Light flywheel

[Kal-El]

Does the standard 4.0 Chimeara engine use a lightened flywheel? I think my clutch is due for change shortly and would like to change the flywheel since it makes a significant difference to the engine response and the cars acceleration.
Has anyone done this to their car, and how much am I looking at?

[z_chromozone]

I believe that the rover engines all use standard flywheels, but thee may be some TVR’s out there that do not.

As you say, lightening the fly wheel will change the rate at which the engine can change rpm (lighter = faster), this will change the feel of the engine and allow faster matching of revs during gear shifts etc if you have the skill to do such things (not that I do).

However, one hooked up I would not expect there to be that noticeable a difference in acceleration, especially in the higher gears. The change in reciprocating mass will be small compared to the load exerted by the mass of the car and drive train (which will ultimately limit the speed at which revs increase).

That said, once the clutch is out of the car there is usually only a little more work to be done to remove the flywheel (although I have never removed one from a rover V8). The extra cost of changing it then boils down to the cost of the flywheel and not the labour.

Z

[jvaughan]

I had the flywheel of my 400SE lightened when the new engine went in. definatly noticeable

[Horse_Apple]

Yup.

Had mine lightened when I dropped in the new 4.5bv.

Makes a huge difference and well worth doing if you are having the clutch done.

Not so forgiving in the stalling department afterwards is the only point to note.

[z_chromozone]

www.rpiv8.com/transmission-3.htm#clutch-kits

RPi do several for about £195

Z

[Boosted Ls1]

I took about 7lbs of a rover flywheel and it was fine but I think that the original mass can be helpful on long motorway stints. Nowadays I'm inclined to keep the mass in place.