well you aren't really "gaining" any HP, but your engine is not working as hard to get the HP to the wheels.
with the lightened flywheel the engine will rev and and come down much faster.
there is some debate as to the benefits of a lightend flywheel, but i always thought is was a cool idea, although i have no first hand experience with one.
someone with more experience can probably explain much more than i.
__________________
Joe
Previous modded F1K Pure #795 owner
Traded in for Blue '06 GTO July 1 361RWHP/359TQ 1/8 MI:8.56
well you aren't really "gaining" any HP, but your engine is not working as hard to get the HP to the wheels.
with the lightened flywheel the engine will rev and and come down much faster.
there is some debate as to the benefits of a lightend flywheel, but i always thought is was a cool idea, although i have no first hand experience with one.
someone with more experience can probably explain much more than i.
Are you sure it's lightened? That was what I was getting at. Typically, you buy a flywheel to match your performance goals. For example, in the Olds 455 Big Block that I have in my 81 TransAm, you would not want a lightened flywheel. The heavier the flywheel, the more torque the motor produces. The lighter the flywheel, the more top-end horsepower you can get.
The flywheel WILL actually give or take horsepower based on specific RPMs. On weighed flywheels, you can actually increase or decrese torque / power at specific rpms by moving it further down the radius. Not really an option on neutrally balanced flywheels, but by changing the weight of the flywheel you can improve top-end, or improve low-end.
I was just curious specifically where the gained power would be seen (or lost).
__________________
Todd,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Automobiles
@ http://www.PETACar.ORG
------------------------------------------- 2006 Pontiac Solstice (#1267)
- GM Cold Air Intake
- Clear Image Hi-Flow Cat
- Clear Image Shorty Header
A Fidanza flywheel can mate with any type of clutch material, including organic, kevlar, ceramic, metallic and sintered iron. They attach the friction surface with military grade aerospace fasteners. The ring gears are made from 1050 steel and are heat treated for durability. The gears are heated then pressed on and secured with grade 8 button screws. Fidanza was the first to use a stepped dowel system in most of their flywheel applications. This doweling method ensures that once the pressure plate is installed the dowels cannot be removed because they become locked into place. No chromemoly can compete with the awesome serviceability, strength and superior design of Fidanza's aluminum flywheels. If there was a better material out there, Fidanza would be using it.
Notes :
This product normally ships in 2-3 business days. Estimated weight is 9.5-lbs. Fits Manual Transmission only!
I wouldn't be suprised if the stock flywheel weighed anywheres from 16lbs - 23lbs.
Are you sure it's lightened? That was what I was getting at. Typically, you buy a flywheel to match your performance goals. For example, in the Olds 455 Big Block that I have in my 81 TransAm, you would not want a lightened flywheel. The heavier the flywheel, the more torque the motor produces. The lighter the flywheel, the more top-end horsepower you can get.
The flywheel WILL actually give or take horsepower based on specific RPMs. On weighed flywheels, you can actually increase or decrese torque / power at specific rpms by moving it further down the radius. Not really an option on neutrally balanced flywheels, but by changing the weight of the flywheel you can improve top-end, or improve low-end.
I was just curious specifically where the gained power would be seen (or lost).
i didn't mean to say that you won't be able to see a measurable difference in HP on a dyno at the wheels. just meant that if you were strictly looking at engine HP, there would be no difference, i guess.
now that i'm thinking about this, trying not to sound too ignorant, when they measure HP "at the flywheel" this is with the flywheel attatached, correct? if so, then yes you will see a gain in HP "at the flywheel" with a lightend flywheel (and correspondingly "at the wheels").
i think i'm done with this subject...i'm in over my head!!!
who's gonna shell out $400 and get a dyno...
__________________
Joe
Previous modded F1K Pure #795 owner
Traded in for Blue '06 GTO July 1 361RWHP/359TQ 1/8 MI:8.56
I've been doing some major research on this and from what I've read, 1st and 2nd gears will show a substancial improvement. In one of the articles I read where the stock flywheel was 25lbs with a 2.5L engine, in first gear it was equivalent to having 225lbs less in the car, nearly 80lbs in 2nd gear. It all depends on the gear ratios of course, but during a launch there should be noticeable improvement.
