Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Flywheel

has anyone installed the unorthodox racing flywheel if so how did it perform and did it increase power???

Lighter flywheels get rid of some parasitic losses involved in getting the drivetrain to rotate faster. The faster the car, the more the gain. You won't really notice it unless you are running 10's or better.

Originally posted by Rogerm60:

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Lighter flywheels get rid of some parasitic losses involved in getting the drivetrain to rotate faster. The faster the car, the more the gain. You won't really notice it unless you are running 10's or better.

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You are a fool. You are correct in your explanation of the benefits of lightened flywheels, but to state that you need to be doing 10's to feel it is downright stupid.

The difference is VERY noticable. I bet you've never driven a Contour with a lightened flywheel (yes, I have).

It feels like a serious boost in hp.

beleive it or not there is somethings i dont know:

what is the flywheel and where is it located?

this is not the same as the crank shaft pulley which i would like to keep the same size but reduce the weight, would that have any benefit?

Not it's on the opposite side of the engine to the crank pulley, and I suggest you NOT mess with that component. Going to a lightened crank pulley requires you to remove the dampening characteristics of the stock pulley which can cause an engine failure (thewre are about 1000 threads on this - "underdrive pulles), if anything, UPGRADING to a Dual Mode Dampener would be my advice (and the advice of others) to you.

Getting back to the flywheel, it sits inside the transmission bell-housing and it bolted directly to the crank. It's job it to provide a large moment of inrtia to keep the engine turning over, because as you now, the combustion process is not a smooth one, and without a flywheel , the engine probably would not want to idle or run smoothly at all. Secondly, in cars with a manual transmission, the flywheel also acts as a power conduit to the transmission, in that the friction pads on the clutch "grip" the surface of the flywheel and thus complete the union between engine and transmission.

By reducing the weight of the flywheel, you can, to a certain extent, reduce the moment of inertia of the flywheel and thus make it "easier" for the engine to rotate the transmission input shafts, etc, etc, and thus utilise more power to move the vehicle rather than spin the flywheel. So in effect lightenenig the flywheel, redirects some of the power you were using to rotate it before, into moving the vehicle. So in effect it never MAKES power, it just uses less of it.

Does this help?

i have a zetec, i thought a dmd did not apply to the zetec

You're right, the Zetec doesn't seem to be as prone to disaster as the Duratech, by fitting underdrive pulleys. But in all actually you probably wouldn't even notic the difference in a Contour with a Zetec AND ATX. The combination of the Zetec and ATX makes it virtually impossible for you to feel the possible 3hp gain by fitting pulleys. Your money is best spent elsewhere.

Stazi nailed it. Seeing as how I just broke my diff and tranny at the track about a month ago, I've since learned everything he just broke down. Hearing it again from someone else just reinforces my knowledge and lets me know that what I understood about the flywheel's function (well, the whole flywheel/clutch/tranny trio) was right on. Thanks for inadvertantly helping me!

Originally posted by Stazi the Aussie:

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You are a fool. You are correct in your explanation of the benefits of lightened flywheels, but to state that you need to be doing 10's to feel it is downright stupid.

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Wow, such eloquent language yet again!

Here, let me rephrase: In a race car with three gears that can rev to 10,000 rpm, the benefits of a lightened flywheel on 1/4 times can be substantial. But on a car such as the Contour, even though more power is evident in first gear and 60' times may drop by a tenth or two tenths, the effect on performance is not that substantial given that it will have some negitive effects on a daily driven car. These are usually more difficult shifting, and a lumpier feel.

If you enjoy the feel of a slightly better launch, by all means get one. Opinions on this subject from enthusiast of many kinds of street cars are mixed. Remember, the higher the car rev's and the longer it stays in first gear, the more difference it will make. Indeed, if you like racing from light to light and wearing your car out quickly, it might be fun!

And no, I don't have one in the Contour. I have only tried them in V8's, but I do enjoy reading your opinion just as much as you do mine.

If anyone can post track times with/without a lightened flywheel, i would love to see them.

ok here goes. i installed a fidanza flywheel on my car. yes its true that it shortens the length of first gear. it made it even worse to hook up. how ever i did notice the difference since i put it on that my car is faster. you cant say exactly how many hp u gain but keep this in mind that when a dyno registers your car. it determines how fast u get from point a to point be on the tach. i can feel that my car revs faster now abd gets to top end faster therefore i reach peak hp sooner. my friend has a svt as well, we both are very competitive in our ways of driving he has similar mods plus headers. he would pull me bad. once i installed my centerforce dual frition clutch and my flywheel we are now dead even. think what u may about this but all i can say is if he pulled me continuously over and over, then one day we stay even all the time just from those two items then i have to say u do gain hp. is it worth it yes. would i recommend it yes. do you lose some hook up yes. do i care no. everything i lost in first i gain in all the other gears. im out.