flywheel vs. flexplate on small block alpha
04-18-2014, 11:53 AM
#11
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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
'n with a flexplate, insteada a flywheel, it'll stall every time ya shift into gear,...
Really Bad idea, with No pay-back,...
04-18-2014, 06:50 PM
#12
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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
04-18-2014, 07:08 PM
#13
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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.
A small tunnel boat with big cid BBC may be a different story......but very small story.....lol.
04-18-2014, 11:17 PM
#15
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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..
04-19-2014, 09:44 AM
#16
Gold Member
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.
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.
04-19-2014, 10:33 AM
#18
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04-19-2014, 11:49 AM
#19
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.
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.