__________________ VIN #3247
Mysterious/2 Tone Leather Decked (everything but AC/OnStar/XM/Smokers Pkg)
Mods: Eibach Lowering Springs, Tinted Windows, Kappasphere CAI and Exhaust
Future Mods (in the order I plan to do them): Flywheel & clutch, Dyno/Tune, Turbocharger
I've been doing some major research on this and from what I've read, 1st and 2nd gears will show a substancial improvement. In one of the articles I read where the stock flywheel was 25lbs with a 2.5L engine, in first gear it was equivalent to having 225lbs less in the car, nearly 80lbs in 2nd gear. It all depends on the gear ratios of course, but during a launch there should be noticeable improvement.
Well, remember, the heavier the flywheel, the more low-end torque it helps produce. The lighter the flywheel, the quicker the motor builds it's RPMs.
So off the line, you'll feel less pull... it'll feel weaker until it gets to around 3,000 rpms and then you'll start to see an improvement.
If you were going to drive your car on the highway ALL the time, racing around at high rpms, a lightened flywheel would be an excellent modification. Or, even if you were going to participate in something like the Petite LeMans or something... but, if your going to use it in stop and go traffic, stop light to stop light, you may want to consider keeping your stock flywheel.
These car manufactures don't just build a massively heavy flywheel cause they're stupid and they don't know any better... they build the flywheel in such a way as to give a good median between low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. If all you want to do is just improve the "overall" power of your car, save your money and spend it on something else.
If you plan to rally or road-race your Solstice... then get this flywheel.
If anyone doesn't understand this concept, consider that the flywheel is a link between the motor and transmission. When you get that heavy flywheel moving, it acts like a spinning weight (balanced). The road is friction, and is constantly trying to slow you down, the heavier the flywheel, the more force it helps put against the resistance that is the road. It improves low-end torque until you begin to build rpms and then it becomes a hinderance.
Keep in mind, you MAY improve the quarter mile time by going with a lighter fly-wheel. But... when you're driving your car around in normal stop and go traffic, you'll have to practically floor it to get the car to accelerate as smoothly as say a GM sedan with the naturally aspirated 3800 motor.
Just FYI... keep that in mind if you're considering it.
__________________
Todd,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Automobiles
@ http://www.PETACar.ORG
------------------------------------------- 2006 Pontiac Solstice (#1267)
- GM Cold Air Intake
- Clear Image Hi-Flow Cat
- Clear Image Shorty Header
Location: Rosamond, CA - Home of Willow Springs Raceway
I had a light flywheel on my old Sentra SE-R. The car definitely rev'd faster and felt more responsive off the line. There wasn't any more hp/torque on the dyno though.
__________________
2007 Cool GXP with Darkside Top, 5 spd, Ebony Cloth, Monsoon with Single CD, Sport Pedals, XM, A/C
Mods - Solo Street/Race Exhaust, K&N Drop-in Air Filter, EDAL
Well, remember, the heavier the flywheel, the more low-end torque it helps produce.
But, I don't think so. Here's a reasonable quote from one of the many vendors selling lightened flywheels:
Quote:
How does a lightweight flywheel add horsepower?
Adding a lightweight flywheel does not add any hp to the engine (it can’t, as any engine in any given state will produce a given hp based on the temperature and the air density).
What adding a light flywheel does to your drivetrain is to lighten the overall reciprocating mass attached to the end of the engine’s crank, thus allowing the engine to rev faster thus accelerate faster.
I think that is the real story.
And I think Adrenaline had it right.
__________________ "I consider myself a spiritual seeker, an incomplete and moribund being on a lifelong quest for wholeness and transcendence. I believe in an Intelligent Universe, the evolution of Knowledge, and the immortality of the human soul. And I believe that I must own a Solstice GXP. A yellow one. Or maybe red."
