[Healeys] Lightened flywheels

[richard mayor]

Michael,

Comparing the weight of fuel in the gas tank to rotational mass is like
comparing apples to bananas.

Richard


On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 2:24 PM Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> The total mass of the flywheel is not completely relevant insofar as
> engine moment of inertia is concerned.
> What is important is the mass removed times the square of the radius, so
> just how much weight has been removed per se is not important.
> Secondly removing rotational inertia is not always the best thing to do,
> if it was you can be assured that manufacturers would be all over it as a
> way to save money.
> The rotational mass is often designed in to protect the drive train, in
> particular the gearbox.
> Read this:
> https://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/2017/01/03/austin-healey-100-crank-failures/
> Thirdly lightening a flywheel in of itself has very little effect on
> acceleration.  An engine with a lightened flywheel may accelerate to 6000
> RPM 1 - 2 seconds more quickly but that doesn't necessarily equate to 1-2
> seconds faster to 60 MPH. You may be able to shift marginally faster if the
> gearbox can stand the extra loads and the 4 to 5 pounds off vehicle weight
> is really only the equivalent of half a tank of fuel. (Who ever notices
> that their car accelerates more quickly with a half full gas tank).
>
> Just sayin'
>
> M
>
> On Tue., Sep. 7, 2021, 4:17 p.m. Earl Kagna via Healeys, <
> healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>> I have Bill Bolton lightened flywheels in both my Healeys.  According to
>> Kent Lambert, who took over Bills Healey business awhile back, the stock
>> weight (6 cyl) is 28.5 pounds, and Bills machining program reduced them to
>> 24.
>>
>>
>>
>> Both of my cars run just fine, no problems at all in the 20 + or so years
>> that I’ve had them installed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Earl Kagna
>>
>> Victoria BC
>>
>> BJ8, BT7 tri-carb
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of *richard
>> mayor
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 7, 2021 10:23 AM
>> *To:* healeys <healeys at autox.team.net>
>> *Subject:* [Healeys] Lightened flywheels
>>
>>
>>
>> 6 cylinder flywheels vary slightly but are all generally in the 29 pound
>> range. Very aggressive machine work can get the weight down to the 22-23
>> pound range.
>>
>> How much weight you take off will affect your driving style. To maintain
>> the feel of a stock Healey while still improving the engines response, I
>> suggest removing no more than 3 pounds.
>>
>>
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
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