[SPC-List] lightweight flywheel review

[Lane]

Good info Bryce and a well-balanced opinion, thanks for the write-up!

Lane     
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Visit my Saturn Car Audio & Performance Page at http://www57.pair.com/lane



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryce Austin" <bryce_austin (at) yahoo.com>
To: SPC-List
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 9:52 PM
Subject: [SPC-List] lightweight flywheel review


> Hello fellow Saturnoleos! A few months back, I decided
> it was time for a new clutch (96K miles and 2 race
> seasons had taken their toll). At the same time, I
> decided to install a Fidanza lightweight flywheel. Now
> that I've driven with it for a few thousand miles, I
> can give a review of what it's like to drive a "stock"
> Saturn drivetrain with a lightweight flywheel.
> 
> First, the downsides:
> 
> 1) The engine is easier to stall out, no question
> about it. However, I have adjusted to the reduced
> inertia in a matter of days and have no problem
> anymore in daily driving. I may be utilizing a little
> more clutch slippage to start off in first gear, but
> my old clutch still had PLENTY of material left on
> it-- it was the pressure plate that was getting weak.
> So, I'm not at all worried about this.
> 
> 2) The hole in the middle of the Fidanza flywheel is a
> hair too small for the Saturn crankshaft boss. Even
> after cleaning up the crankshaft and heating the
> flywheel with a torch, it refused to go on. Some LIGHT
> work with a dremel tool and a sanding wheel took care
> of the problem, but it was hard to bring myself to
> free-hand sand a balanced piece of machinery...
> 
> 3) After installation, I have noticed that the engine
> RPM's dip a bit lower when letting off the clutch. The
> engine has never actually stalled, but the RPM's dip
> and raise several times when approaching a stoplight
> (while in neutral, of course). However, this is a
> SMALL issue-- probably something that only people like
> Lane and I would even bother to mention. When the car
> is stopped at a light, though, it idles just fine.
> 
> 4) I may be picking up a SLIGHT increase in overall
> vibration from the engine. Maybe I'm kidding myself,
> though, and this also may have something to do with
> enlarging the flywheel hole (see #2).
> 
> 5) There is probably less resistance to overheating
> the clutch, since there is a lot less mass to absorb
> the heat generated. I'm guessing that this isn't an
> issue for anything other than repeated drag runs or
> blatant street abuse...
> 
> 6) The flywheel is expensive. An OEM flywheel is a
> little over $100, and the Fidanza is $400. Welcome to
> the aftermarket.
> 
> Now, for the UPSIDES!
> 
> 1) The car pulls noticeably harder, particularly in
> low gears. This is an immediate and obvious increase--
> it's really cool. It's an even greater increase than
> what my lightweight wheels provided (and they dropped
> 26lbs total).
> 
> 2) The shifts. Ah, the shifts. With the stock
> flywheel, I always felt like I had to wait way too
> long in between upshifts in order to let the engine
> RPM's drop enough to match the speed of the tranny.
> That problem is GONE! The RPM's drop off much faster
> now, and the whole feel of driving the car has changed
> dramatically.
> 
> 3) There is less weight over the front wheels now, but
> I don't notice any difference in daily driving. It may
> be noticeable on track, though.
> 
> 4) Starting the engine is easier than it was. It never
> occurred to me that I would discern a difference in
> this area, but it's obvious that the starter has less
> to work to do in accelerating the engine than it did.
> The difference is more dramatic in warm weather than
> cold, though, probably due to increased oil viscosity
> playing a larger role.
> 
> In short, this modification has changed the car's feel
> into more of a "sports" car than anything I've ever
> done prior. The first impression I got after
> installing it is that it felt a lot like a 2000
> Boxster I had driven recently. The flywheel's effect
> is probably more of a personal feel than a
> documentable statistic, but I just love it. My only
> regret is that I waited so long to make this mod-- I
> would have loved it coming off the showroom floor this
> way!
> 
> And we now return you to your regularly scheduled
> program already in progress...
> 
> --Bryce
> '94 SC2