Light Weight flywheel

[Andy]

So what exactly does a light weight flywheel make the car do? I am having a hard time understanding how it helps. When you floor the car in first does it make the car faster to go up in the rpms? That is the only thing I can think of.

The reason I ask is because I want to know if this will help my car. From idle to about 2700 rpm the car feels like it has 0 power.

[psulja]

A lightweight flywheel will decrease the amount of rotating mass in the drivetrain helping the car rev up quicker.

But it will also let the revs drop quicker between shifts.

[Andy]

I understand that part but would it help alleviate the pain of idle to 2600?

[psulja]

Technically it should help it rev past 2600 quicker but there must be something else causing you to feel like your car has 0 power. I know my 1.6 didn't accelerate too quickly until after 4000rpm but it still revved up well enough.

[Andy]

Well I mean it does rev up like any other miata should but it is sort of slow for what I would like. I was just curios as to how to help it get to the power band better. So far the closes thing I have found is advancing the timing to 14 so the torque band is lower.

[etikoner]

It should get your car feeling peppier.

The 1.6 has little torque to begin with...

It'll also make it easier to stall your car out.

Just get an f1 racing flywheel and call it a day...

[Andy]

I might consider a 12lb flywheel. That probably wont be until I have a reason to drop the tranny. I do have a throw out bearing giving me some noise though.

[atlnb]

The flywheel also takes stress of the crankshaft. That's the other part of allowing it to rev quicker

[kung fu jesus]

You should read this post:

http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread.php?5305-What-do-you-think-about-lightening-a-1-6-Flywheel&p=79771#post79771

[Andy]

Well that was an interesting thread. So a lighter flywheel can help free up some lost torques from the process of spinning it up.

8 torques seems significant.

[SteelReign]

Looks like you have the 1.6 ltr, meaning you already kinda have a lighter flywheel than the ones found in the 1.8. I've got a 9-lb flywheel on my NB and I don't think its really what you're looking for. With the clutch in, it'll rev quicker for sure. Makes for some great rev-matching, downshifting and exciting shifting in general just to keep up with it. But I never felt that it actually made it any faster to redline with the clutch out. Maybe its a minimal effect. As stated before, the drivetrain gets a little noisier, especially during in-gear deceleration.

Miatas seem pretty slow until they get past 5000 rpm. If you're coming to Miatapalooza, try to find someone with a set up that you'd like and ask to drive it...?

[Andy]

^Thanks. Ill make sure to do that. I am against additional noise though.