[Healeys] Flywheels

[Bob Spidell]

Good info, Kees.

I still don't see how a lightened flywheel gives faster upshifts (or 
acceleration), given that revving isn't (usually) required, as it is for 
smooth downshifts.


Bob


Oudesluys wrote:
> It is always hard to compare before and after the rebuild 
> performances. Before, the engine was probably tired hence the rebuild. 
> After, performance will always be better, even if the rebuild is bog 
> standard.
> A lightened flywheel will not give you extra BHP, but it will give you 
> a better engine response and better accelleration (mainly because one 
> can shift gears quicker) at the cost of less smoothness, depending of 
> how much inertia you removed. If overdone drivebility will be 
> affected, but worse may be the possible damage to the drivetrain, 
> especially in highly tuned engines. Sometimes you get pitting of the 
> gears in the gearbox and/or differential if the engine vibrations 
> (bangs per pot) are not sufficiently damped (by the inertia of the 
> flywheel). I experienced this way back in the 60's with a Fiat Abarth 
> 1000 and a Glas 1304TS run on the track. It is also sound engineering 
> knowledge and a well known phenomina with gearbox designers. It may 
> call for different oil and/or an oil cooler for the gearbox.
> Kees Oudesluijs
> NL
>
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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. - 
Henry Ford
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