Fly Wheel Question? I have a Buick 455 that I run on the drag strip only! It runs mid 11's and at the end of the season I broke the transmission.:ball: Since I have the trans. out of the car I was wondering if I should change the flywheel to a SFI fly wheel or something stronger. I currently run just a stock fly wheel and am afraid that it will break. I have not broken one yet, but have heard some horror stories and thought that I should change it. My questions are: Can any one tell me if changing the fly wheel will mess up my balance job on the motor and can anyone tell me of any brand of flywheel that I should use. I know some after market flywheels are heavier and that is why I am worried that I will have to have the motor rebalanced. Any info. is greatly appreciated:grin: Thanks, Tony
SFI Flexplate Yes, definately replace your stock Flexplate. JW transmissions out of Florida is the only one who makes a SFI approved Flexplate, they are available in solid, or lightened versions. Yes, they are heavier than the stock plate, but as long as the weight is in exactly the same spot on the new plate vs a stocker, the offset weight should be very close to the OE unit. But it is always best to have it match balanced to your oe flexplate. More than likely, as long as the weights are in exactly the same postion, on the new flexplate, you will be ok to just bolt it right on. This assumes that your machinist did all the balance correction work in the crankshaft. If there are any corrections that were done in the fexplate, then it will have to be match balanced. JW
Too bad you broke, but at least it was at the END of the season and not the beginning or middle right?! On the stocker, you might be able to see some hairline cracks starting at the edge of some of the convertor mounting bolt-holes if you look closely. I run a JW now also. I believe they're about twice as thick as stock. Only problem I had was the weld on one of the balance weights slightly interfered with the convertor mounting pad. Mod the convertor pad (file or grind slightly), not the SFI flywheel (obviously).
flywheel Thanks for the info guys. What kind of prices are we talking about for the flex plate from JW transmissions and does any one have a phone number or website address? Thanks once again, Tony:TU:
They go for about $200.. you can get one from TA for the same price as retail thru JW.. so might as well give them the profit.. to put toward R&D for other parts.. that's the way I see it anyway.. JW
Question Would folks be interested in a stamped, OEM-style, SFI-approved flexplate with a selling price closer to $100? It would look like this: Reason I ask is that if there is ample demand, we at TCI could make that a reality.
If it was made of a thicker stronger material as the JW unit is I would say there would be a market for it. If interested in making this it should be listed on the bench where more people will see it. The stock flexplate is a very weak unit that tends to crack on even street cars, those users wouldn't generally be looking in the race section. At half price of the current unit I would imagine that there would be a decent number of sales, I had replaced several stock units before spending the money because of the price.
Sounds like a winner Greg. Isn't a FLEXplate supposed to flex some hence the name. Can these heavy solid ones cause problems? Bruce
