5.0L (1979-1995) Mustang Technical discussions on 5.0 Liter Mustangs within. This does not include the 5.0 from the 2011 Mustang GT. That information is in the 2005-1011 section.

Steel vs. Aluminum Flywheel

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Old 03-27-2009, 02:22 PM
  #11  
cobrakiller347
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Originally Posted by AdderMk2
you arent listening... you free up lost HP be lightening the parts that spin... the car is still going to accelerate the same.. but in nuetral you would see the engine rev quicker, because there is now less weight to spin
you seem very knowledgeable
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Old 03-27-2009, 03:14 PM
  #12  
AdderMk2
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Originally Posted by cobrakiller347
you seem very knowledgeable

dont be fooled


and I run aluminum myself
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Old 03-27-2009, 07:35 PM
  #13  
mjr46
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I also run aluminum in my ride and it is very streetable
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Old 03-28-2009, 07:30 PM
  #14  
15austin
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So if I had a car that ran a consistant 13.50s witha steel flywheel, If I put in an aluminum flywheel and nothing else would I get a faster time?
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Old 03-28-2009, 10:59 PM
  #15  
sn95_331_GT_ yellow
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+1 for aluminum.
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Old 03-29-2009, 07:06 AM
  #16  
ewgoetz
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I was ordering a flywheel form D&D last thursday actualy and hte guy from ther ewas recomending the steel if it was gonna be for street use. If i remember what he said the difference is with the alum it can sputer the engine when first starting off or something like that. I ended up ordering the steel one with my 6 speed.....the end of the week is gonna be like christmas for me.
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Old 03-29-2009, 08:28 AM
  #17  
Jfsram
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Originally Posted by 15austin
So if I had a car that ran a consistant 13.50s witha steel flywheel, If I put in an aluminum flywheel and nothing else would I get a faster time?
The difference would be minor but you must understand where the differences come from.

With a launch off idle launch like a typical street tire car would do. Close throttle upshifts. An aluminum will have a slight edge as it has a few less pounds of rotating weight to spin up the drivetrain.

The advantage of a heavy flywheel, especially for a heavy car, small engine. Imagine a high rpm launch, drop the clutch, powershift. This combo would be faster than aluminum.

On the street like driving around a steel flywheel has a slightly smooth idle and taking off from a stop is a tiny bit smoother because as you load the drivetrain the engine will take the load better due a the inertia of a heavy flywheel.

I wish I took a video but I don't have the truck anymore but a 95 Ram 5.2L, 5 speed was the extreme example of heavy flywheels. It's was 40lbs. You could rev the engine, kill the key and release the clutch pedal in first. It would lay rubber with the engine off. Ya a stupid thing to do but to give you an idea, a 7 lbs aluminum flywheel would have just instantly stopped the engine as soon as you introduced any clutch.
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Old 03-29-2009, 09:33 AM
  #18  
Slo5oh
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You also forget the whole purpose of a flywheel. It is to keep up the rotation of the engine via inerta. The less weight, the less inerta. The less inerta, the less mpg while cruising. Granted you could see some improvement while accelerating, you'll make the engine work more to cruise.
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Old 03-29-2009, 01:49 PM
  #19  
OnyxCobra
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Jeez, i just got my stock one resurfaced. $40 ftw!
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Old 04-02-2009, 01:05 PM
  #20  
Slayer420
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just bought my aluminum i'll let you know how it acts!!!
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