lightened flywheel, is it worth it???
Discussion
V8FROG said:
chim u are the man!!!i will need soon some advises from u and others as i found a 4.6 range rover HSE for sale here pretty cheap.so no sure what i will need to make it run.it ll be cheaper than shipping a 5 litres from the UK.next topic soon
Brilliant news Frog, did you know HSE stands for "Highly Stressed Engine"? Chimpafrolic said:
Another nice mod for V8Frog & Daz the Plumber only.
When you fit the lightened flywheel, smear driven face with LM grease.
This Lithium based, high melting point grease is specifically designed to lubricate your clutch friction plate.
In Malaysia the high temperatures will actually help the LM grease bond with friction material to produce a much faster spin up.
Well worth doing, you can buy LM grease from 2CV Developments in Smolding, Loncinshore.
Just ask for Bob Bobertson.
When you fit the lightened flywheel, smear driven face with LM grease.
This Lithium based, high melting point grease is specifically designed to lubricate your clutch friction plate.
In Malaysia the high temperatures will actually help the LM grease bond with friction material to produce a much faster spin up.
Well worth doing, you can buy LM grease from 2CV Developments in Smolding, Loncinshore.
Just ask for Bob Bobertson.
Sardonicus said:
Keep calm and carry on I say
Absolutely - whichever way the vote went that was going to be the ultimate outcome (and lets face it - we haven't actually left the EU yet, just had confirmation slightly more people are prepared to say that they want us out of it than in it).Life goes on - people have managed through worse ...
Phil
Bassfiendnoideawhathp said:
Absolutely - whichever way the vote went that was going to be the ultimate outcome (and lets face it - we haven't actually left the EU yet, just had confirmation slightly more people are prepared to say that they want us out of it than in it).
Life goes on - people have managed through worse ...
Phil
Exactly Phil Life goes on - people have managed through worse ...
Phil
V8FROG said:
chim u are the man!!!i will need soon some advises from u and others as i found a 4.6 range rover HSE for sale here pretty cheap.so no sure what i will need to make it run.it ll be cheaper than shipping a 5 litres from the UK.next topic soon
Bob Bobertson is my uncle... seriously though, the lightened fly in my 4 liter made a nice difference (22 pound fly). I have the 15 pound one in my 4,6 and it feels just like the zippy 4 liter Chimpafrolic said:
Another nice mod for V8Frog & Daz the Plumber only.
When you fit the lightened flywheel, smear driven face with LM grease.
This Lithium based, high melting point grease is specifically designed to lubricate your clutch friction plate.
In Malaysia the high temperatures will actually help the LM grease bond with friction material to produce a much faster spin up.
Well worth doing, you can buy LM grease from 2CV Developments in Smolding, Loncinshore.
Just ask for Bob Bobertson.
When you fit the lightened flywheel, smear driven face with LM grease.
This Lithium based, high melting point grease is specifically designed to lubricate your clutch friction plate.
In Malaysia the high temperatures will actually help the LM grease bond with friction material to produce a much faster spin up.
Well worth doing, you can buy LM grease from 2CV Developments in Smolding, Loncinshore.
Just ask for Bob Bobertson.
There are basically 6 lightened flywheel options, and option 4 can be any weight you choose.
1. Std 4 Litre TVR Chimaera = 28Lbs
2. V8 Developments machined & lightened version of the above = 21.5Lbs
3. TVR 500 = 20Lbs
4. My bespoke TTV Racing machined forged chrome moly steel flywheel = 18.74Lbs
5. TTV Racing "Lite" = 14.55Lbs
6. TTV Racing "Supalite" = 7.5Lbs
http://ttvracing.com/products/?manufacturers=rover...
I went from the standard 28Lbs 4 Litre TVR Chimaera flywheel to V8 Developments machined & lightened 21.5Lbs version of this which shaves a full 6.5Lbs off what TVR gave 4.0 litre owners from new. The results were very noticeable, the engine picked up revs much better and the throttle response generally felt much brighter, there were no drivability issues whatsoever.
