im gona get the ZPI lightweight flywheel, my setup so far is megan catback, and a CAI, im getting the NST pulleys in a few weeks, im just wondering will i feel the flywheel? and hows the install process...i dont think its DIY friendly...

 

flywheel doesn't add anything really to power, the difference is that lighter flywheels rev up faster so you lose less horse power to parasitic drain. but heavier flywheels have more momentum for launching the car, and better engine braking. it is more preference and purpose then just automatic performance bolt-on.

 

You dont lose any less power due to parasitic drag.

A flywheel STORES kinetic energy, meaning any engergy lost when spinning it up is fed back into the system when revs begin to drop. That is why people have such a hard time describing whether they "Free up" power.. which they do not. It also describes why an inertial dyno is tricked by this change (lighter wheels will also read as a power gain on some dynos.. which is also untrue)

A lighter flywheel simply allows the engine to rev faster. If you are drag racing, then going too light will hurt you, since you launch will suffer due to not having that stored energy when you release the clutch. If you are running auto-x or just want better response from the throttle, then a lightweight flyweel will be a good idea. It will also work to reduce that fabled "delay" people talk about in the throttle, since most of that is actually just slow response due to a heavier flywheel.

Whatever you chose to do, keep in mind you will have to get used to launching and shifting again.

Check out Fidanza, they have been around and build good products. I will probably end up with one in my car at some point.

 

I wouldn't think it hurts a launch at all Engi. IF you're loosing energy from the launch since there isn't the same momentum, simply rev higher. The tC breaks loose at fairly low RPM.

 

It will to some degree, which is why you have to launch at a higher rpm. With our setup and the crappy FWD (I say crappy in relation to launching. FWD's suck at it) you can simply rev higher as you mention to compensate, but it is still hurting it to a degree.

As far as more engine braking (from the OP) with a heavier flywheel, that is untrue unless you shift down and release the clutch without rev matching. If you rev match, then you have MORE engine braking with a lighter flywheel since you have less momentum to keep the crank moving. Thus, the compression of the engine has more effect on braking. If you dont rev match (which isnt a great way to go about it), then the engine will brake more with a heavier unit because you are trying to speed up the engine when you release the clutch. But under normal engine braking you have more with less inertia on the crank since the engine is already at the max speed it will be during the braking process. You will also get more throttle lift braking (if you have ever used that to your advantage on a track you will know what I mean) with a lighter flywheel.

 

^^^ Rev matching should be easier with the lightweight flywheel you are correct. That includes all types of revmatching upshifting or downshifting.

Launching takes practice, even FWD cars can be good at it. Sure it's harder, but it's not impossible. I think the tC would benefit in the loss of momentum during a launch don't you engi? We've got enough torque steer stock. The best thing we could do is ease up on the wheel spinnage. I really don't think saying that the flywheel's con is "hurts launches" because..it can be fixed, and if there is a degree of "hurting it" (lol) it isn't that much. Anyone have experience with this?

 

C'mon engi, this is about all ths SL action I get, make it worth my while!

 

flywheels kill launch. i have friends that race and did a flywheel when their racin cluches went bad and took them out..could not launch even with LSD...wicked hard nooooo good...ENGIFINEER is 100% right

 

Well,.. it wont be that hard You can still launch, you just have to learn to do it differently. With the tC, you have a decent amount of torque, so if you rev it up higher you can try to compensate. May not be as good as the stock flywheel off the line, but it shouldnt be terrible either. If I was into drag racing the tC, I would stick with the stock weight most likely. For everything else I would like a lighter one.

 

I think the flywheel still benefits in drag. Boostaddict could you go into more detail?

 

i'll jump in on this! i feel that it would indeed hinder the launch a bit but it would make up for it further down the track once the car is moving which i think alot of people are forgetting right now in this thread. and truthfully. if u cant launch your car after such a mod as a flywheel...then you shouldnt be blaming the flywheel. blame the driver for not being able to change their driving style yet calling themselves "Tuners". a Flywheel is NOT a stage 1 or entry level mod that any idiot can understand and propoerly use. its not a Autozone Exhaust tip. you have to understand your gains and loses of such a part and compensate. and i totally agree with engi. your launch will have a bit more bogging OR wheel spin but if you know ANYTHING about how to feather a clutch you should be able to make up for most of the launch and then as u get thru the gears the car should pull ahead faster than it would have without the flywheel. rev higher at the launch, and feather the clutch out of the hole. is that much harder than learning to drive stick in the first place? i dont see it as a bad mod at all. i think its one of the single best mods for the tC.

I Autocross and drag and i dont see how the flywheel could do anything but help in both instances...as long as the driver has any sense about driving and driving styles its a great way to go.

to answer the OP, Yes you'll feel a definate acceleration diff. and no i wouldnt recommend doing it yourself. its not the easiest DIY

 

I do think it is a good mod, I just think that people need to understand it before getting one. For example, the guys that complain now that the rpm drops and they have trouble shifting the tC (driving error) will hate it with a lighter flywheel, since the rpm will drop much quicker with one. They will also have to learn to launch again. Most people in general dont understand how reducing its mass affects everything.

It gains zero hp. An inertial dyno may read otherwise, but that is just pointing out the inherent flaw in the way that those dynos measuer power.

The engine will change rpm faster. This means a little better acceleration as well as meaning the engine will spin down quicker due to less momentum. It works in both directions.

Shock loads on the crank (like ac kicking on, roughness in running for whatever reason) will be noticed more since you have less mass on the flywheel to smooth it out (one purpose of having a flywheel).

I think it is a good mod, and will probably go with a fidanza one of these days myself.

 

Yay, the real deal. Thanks. Can't read now gotta go bye!

 

100% Agree, Engi! 100%

 

Yes! Driver adjustments are necessary.