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-   -   flywheel vs. flexplate on small block alpha (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-q/311137-flywheel-vs-flexplate-small-block-alpha.html)

Bondo 04-18-2014 11:53 AM


Originally Posted by infiniti383 (Post 4108262)
Im running 400 hp 355 small blocks with alpha drives using the coupler that attaches directly to the crank. These engines will only run 5500 rpm max. What id like to do is get rid of the heavy 153 tooth merc flywheels and go with 168 tooth SFI approved flexplates. The only disadvantage i can see in losing the heavy flywheel is losing the rotating inertia for shifting purposes at low rpm and possibly stalling instead of stumbling on the shift. I plan to idle between 700-800rpm in neutral. Let me know what you guys think. Im very curious as to what critical purpose the heavy wheel has in respect to my setup

Ayuh,.... An idle of 800 rpms is Too high for an Alpha drive,...

'n with a flexplate, insteada a flywheel, it'll stall every time ya shift into gear,...

Really Bad idea, with No pay-back,...

dunnitagain 04-18-2014 06:50 PM


Originally Posted by infiniti383 (Post 4108262)
Im running 400 hp 355 small blocks with alpha drives using the coupler that attaches directly to the crank. These engines will only run 5500 rpm max. What id like to do is get rid of the heavy 153 tooth merc flywheels and go with 168 tooth SFI approved flexplates. The only disadvantage i can see in losing the heavy flywheel is losing the rotating inertia for shifting purposes at low rpm and possibly stalling instead of stumbling on the shift. I plan to idle between 700-800rpm in neutral. Let me know what you guys think. Im very curious as to what critical purpose the heavy wheel has in respect to my setup

The only advantage you'll gain is the total weight loss of the Flywheels . It wont Idle in Gear worth a dam , and losing the rotational inertia for faster accel , is negated by the Sterndrive anyway. The frictional losses of 2 , 90 degree gear sets way offsets your MOI reduction of lighter flywheels.

SB 04-18-2014 07:08 PM

Hull design, weight, and water itself (ie:load) vs engine power is our largest obstacle against acceleration rates of our boat. Not the engines ability to accelerate.

A small tunnel boat with big cid BBC may be a different story......but very small story.....lol.

infiniti383 04-18-2014 09:01 PM

okay guys sounds good I think I'll stick with the fly wheels.thank you everyone for your time

FIXX 04-18-2014 11:17 PM

i run a 434 hp 355,,like ,emtioned your not going to really notice the differance..tryed it in a stock cat with a small ram thripple disc set up..kept going through starters bendix's and sheering off the teeth on the flywheel..went back to the big flywheel..

vintage chromoly 04-19-2014 09:44 AM

Call me crazy but, I'm going to use an SFI rated flywheel on my bbc. Maybe it's overkill but for 225 bucks (made in USA, billet steel RAM) I'll take the peace of mind.

Even though there will be no "hit" like a manual gearbox drag car would see, the thought of a flywheel coming apart and tearing through my hull makes it cheap insurance.

mike tkach 04-19-2014 09:59 AM

i would be more concerned about a stock balancer,i have seen what can happen when one comes apart in a boat and it gets ugly.

ezstriper 04-19-2014 10:33 AM


Originally Posted by mike tkach (Post 4109052)
i would be more concerned about a stock balancer,i have seen what can happen when one comes apart in a boat and it gets ugly.

exactly...never seen a flywheel issue except on a drag boat..

vintage chromoly 04-19-2014 11:49 AM

I have an SFI damper as well.

Like I said, maybe overkill but at 225 bucks I'll take it. Also, I need a zero balance flywheel.

Several years back here in Cleveland, (when we use to have racing here) a team had a flywheel come apart and saw right trough the hull. They barely got the boat out of the water before it sunk.

ICDEDPPL 04-19-2014 02:53 PM

One advantage of a lighter flywheel is the rotational inertia would be less when the drive is coming in/out of the water therefore less stress on the drive.


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