prefer Detroit Steel for the inertia braking.

[Mike S]

I've got the Spec aluminum flywheel with a Spec 3 clutch. I only need to rev it slightly more than the stock steel one. If I had to travel the 405 everyday, then I would stay with the stock steel one. You can get a replacement from the parts store.

[NY eric]

I have only used stock flywheels. Not a real fan of taking away material from a flywheel to lighten it. I have sold a few of the spec flywheels and no one ever complained to me about them not holding up.. Personally I would put money elsewhere like tires (mine never seem to last stated wear rating)

[MikeFleming]

If you're planning on making gobs of power or revving high (>7200) then definitely replace the stock iron wheel with a good steel one. There's not much leg protection in the stock aluninum bell housings. I have a steel flywheel in my Red Baron just now (weighs about 19.5 Lbs, iirc, made by SPEC) and I have a spare aluminum one from the previous build on the TC (about 13 Lbs, iirc). Both have the same bolted-on, replaceable friction facing. I probably also have a stock iron flywheel somewhere. I'm sure I would make some spiders homeless should I retrieve it.

[dew34]

Spec or fidanza no longer make a steel flywheel . I have been in contact with both of them recently and neither have plans to make them again . So right now its either a custom steel flywheel or aluminum fly wheel if your looking to use a svo sized clutch.
mike

[rtking]

Thanks all. I guess there's re-surfaced flywheels available from Pep Boys or Autozone, but considering I really don't want to do this job over and over again, I was hoping to "do it once, do it right." (Whatever "right" means!) But as Mike points out, having something bulletproof would be nice as I would like to keep my legs should anything come apart.

[Raven855]

If you are looking for a lighter steel flywheel, the flywheel from an Escort can be made to work. The flywheel is the same casting number as the Svo but is machined differently. It is about 3.5 lbs lighter. If you use the the Escort 8.5" clutch ,the combined weight to our Turbo flywheel and clutch assembly ends up being around 6 lbs lighter. To use the Escort flywheel you will need a flywheel from an 85-90 Escort GT w/ 1.9 engine or a flywheel from a 91-96 Escort w/ a 1.9 engine. The 91-96 version is suppose to be a little lighter than the 85-90 version and is the one preferred by the ministock crowd. The flywheel bolts are about 3/8" shorter and ARP makes a set of bolts that are slightly less expensive than the Turbo bolts for the Escort. I understand the bolts for a mustang automatic can be used also at the flywheel but would need to check on that. The clutch for the Escort is 8.5" and the turbo models are 9.25". To use a Turbo clutch you will have to redrill all 9 cover bolt holes and dowl pin holes in the flywheel. The cover bolts will need to be slightly shortened also.

[MikeFleming]

Going in the opposite direction: A few years back there was LOTS of chatter on tf and other sites about using an adapter plate and a bellhousing from a v-ate engine. Then custom drilling a 5.0 v-ate flywheel to mount to the 2.3 crank.

So many more choices for flywheel and clutch. All with 10-spline for the same gearbox.

[Raven855]

Going in the opposite direction: A few years back there was LOTS of chatter on tf and other sites about using an adapter plate and a bellhousing from a v-ate engine. Then custom drilling a 5.0 v-ate flywheel to mount to the 2.3 crank.

So many more choices for flywheel and clutch. All with 10-spline for the same gearbox.

You can buy an aluminum flywhell with the 2.3 crank and v8 clutch. I have one, but don't remember if it is Spec or Firanzda.