I then started to wonder if I could fit the 14.55Lbs "Lite" version but was concerned it might be a step too far so I had TTV racing machine me up a bespoke forged chrome moly steel flywheel at 18.74Lbs removing almost 3Lbs off my V8 Developments 21.5Lbs version. This time the improvement in throttle response was smaller, but still noticeable over the V8 Developments 21.5Lbs version and still no drivability issues whatsoever.
Basically I've ended up with a flywheel that's almost a full 10Lbs lighter than the one the car was delivered with in 1996, 10Lbs is a massive chunk of mass to remove from a flywheel so the results have been extremely pronounced, but it's all good with no drivability compromises whatsoever.
I wanted to keep the car's on road flexibility and at 18.74Lbs I feel I've found the sweet spot of compromise between perfect road manners and an engine that gathers revs in a way much more in keeping for a sports car. Saying that I haven't tried the TTV Racing 14.55Lbs "Lite" version, and without trying it I couldn't say if it's too light for my tastes or not.
I suspect if I had the addition torque of a 5.0 litre or even a 4.6 I could probably go lighter than my bespoke machined 18.74Lbs version, my 4.0 litre makes 260 ft/lbs of torque and I'm super fussy about the car having impeccable road manners (which it has), so for now I'm extremely happy with the results of my 18.74Lbs flywheel.
One thing is for sure, anyone with a 4.0 litre Chimaera running the standard and stupidly heavy 28Lb flywheel should replace it with something a lot lighter at their first opportunity (clutch change). I can confirm as long as you don't go much lighter than 18.74Lbs there really are no downsides, only big benefits you will definitely feel and enjoy.
Going lighter than 18.74Lbs on a 4.0 Litre is unknown territory for me so I couldn't really comment, and drivability is of course subjective, one man's nice and smooth is another's loss of flexibility. All I can say is my car will pull smoothly from 1000rpm and drive super smoothly all day long in the 1700 - 1800rpm zone where so often these cars stumble, this may of course have a lot to do with me having a very carefully mapped Canems engine management system with sophisticated strategies such as closed loop throttle management, 3D ignition timing and wide band closed loop fuelling.
Even without the big drivability advantage provided by the Canems system I'd definitely encourage anyone with a 4.0 litre Chimaera to at least have their original 28Lb millstone machined down to 21.5Lbs, you will not regret it!
1. Std 4 Litre TVR Chimaera = 28Lbs
2. V8 Developments machined & lightened version of the above = 21.5Lbs
3. TVR 500 = 20Lbs
4. My bespoke TTV Racing machined forged chrome moly steel flywheel = 18.74Lbs
5. TTV Racing "Lite" = 14.55Lbs
6. TTV Racing "Supalite" = 7.5Lbs
http://ttvracing.com/products/?manufacturers=rover...
I went from the standard 28Lbs 4 Litre TVR Chimaera flywheel to V8 Developments machined & lightened 21.5Lbs version of this which shaves a full 6.5Lbs off what TVR gave 4.0 litre owners from new. The results were very noticeable, the engine picked up revs much better and the throttle response generally felt much brighter, there were no drivability issues whatsoever.
I then started to wonder if I could fit the 14.55Lbs "Lite" version but was concerned it might be a step too far so I had TTV racing machine me up a bespoke forged chrome moly steel flywheel at 18.74Lbs removing almost 3Lbs off my V8 Developments 21.5Lbs version. This time the improvement in throttle response was smaller, but still noticeable over the V8 Developments 21.5Lbs version and still no drivability issues whatsoever.
Basically I've ended up with a flywheel that's almost a full 10Lbs lighter than the one the car was delivered with in 1996, 10Lbs is a massive chunk of mass to remove from a flywheel so the results have been extremely pronounced, but it's all good with no drivability compromises whatsoever.
I wanted to keep the car's on road flexibility and at 18.74Lbs I feel I've found the sweet spot of compromise between perfect road manners and an engine that gathers revs in a way much more in keeping for a sports car. Saying that I haven't tried the TTV Racing 14.55Lbs "Lite" version, and without trying it I couldn't say if it's too light for my tastes or not.
I suspect if I had the addition torque of a 5.0 litre or even a 4.6 I could probably go lighter than my bespoke machined 18.74Lbs version, my 4.0 litre makes 260 ft/lbs of torque and I'm super fussy about the car having impeccable road manners (which it has), so for now I'm extremely happy with the results of my 18.74Lbs flywheel.
