Aluminum?

Venimuz · 04-10-2003, 11:59 PM

As I was getting my clutch changed, they pulled out the flywheel and found that it was aluminum. I really thought nothing of it, thinking an advantage of it is the fact that it is lighter. We took it to get machined by a guy who races 9 second cars, and he said that if I increased the hp much more, I'd need to have a steel flywheel, otherwise, the flywheel could fly through the floor-board in racing. As you could imagine, hearing this bothered me a bit, so here's my question...How strong and reliable is my aluminum flywheel and driveshaft? Is it completely aluminum or does it haved a steel insert?

This may be a totally stupid question, but due to my lack of knowledge in this particular area and general worries toward my car, I felt that it needed to be asked.

Thanks
Chelsea

03Venom · 04-11-2003, 12:16 AM

i got a brand new Aluminum Flywheel when i did the clutch. There are plenty of guys w/ 03 Cobras running the stock flywheel and driveshaft that are putting some awesome numbers and fast ET's. you ll be ok!

Corner-Carver · 04-11-2003, 09:25 AM

Left of the state, center of the state, and now, right of the state

I seem to remember reading that the flywheel has steel inserts. Don't worry about it shattering, there are guys well over 600rwp who don't have problems with the stock flywheel.

Venimuz · 04-11-2003, 10:59 AM

Thank you so much for your quick and informative replys. Those responses were kind of what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure.

Chelsea

**cobrabitn** · 04-11-2003, 11:06 AM

North of the state.

See y'all at drag day! If you are worried about it Chelsea, let me drive your 03 down the track and I'll test it for you...lol.

Venimuz · 04-11-2003, 12:46 PM

HaHa, right, lol. That's my most frequently asked question about my car. And the answer, love ya guys, but no, lol.

David A. Wilks · 04-14-2003, 12:20 PM

We are using similar aluminum flywheels in our 800+HP Vipers. Take your parts to someone else and truly, you should replace the steel facing not resurface it.

By resurfacing the steel face you are doing the same thing as turning your brake rotors.... just making it thinner and less capable of dissipating heat. This equals to a greater clutch slippage and earlier failure rates.

Venimuz · 05-13-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

just making it thinner and less capable of dissipating heat. This equals to a greater clutch slippage and earlier failure rates.

If the flywheel was very worn on the first clutch and you did not replace it, and then you put in a brand new clutch, could this cause faster clutch wear? I put in a Centerforce Dual Friction, for time purposes (I needed something quick), and it is now gone. I went to the drag strip 3 times for about 10 runs (with drag radials doing burnouts) and 2.6K miles on it, and burned it out 2 weeks ago. Could a thin flywheel partially be the culpret behind this?

Thanks
Chelsea

03Venom · 05-13-2003, 08:00 PM

yes! sorry to hear about your misfortune. Ive never had good luck w/ Centerforce but not resurfacing or getting a new flywheel definately hurt. Good Luck. Jamie

Venimuz · 05-13-2003, 08:04 PM

Thanks.

We did resurface it, but by doing that, with the wear it had, I believe it just made it thinner and more prone to wearing the clutch faster.

cobragb · 05-13-2003, 10:48 PM

Most '03 high HP cars are sticking with stock clutch pressure plates or stage 2 spec's to help save the half shalts. I wouldn't be too worried with the first resurface. But the next time you burn the clutch out, I would replace it. The benefit with with the spec over the stock is, that you can replace the steel insert.

good luck!

04-10-2003, 11:59 PM	#1
Venimuz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 21	Aluminum? As I was getting my clutch changed, they pulled out the flywheel and found that it was aluminum. I really thought nothing of it, thinking an advantage of it is the fact that it is lighter. We took it to get machined by a guy who races 9 second cars, and he said that if I increased the hp much more, I'd need to have a steel flywheel, otherwise, the flywheel could fly through the floor-board in racing. As you could imagine, hearing this bothered me a bit, so here's my question...How strong and reliable is my aluminum flywheel and driveshaft? Is it completely aluminum or does it haved a steel insert? This may be a totally stupid question, but due to my lack of knowledge in this particular area and general worries toward my car, I felt that it needed to be asked. Thanks Chelsea __________________ Track Best: 12.46 at 113.47mph 1.95 60' on Stock F1's 422 rwhp & 394 rwtq

04-11-2003, 09:25 AM	#3
Corner-Carver Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 146	Left of the state, center of the state, and now, right of the state I seem to remember reading that the flywheel has steel inserts. Don't worry about it shattering, there are guys well over 600rwp who don't have problems with the stock flywheel. __________________ Paul '03 DSG Cobra '86 Mustang SVO "Flat out until you see God, count to three, then brake."

