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Flywheel Lightening - Anyone able to do it?
VinceGledhill - 19/11/03 at 12:02 PM

Is there anyone out there that can take my 2.0 pinto flywheel and lighten it for me?

I obviously want someone who knows what they are doing, I don't want it to chop my legs off.

I live in Leeds, West Yorks.


pbura - 19/11/03 at 08:42 PM

Vince,

Could these fellows be worth a call? They might be able to give you a lead for the shop work if they don't have a flywheel for you:

http://www.davidnewtoninteractive.co.uk/~iib56qqooeiy/YorkRally/

Also, this seems to be a good machine shop, probably not so Locost:

http://www.wilcoxengines.demon.co.uk/sales.htm

I was interested by your question because I've been studying up on lightweight flywheels for my engine.

BoL,

Pete


CHRIS.H - 19/11/03 at 08:48 PM

david walker, newark engines , exchange for£41.00 according to his price list, worth a check tel:01636 671715. good luck.


VinceGledhill - 19/11/03 at 09:29 PM

Thanks for that guys. I've got the recommendations from a book that I bought on Amazon. Tuning the ford sohc engine by someone or other..... can't remember but it's currently sitting in the garage...

Anyway. I showed this book and my flywheel to a neighbour.... no not you Ned... anyway he says... "no problem I'll tek it ta werk tamorra and get that off on't big laithe in mi dinner ower.... no bother".

So it looks like it'll cost me 8 cans of lager and a go down the road in the car when finished.

Sorry for the post, If I had known that Brian was able to do it, I'd never have asked.


Metal Hippy - 19/11/03 at 09:30 PM

Ahhh but the nugget of info about yon Mr Walker may prove useful for somebody else so the thread isn't completely wasted....


Alan B - 19/11/03 at 10:27 PM

Guys, I think the really important thing here is that Vince has a book with a proven drawing of what to take off and where...this is important......don't go hacking up flywheels willy-nilly...could be dangerous.....

Vince, isn't that the David Vizard book..?

Super guy...knows his stuff...


VinceGledhill - 20/11/03 at 08:20 AM

Hi Alan.

No it's the book by Des Hammil. Very good too....

I've given the engine a bit of a tuning. The only thing that is concerning me is the weight. Not only the engine..... but the type 9 gearbox weighs an absolute tonne....

Regards
Vince. Rescued attachment Ford SOHC Book Pic.jpg
Rescued attachment Ford SOHC Book Pic.jpg


David Jenkins - 20/11/03 at 08:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by VinceGledhill
... but the type 9 gearbox weighs an absolute tonne....



Vince,

Most of the weight is in the cast iron bellhousing - the gearbox itself is quite easy to lift. YOu can get alloy bellhousings - for £300 to £400!

David


VinceGledhill - 20/11/03 at 08:55 AM

3 to 4 what .... hundred..... cough.... cough.... the engine and gearbox will stand me at about 400 when installed already. To add another 300 - 400 quid to an engine that when installed will be worth about 50 quid is madness. I already think I'm potty as it is.

And her in doors.... don't go there.


David Jenkins - 20/11/03 at 09:10 AM

It has been pointed out to me more than a few times that the best and cheapest way to reduce the weight of a car is to go on a diet...



David


VinceGledhill - 20/11/03 at 09:47 AM

At 85 Kg I think I could be trimmed somewhat too..... that's 13.5 stones in old money.


timf - 20/11/03 at 10:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Vince,

Most of the weight is in the cast iron bellhousing - the gearbox itself is quite easy to lift. YOu can get alloy bellhousings - for £300 to £400!

David


go to rally design web site and click on gear levers in the nav bar

ali rs2000 bellhousing £109.50


dblissett - 20/11/03 at 10:14 PM

how much weight will you save with the aly bell housing
id won't about 4 stone for £300


JohnN - 20/11/03 at 11:12 PM

I once had a Porsche 944 flywheel refaced when the clutch was changed. I didn't want it done, but the "specialist" said they wouldn't guarantee it without having it done. I would have expected that taking a thou off the wear face of the flywheel would not affect its balance.

However...Result was a bad vibration @ 3000 rpm. Guarantee kicked in - flywheel found to be badly out of balance.

Brings us back to your original request - done by somebody who knows what they are doing, I'd agree with that from bitter experience

John


david walker - 22/11/03 at 08:54 PM

There is a big difference between losing weight from a bellhousing and a flywheel. Lose weight from the Flywheel to improve the engines ability to accelerate......

I lighten a lot of flywheels for competition engines. You would be foolish to lighten one without subsequently balancing it. After lightening the resultant vibration on the balancing machine on initial run up can be quite frightening.


Viper - 23/11/03 at 11:36 PM

RS2000 bellhousing is alloy will cost about 60 squids or thee abouts, as fart as lightening flywheels go, put your hand in your pocket and buy a decent one or leave it standard, i have seen a broken flywheel eat through the tunnel of a car followed by the leg of the driver, that flywheel was lightened by a guy witha lathe that said yeah mate no problem etc etc...
your choice of course.


MikeR - 24/11/03 at 01:00 PM

Tiger do the alloy bell housing as well.... not sure of the price.

I was tempted (and still am) but the warning is that its really easy to strip threads trying to get the box and engine to line up. Oh and the fulcrum of the clutch leaver eats through the alloy mounting as well.

concentric clutch slave anyone?