Flywheel Advice -- Bit of help..

[ewendc2r]

Hi guys,

I've got my gearbox in pieces rebuilding and my clutch / flywheel is due to be replaced while im at it.. The clutch had actually totally destroyed itself (i.e portions around the 'ring' where material was completely gone) and was missing about 50% of the material in total mostly around the outside edge lol .. suprised it still worked!

So anyhow looks like Im set on the Exedy Stage 1 Racing Clutch but I figure when it comes to the flywheel i may as well get the lightest possible.. I realise its about WHERE the weight is removed, but surely you have toda at around 9lbs and then fidanza at 7lbs, that is significant. Exedy comes in at 8.5lb but thats still nearly 20% heavier than the Fidanza Aluminum flywheel .. There is also a Comptech buy I can't find anywhere that stocks it for the life of me ... 6.5lb!!

Anyhow -- From those of you in the know, am I stressing over nothing or would the 1-2lb saving of the fidanza over the Exedy actually be noticeable on the track?? are we talking a tenth of a second at QR (i.e. **** all) or a more significant benefit? I am also assuming the majority of benefit of a lightweight flywheel is more so suited to 1/2 gear (i.e. drag application) than higher gears due to the natural gearing effect and drive of vehicles weight in relation to rotating engine mass... ??

[ewendc2r]

If someone tells me the design of the exedy / toda overcomes the benefit / poor design of the lighter flyhweel that would also be helpful.

Why doesn't Toda make a RACE ONLY flywheel? Surely race cars aren't so much worried about stalling the engine ..

[e240]

Toda does make very effective flywheel and clutch unit - don't forget, the flywheel also needs to be strong enough to take drive train shock...

[ewendc2r]

Yep totally appreciate that, and have been looking for cases of shattered flywheels.. seems more prevalent in FI setups, with lots of torque. 1.8L of Torque just doesnt seem to be enough to shatter it. If you know of any failures though let me know?
The Toda Flywheel is sworn upon by lots of people, but I wonder if:

1) they paid for it, unlikely to bag it. Moreso, they paid a lot for it, so want to believe its the best.
2) they havent' had the experience of a multitude of flywheels to give real feedback.

e240 -- appreciate your comments, but can you perhaps justify your statement a little for me? I try and understand why something is better and costs almost double the money before purchasing.. Often branding can get in the way of the truth.. There are some diamonds in the rough out there so to speak... Just don't know enough about Flywheels!! I am confident the fidanza al wheel will hold up to abuse on a stock DC2R from what I have read, but as one racing veteran pointed out, it seems most real racers use a chromoly unit, usually toda ... (to do with the heat properties I understand of each metal).

Obviously some people have bought other brands -- I just want my bang for buck like everyone else :) Now .... Off to research replacement synchros etc ... argh.