clutch + flywheel input.

[TerribleTed13]

Hi all,
Looking for more feedback. What benefits do the billet or aluminum flywheels have over the iron ones? Are the worth the extra bucks? I'm going through the engine right now and this is the time to think about an upgrade. Clutch choices - dual friction? Kevlar, Organic? Zoom? Ram? Centerforce? McLeod? I have a 10 inch now, stock flywheel. Engine will be a forged 408w, 500+ HP
525+ FT LBS. The car wieghed 2350 LBS before disassembly.
Thanks in advance!

Ted.

[Aussie Mike]

I was looking into flywheels and clutches a while back. I wanted to run an Aluminium flywheel on my LS1. An explosion proof flywheel is a definite must in one of these cars as the flywheel runs pretty close to your legs. For my peace of mind i didn't want to run the stock iron flywheel.

The reduction in rotating mass of the Aluminium flywheel makes your motor rev much quicker but it can make it bog down a bit off the start. The Cobra is a light car so doesn't need as much flywheel mass to help get it going.

Most of the Aluminium flywheels for my motor were about 6.5Kg (14.3 pounds). I ended up buying a Yella Terra lightened billet steel flywheel that weighs about 7.2Kg (16 pounds). Yella Terra make a very nice range of explosion proof steel flywheels. Their flywheels are often sold in the US under different maufacturers names.

Here's their web page:
Yella Terra

For the clutch I think I be buying a SPEC clutch. They seem to have quite a good reputation with the LS1 crowd and have a number of different clutch combinations depending on what you are doing.

Here's their web page:
SPEC Clutch

Cheers

[RICK LAKE]

Teriable Ted13 Ted do you have a SFI bellhousing on your motor? Blow proof? I would go with an 11" clutch due to the hp and tork you are make. I have an Ram flywheel, 15 lbs with a gold centerforce clutch assembly. I removed the wieghts for a shifting problem and have had no problems since. The orginial flywheel was 40 lbs. What a different with the car. Match the clutch to your driving needs. I autocross,roadrace and 1/4 mile. 1/4 mile is the toughest on the clutch. Unless you are racing all the time any clutch will be fine.Check for SFI sticker for safety. 2800lb pressure plate and disc should be great. High pressure numbers unless it is a twin disc will be harder on your clutch master or slave cylinder. Good luck Rick Lake

[TerribleTed13]

Thanks for your imput Mike and Rick.

[MJN]

Ted

I had a RAM HD clutch in mine that was not up to the torque output of the motor. I suspect you may have the same problem. I swapped to a SPEC stage II clutch set up and an SFI aluminum flywheel about 18 months ago and it has worked perfectly. The reduced rotating mass of the lighweight assembly is very noticable, the motor revs a lot quicker, but I have not had any problems with bogging off the line.