One thing is for sure, anyone with a 4.0 litre Chimaera running the standard and stupidly heavy 28Lb flywheel should replace it with something a lot lighter at their first opportunity (clutch change). I can confirm as long as you don't go much lighter than 18.74Lbs there really are no downsides, only big benefits you will definitely feel and enjoy.
Going lighter than 18.74Lbs on a 4.0 Litre is unknown territory for me so I couldn't really comment, and drivability is of course subjective, one man's nice and smooth is another's loss of flexibility. All I can say is my car will pull smoothly from 1000rpm and drive super smoothly all day long in the 1700 - 1800rpm zone where so often these cars stumble, this may of course have a lot to do with me having a very carefully mapped Canems engine management system with sophisticated strategies such as closed loop throttle management, 3D ignition timing and wide band closed loop fuelling.
Even without the big drivability advantage provided by the Canems system I'd definitely encourage anyone with a 4.0 litre Chimaera to at least have their original 28Lb millstone machined down to 21.5Lbs, you will not regret it!
Bassfiendnoideawhathp said:
Just out of interest ... how come the larger displacement Rovers seem able to get away with lighter flywheels?
You ever seen the size of the crank and rotating assemblies? Apart from the fact you need a ring-gear and a face for the clutch the bear on, I doubt a flywheel is necessary at all. Every gram saved is a benefit 
Pupp said:
Bassfiendnoideawhathp said:
Just out of interest ... how come the larger displacement Rovers seem able to get away with lighter flywheels?
You ever seen the size of the crank and rotating assemblies? Apart from the fact you need a ring-gear and a face for the clutch the bear on, I doubt a flywheel is necessary at all. Every gram saved is a benefit I know of at least one guy who went with the TTV Racing "Supalite" at 7.5Lbs and found it less than ideal for the road, this on a supercharged Chimaera that was making at least 350 ft/lbs of torque.
I have a feeling I could possibly go lighter than my 18.75Lbs bespoke TTV flywheel without any issues, but for now I'm more than happy to leave it just as it is.
After all I've already sliced nearly 10Lbs off what TVR gave the car from new, which is a good chunk of mass removed with absolutely no downsides whatsoever
Anyone that think these cars dont need a lighter flywheel than the 28 pound stock is a fool, I run No.5 on Dave's list with no regrets but can safely say I would not want to go any lighter than say 10 pounds if we are talking maxing out for a road car 
you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction
you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction Sardonicus said:
Anyone that think these cars dont need a lighter flywheel than the 28 pound stock is a fool, I run No.5 on Dave's list with no regrets but can safely say I would not want to go any lighter than say 10 pounds if we are talking maxing out for a road car you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction
^^^Absolutely 100% This^^^ you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction Sardonicus said:
Anyone that think these cars dont need a lighter flywheel than the 28 pound stock is a fool, I run No.5 on Dave's list with no regrets but can safely say I would not want to go any lighter than say 10 pounds if we are talking maxing out for a road car you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction
...but the low mass and subsequent snatchiness at low speeds could be offset by the high-mass inertial damper installed at mid point on the offside of the vehicle. you would struggle to get nice drive take up and throttle response would be too instant/snatchy at low speeds IMO but I am talking extreme weight reduction 
ChimpOnGas said:
Pupp said:
Bassfiendnoideawhathp said:
Just out of interest ... how come the larger displacement Rovers seem able to get away with lighter flywheels?
You ever seen the size of the crank and rotating assemblies? Apart from the fact you need a ring-gear and a face for the clutch the bear on, I doubt a flywheel is necessary at all. Every gram saved is a benefit I know of at least one guy who went with the TTV Racing "Supalite" at 7.5Lbs and found it less than ideal for the road, this on a supercharged Chimaera that was making at least 350 ft/lbs of torque.
I have a feeling I could possibly go lighter than my 18.75Lbs bespoke TTV flywheel without any issues, but for now I'm more than happy to leave it just as it is.
After all I've already sliced nearly 10Lbs off what TVR gave the car from new, which is a good chunk of mass removed with absolutely no downsides whatsoever
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