04-11-2003, 10:59 AM	#4
Venimuz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 21	Thank you so much for your quick and informative replys. Those responses were kind of what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure. Chelsea __________________ Track Best: 12.46 at 113.47mph 1.95 60' on Stock F1's 422 rwhp & 394 rwtq

04-11-2003, 11:06 AM	#5
cobrabitn Dr Jekyll on the street, Mr Hyde on the track Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rock Hill SC Posts: 14,649	North of the state. See y'all at drag day! If you are worried about it Chelsea, let me drive your 03 down the track and I'll test it for you...lol. __________________ Cobrabitn 2016 Ruby Red Metallic with Caribou accent F-350 Crew Cab Stump Puller! 6.7 Diesel Automatic with Chrome Package, Off Road Package, 3.55 Locking axles, and Ultimate Lariat Interior Trim Package! 2017 Shelby GT350 Coupe - track car! Mods: JLT True Cold Air oil catch can 2009 Vista Blue Shelby GT 500 Coupe - Garage Queen Tinted Windows JLT True Cold Air Kit Pro-Dyno Tune 526 rwhp - 511 rwtq 1994 Rio Red Indy Pace Car #22 "Runabout" Snake in the grill MGW shift knob 1996 SVT Cobra Wheels 1969 New Lime Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof - Second owner - bone stock with shaker. One SVT Cobra, one Shelby GT500, one 69 mach 1, and a Shelby GT350 is better than nothing! Custom Data Plates for your Mustang or Ford! Buy "Cool Merchandise" at Data Plates Plus www.dataplatesplus.com See my MSR Video here!

04-11-2003, 12:46 PM	#6
Venimuz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 21	HaHa, right, lol. That's my most frequently asked question about my car. And the answer, love ya guys, but no, lol. __________________ Track Best: 12.46 at 113.47mph 1.95 60' on Stock F1's 422 rwhp & 394 rwtq

04-11-2003, 12:16 AM	#2
03Venom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: West Columbia, SC Posts: 28	i got a brand new Aluminum Flywheel when i did the clutch. There are plenty of guys w/ 03 Cobras running the stock flywheel and driveshaft that are putting some awesome numbers and fast ET's. you ll be ok!

04-14-2003, 12:20 PM	#7
David A. Wilks Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 4	We are using similar aluminum flywheels in our 800+HP Vipers. Take your parts to someone else and truly, you should replace the steel facing not resurface it. By resurfacing the steel face you are doing the same thing as turning your brake rotors.... just making it thinner and less capable of dissipating heat. This equals to a greater clutch slippage and earlier failure rates. __________________ David A. Wilks 10.21@142! Fastest Street Legal GTS

05-13-2003, 08:00 PM	#9
03Venom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: West Columbia, SC Posts: 28	yes! sorry to hear about your misfortune. Ive never had good luck w/ Centerforce but not resurfacing or getting a new flywheel definately hurt. Good Luck. Jamie

05-13-2003, 08:04 PM	#10
Venimuz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Florence, SC Posts: 21	Thanks. We did resurface it, but by doing that, with the wear it had, I believe it just made it thinner and more prone to wearing the clutch faster. __________________ Track Best: 12.46 at 113.47mph 1.95 60' on Stock F1's 422 rwhp & 394 rwtq

05-13-2003, 10:48 PM	#11
cobragb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 143	Most '03 high HP cars are sticking with stock clutch pressure plates or stage 2 spec's to help save the half shalts. I wouldn't be too worried with the first resurface. But the next time you burn the clutch out, I would replace it. The benefit with with the spec over the stock is, that you can replace the steel insert. good luck! __________________ '03 Torch Red Cobra Convertible FFR AC Cobra #1529

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