AP2289 Build log 'stage 2'

[xb-60]

Greetings all,
Still slow going because of specialist labour shortages, but engine 'refresh' should be completed early this week, so engine and Toploader should meet up soon.
Been discussing (again) re- which flywheel to use. My mech. is still trying to impress on me the advantages of a lightweight flywheel, but I want to stay with a standard mass flywheel.
My overall gearing in first gear is quite high, hence my preference for standard mass.

Cheers!
Glen

[Alfa02]

Good Morning Glen. I would still consider a lightened flywheel (Stock 28lbs, lightened 22lbs) I had one in the V-8 RX-7, never saw a disadvantage, just a quicker revving 302, no slipping of the clutch to get moving (Wide ratio Tremec World Class T-5) Of course that's just my $.03 Buddy. Cheers Tom.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Good Morning Glen. I would still consider a lightened flywheel (Stock 28lbs, lightened 22lbs) I had one in the V-8 RX-7, never saw a disadvantage, just a quicker revving 302, no slipping of the clutch to get moving (Wide ratio Tremec World Class T-5) Of course that's just my $.03 Buddy. Cheers Tom.

Tom is right. My aluminum flywheel is less than 20 lbs. and I love it. Yes, I know I have a big FE with a 3.54 rear, but it really is not a whole lot different taking off from a stop than driving any other car with a clutch. It might even bit a little safer because it revs down faster not having the stored energy.

[1795]

Glen,

You may not have many options for the flywheel and clutch combo. I had to replace the flywheel, clutch and pressure plate on the race car and there are very few manufactures that make one for the Toploader input shaft. Most of them are setup for Tremec transmissions.

McLeod still offers a combo for the Toploader. I used quartermaster last time and they no longer offer an option for a Toploader.

Jim

[xb-60]

All input on flywheel mass appreciated

There's a "however" though....so here's my thinking:

My differential ratio is 2.92, and my Toploader's highest ratio (4th gear) is of course 1:1
A popular/typical choice for many has been a Tremc TKO gearbox with a diff. ratio of 3.54

Comparing these two setups shows my WR TL overall first gear ratio at 8.12:1 whereas with that TKO and 3.54 combination, the overall first gear ratio is 10.16 - so, significantly higher for mine.
Further (but not flywheel mass related), comparing top gear ratios for both combinations results in 2.92 (WR TL) and 2.90 (TKO600)

My point is that for easier starts, for me, a standard mass flywheel is a better option. Also, I have learned/experienced advice that a standard mass flywheel is the way to go.
So ....at this point, and having weighed up the valued advice from my learned friends here, a standard mass flywheel it is

Cheers!
Glen

[Alfa02]

Oh, alright Glen, just because you own the Cobra, I guess you can install a stock one Now a year down the road, when you should have taken Patrickt and my advice, you know we would never tell you "We told you so" or would we??? I think you can guess the answer Cheers Buddy.

[tkb289]

Glen,

Counter to the valued input of our fellow Cobra owners in favor of a lightened flywheel, I am with you.

The Tom Lucas (FE Specialties) built 302 in my FIA has a standard weight flywheel. The car is quite responsive, easy to drive and has smooth take offs from a dead stop. Granted, the motor does not have the quick rev, rise and fall of a race motor when you blip the throttle, it's a street car, not a race car and I am OK with that.

It all depends on what you intend to do with the car and what your expectations are. You may change your mind once you have driven your Cobra for a while and if so, the flywheel and associated bits can be changed.

Time will tell and the great news is, you are getting very close to finding out, hopefully very soon. When that happens, we will all be cheering for your Glen, this has been a very long journey and the next chapter is just around the corner.


- Tim

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

Oh, alright Glen, just because you own the Cobra, I guess you can install a stock one Now a year down the road, when you should have taken Patrickt and my advice, you know we would never tell you "We told you so" or would we??? I think you can guess the answer Cheers Buddy.

