If you value your legs and feet buy a proper lightweight steel one.
Hello all,
I am starting to sort my engine finaly for fitting (1.6pinto to type9 box) and as a friends pointed out theirs a lot of weight to my flywheel it is
the standard item that im using. Ive already got a clutch and about to make a aluminium guard to stop items getting into the bell housing as gearbox
did not come with one. But I was wundering what are the pros and cons to lightening my flywheel as I have access to people who work with large lathes
at work and was thinking what would be needed to shave some weight. I cannot image its as easy as turning it down on a lathe a few mm then refit and
all will be well. Will the std clutch still fit ? Would it need to be balanced ? Is it realy worth it or should I just put it all together and get on
with my build.
All advise greay appreciated
Thank you all
Sam
IMO it's a bad idea to lighten a standard cast flywheel. They have a history of disintegrating and exiting the bellhousing as shrapnel just
alongside your knees.
However if you want a bit more punch from your engine why not look around for a 2.0L pinto.
There is a lip on the rear outer just machine that back flush with the rest of the flywheel
Safe and been done a million times
The trick is don't go mad, if you wanted a realy light flywheel get a steel one
You won't get big bhp with a 1.6 so no issues. It a set of ARP bolts from e at is £14
i have one with a clutch available, thats had the lip removed.....
done about 7000 miles since it was machined and was rebalanced after machining....
only not using it as it wont fit my duratec!
[Edited on 8/8/12 by dave r]
Dave,
I might be interested in that. How much are you after?
You can get a new rubber gaiter to fit over the clutch release arm to stop stuff getting inside. Very cheap, even from Ford agents.
Cheers everyone. May just leave it std and focus on saving money towards iva and spend money next year on the v6.
Anyone know anywhere in yorkshire that can make up a light weight flywheel as my duratec v6 has a dual mass flywheel and would rather run a solid
unit.
Seen lightened cast flywheels fail - not a pretty sight If you value your legs and feet buy a proper lightweight steel one.
as above you can take a bit of weight off safely, the Des Hammill pinto book gives advice about the max. safe amount you can remove (it will need
re-balanced after any work done to it) and ARP bolts are always good idea.
its not pretty if the flywheel or bolts fail - think of a small bomb going off next to your knees
its worth adding that a light flywheel won't give you any more power, but it will make the engine rev more freely
I went way OTT for my pinto build - I've got a cossie crank (9 bolt flywheel), ARP bolts, 5.5kg steel flywheel (burton's comes in 6 or 9
bolt versions) and had the whole lot balanced together along with the rods, pistons and custom crank pulley 
the balancing didn't actually cost that much...
quote:^^ I thought that was an obsolete part now ?
Originally posted by Macbeast
You can get a new rubber gaiter to fit over the clutch release arm to stop stuff getting inside. Very cheap, even from Ford agents.
quote:
Originally posted by samjc
Cheers everyone. May just leave it std and focus on saving money towards iva and spend money next year on the v6.
Anyone know anywhere in yorkshire that can make up a light weight flywheel as my duratec v6 has a dual mass flywheel and would rather run a solid unit.
Ill message claire and see but unsure as most duratec v6 flywheels iv asked about are duelmass but maybe iv missed a model.
Thats it I forgot the name, im making up a sandwich plate as mine hasnt got one and dont fancy a rock kicking up in the bell housing.
Ill order some upgrade bolts but I think with the pinto flywheel ill leave it as its only a 1.6