Aluminum flywheel vs Steel and Clutch ?

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

The axles may be ok with such a light car and I will not be using slicks. As we all know, a hard launch with sticky tires is very hard on all the drive train.

From the start, I've trusted Keith and always will.

Do you have a aluminum flywheel, if so, how do you like it ?
I don't quite understand some problems with starting from a traffic light with a alum. flywheel ?

The GY Billboards that you are getting are going to hook up much better than your current tires.

Yes, Keith knows his stuff--follow his guidance and you should be in good shape.

Incidentally, I have a McLeod Street Twin clutch and aluminum flywheel and have been very pleased.

[undy]

Yep, followed Keith's advice then went with Ram's aluminum flywheel and clutch setup as I'd mentioned. Never a hint of slip, the grab is very predictable and the pedal pressure doesn't give me a hernia. Zero problems with the combo.

Flywheel:
With heavy cars a good deal of inertia is required to get it moving (out of the hole). A heavy cast iron flywheel aids in this. Our light cars doesn't need that so an aluminum flywheel helps restore some of the "snap" (quick rev) that our stroked FEs are deficient in.

As Stentor hinted at, your Billboards (Goodyear RACE tires) are going to aid in the axle twist process. Ignoring it saying that my car is light won't stop it from happening. Did I mention that my car's never been raced, never ran slicks and the axle twist came from 100% street use?? LS' 28 spline Currie Ford 9" axles aren't even considered a performance axle. Currie is a main stream crate rearend mfr and typically isn't considered "race quality" by the pros.

The TR3550 is rated at 350 lbft. almost half of what you'll be putting out. The Billboards will aid in it's demise too. I did Keith's 482 w/ the lakewood and TKO 600 at the same time. I should have done the axles and diff at that time too. You'll be tearing things apart twice or three times if you don't. I'll probably be reading your "What axle?, what diff?, what tranny? threads in several months anyway. I'll look forward to an "I told you so!" or two..

Dave

[Bobcat]

Second what Undy said on the flywheel . My 427 Galaxie has a big heavy cast iron Ford flywheel .... but it also weighs 4100 lbs and has a 4 speed . An aluminum flywheel would make the car almost undriveable on the street . My Cobra has the aluminum flywheel .... light cars can use a light flywheel as they get underway easier .... heavy car needs the flywheel inertia to help get the car moving , not stall the engine or have to slip the clutch a lot .

[FUNFER2]

Sorry but, mine are the 31 spline. Years ago, (Gees, has it really been 9 years) I got the numbers off the tag and called Currie and what the said was this, the pumpkin is a locker with 31 splined axles. The weak point is the tranny.

I haven't started researching yet, who has the cheapest price ?

Without changing my 331 gears, I've heard someone here say you can order what gears you want in the TKO 600 ?

What are yours and how do you like them. I think I herd a .82 overdrive, what about 1st ?

[FUNFER2]

Sorry but, mine are the 31 spline. Years ago, (Gees, has it really been 9 years) I got the numbers off the tag and called Currie, they said it's a locker with 31 splined axles. The weak point is the tranny.

I haven't started researching yet, who has the cheapest price ?

Without changing my 331 gears, I've heard someone here say you can order what gears you want in the TKO 600 ?

What are yours and how do you like them. I think I herd a .82 overdrive, what about 1st ?

With my TKO 3550 & 331 gears, at 60 mph I'm at 2,000 rpm. Which is great.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

I haven't started researching yet, who has the cheapest price ?

Without changing my 331 gears, I've heard someone here say you can order what gears you want in the TKO 600 ?

Me....

I sell the trannies too.

You can't order custom gears with the 600 other than the overdrive. .64 or .82. If you like the rpm range now, I'd just stay with what you have. The bigger engine will have a lot more torque, which will help out with low rpm street manners.

[FUNFER2]

Can you post or email me the gear ratio between the two ?
I'll send you a PM or mail.

[undy]

With your rear gears and and the small mechanical roller your new 482 won't like 5th gear (0.64) at any reasonable cruise speed. See what kind a deal you can get from Brent on a TKO600 with a 0.82 overdrive. Summit sells them for $2195, for a reference point.

The TKO 600 has a 2.87 first, compared to your TR3550's 3.27. You will appreciate that with more cubes (482) and the 3.31s. First gear will be much more usable. BTW, don't go 10 spline input (weaker shaft) go 26 spline. You'll just need to specify 26 spline when you order your clutch disc.

You're one of the few lucky ones that got a 31 spline Currie crate rear, most were 28 spline. As you said, you'll be fine with that.

[FUNFER2]

What third member gearing do you have ?

What are your rpm's @ 60 mph ?

It seams that a lot of guys with the Tremec 600, have a lot steeper gears than my 331's. Can't recall the number ? 382, high 3,.......something. lol

I'll have to search.

[blykins]

Kevin, email #2 is headed your way.

[undy]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

What third member gearing do you have ?

What are your rpm's @ 60 mph ?

It seams that a lot of guys with the Tremec 600, have a lot steeper gears than my 331's. Can't recall the number ? 382, high 3,.......something. lol

I'll have to search.

The 3.31s are fine. If anything I'd go taller. I'm running 3.25s now, down from my old 3.70s. With a 0.82 overdrive the 3.00s would be great for the street too. There's plenty of speed/RPM calculators available online. Your tire height is a critical part of the calculation and needs to be considered also when selecting gearing. Talk to Keith. Ask him what the minimum cruise RPM will be with your 482 combo too. Give me your anticipated tire height and I'll run a couple speed/rpm scenarios for you.

Dave

Dave

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

What third member gearing do you have ?

What are your rpm's @ 60 mph ?

It seams that a lot of guys with the Tremec 600, have a lot steeper gears than my 331's. Can't recall the number ? 382, high 3,.......something. lol

I'll have to search.

You will be fine with the 3.31 gear with the TKO 600 and .82 OD.

I have a TKO 600 (.82 OD) with 3.42 rearend (and a KC bored/stroked aluminum FE)--the comination works well (and I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to switch to a 3.31 rearend).

[greg schroeder]

The aluminum flywheel is a little quicker in 1st and 2nd if you have the tires to stick. It also responds to street surface variation for acceleration a bit better as the rotating mass is lighter. For 3rd and 4th there's basically no diffrence in acceleration.

The heavier flywheel will hit the next gear with that rotational energy harder to give a little push if you shift quick before revs drop. The transmission may not like the quick shifts as much with the heavier flywheel.

[JAM1775]

AL Flywheel = great investment.
Disadvantage ....slightly more drag on the decel vs steel FW

Advantages
Decreases centrifigul weight on the motor & makes car feel lighter to motor
Decreases the hit of the clutch on the tranny/tires due to less centrifigul force
Faster revs
Allows high reving off line wit less tire spin
Slows down faster

[FUNFER2]

Dave- The Ram aluminum flywheel is part #2519. $425.
That's the cheapest I've found. I'll call keith.

Jam- that sounds correct. Thank you.