Well, Tom ....I'll be the first to admit further down the "track" if I'm wrong. So, at this point in time, I'm going the "standard" route

Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by tkb289

Glen,

Counter to the valued input of our fellow Cobra owners in favor of a lightened flywheel, I am with you.

The Tom Lucas (FE Specialties) built 302 in my FIA has a standard weight flywheel. The car is quite responsive, easy to drive and has smooth take offs from a dead stop. Granted, the motor does not have the quick rev, rise and fall of a race motor when you blip the throttle, it's a street car, not a race car and I am OK with that....

Thanks Tim, my "learned/experienced" friend! At this point in time, I'm OK with that too

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Tom and Patrick - it's OK, I still love you

Cheers!
Glen

[Alfa02]

Ditto Glen.

[patrickt]

And Tim is right on being able to change stuff. If you don't like whatever you choose for a clutch/flywheel combo then just change it. Heck, I'm going on almost twenty years with my ERA and I'm still changing stuff.

[xb-60]

Yeah, yeah... I know I can change it.... but changing it means engine and gearbox out again, so ideally I want to get it right first time

[xb-60]

A 'non-update' update...

Originally Posted by xb-60

....so engine and Toploader should meet up soon.....

Sheesh, that was posted back in July!
Engine has been complete and ready for some time now, but information for the correct flywheel/clutch/HTOB for a 302W mating with a Toploader are - for some unexplainable reason - hard to track down (here in Australia), would you believe?

Cheers!
Glen

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xb-60

would you believe?

Impossible to believe. Damn, we could have thrown a TL and 302W together on a Saturday afternoon back in high school.

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by xb-60

A 'non-update' update...



Sheesh, that was posted back in July!
Engine has been complete and ready for some time now, but information for the correct flywheel/clutch/HTOB for a 302W mating with a Toploader are - for some unexplainable reason - hard to track down (here in Australia), would you believe?

Cheers!
Glen

I never would have thought that. I know Cleveland's were popular down your way, so I just thought Windsor's would also be? Cheers, Dennis

[1795]

Glenn,

Well that sucks! The problem probably is not the Windsor, but rather the decreasing availability of clutches, flywheels and HTOB's designed for the TopLoader spline. Even in the States they are becoming harder to find.

Good luck.

Cheers,

Jim

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Harpoon PV2

I never would have thought that. I know Cleveland's were popular down your way, so I just thought Windsor's would also be? Cheers, Dennis

Dennis, you're reasonably correct there. Windsors were used here in Falcon GTs until around 1970-ish, then Clevelands until late 90's, and then back to Windsors.
My 302W is 2001 vintage; Ford Australia had an deal with Tickford and mine is one of a very small run of Tickford built Windsors.

Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

Haven't been sitting around here though. Some luck (or maybe some commiseration) with my Alfetta. After 40 years, he's gone to a new home. A fellow Alfa enthusiast drove around a thousand miles to pick him up - and then another 1k miles to take him back home.

Trying to add some pics, but can't for some reason.

Cheers,
Glen

edit: funny, pics can upload now (now 26 October)

So.... here he is, almost ready to go:



Incidentally, the colour is Posillipo Blue (very dark, a fantastic colour on an Alfa, but the I'm biased)


....and now all wrapped ready for the trip back home to Armidale, NSW:




Richard (he bought the Alfetta) had a dry trip almost all the way back home, and then a hail storm hit just before arrival home. The wrap was to avoid stone damage, but luckily, prevented hail damage as well!


More: How's the home-made engine hoist? He brought that from home, assembled it, loaded the engine onto the front of the trailer, then disassembled the hoist and repacked it on the ute. A really nice bloke, as well as resourceful.

[Alfa02]

Glen, don't give all hope just yet Ever since buying my first Cobra, I've met a LOT a hot-rodders. And one thing they do is HOARD HI-PO NOS PARTS!! A good friend (Deuce Mike, as he also has a 32 Coupe) has 3-different trans for his 66 Mustang coupe he building, a T-56, TKO-600, and a Top Loader, he hasn't decided which one to use, PM me, with want you need, and I'll put the word among them K? Cheers Tom.