Aluminum Flywheel?

[PurpleBeeper]

I'm starting to work through my next engine build and I'm wondering if I should (or shouldn't) run an aluminum flywheel to minimize rotating mass. Roughly a 3800# car, 99% street driven, 440, nitrous, moderate hydraulic cam. What do you all think?

 

[Mike67]

No expert by any means but what are the cons and pros?
99% street, I would stick with iron for two reasons, longevity and safety.
I wouldnt think there would be anything significant to gain from an aluminum....
Jm .02

 

[moparnation74]

No expert by any means but what are the cons and pros?
99% street, I would stick with iron for two reasons, longevity and safety.
I wouldnt think there would be anything significant to gain from an aluminum....
Jm .02

100% agree.....If not solely a race car....stick with iron....

 

[AR67GTX]

Nothing wrong with an iron flywheel but also nothing wrong with a quality aluminum one either. Most of them or SFI rated. I used an 18 lb McLeod aluminum flywheel (which is not necessarily light) on a 4.25 stroke built up Ford FE and it revs like a SB Chevy.

From what I understand most stock Mopar flywheels are around 27 lbs which isn't bad considering a BB Chevy is about 30 lbs and a BB Ford is typically as heavy as 40 lbs.

On a 3800 lb car a 27 pounder is probably pretty good and you wouldn't want to go much lighter.

 

[cryplydog]

The flywheel I took of my 440 weighed close to 34-35 lbs. on the bath scales. I replaced it with a 440 Source steel wheel that weighed 26-27 lbs on the same scales and it made a big difference on my 64-polara but I have 4:10 gears. I now have electronic scales and a gram scale for engine parts, but bath scales work great for comparison only but they are pretty close. Over the years I have recorded pretty much most pcs. on these cars that you would change for a weight reduction which also makes a huge difference. I wouldn't use the 18lb. wheel on that car for several reasons but it would rev quicker?
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