Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I need to get a new flywheel for my 5.0 Ford and would appreciate any advice on the suitability of using a billet steel flywheel for 4wd use or should I stick to a cast unit.

Yella Terra do make a billet steel unit that they indicate is for 4wd's but I am a little unclear whether they may have possible heat issues etc.

Any of you hardcore guys using billet steel FW's ?

JD

The main difference in fly wheels is weight and friction.

Friction can effect how well the plate grabs intially and how much torque it can handle before slipping. I doubt there is much difference though and the clutch material is the more import factor

Weight, the lighter the flywheel the less low down torque but you will make more top end power. For a 4WD I would stick with a standard weight flywheel or not go much lighter. Lighter has it advantages as picks up revs quicker and is good when driving heel and toe. It is a personal thing in road performance cars, but again for a 4WD I would stick with the same weight. The main reason people go billet is they can be made thinner and lighter not sure of any great advantage other than that, it may last longer also

The cast nodular iron flywheels disipate heat far better than steel, steel will concentrate the heat
The heavier cast flywheel also improves bottem end torque
I have a billet steel Commodore V6 flywheel in the workshop that has only done 1200 km and is already gone blue from heat

I'm running a custom billet flywheel on my Lexus V8 in the 4runner, it's been fine so far. Had to replace the clutch late last year, and it didn't look any different to how the old V6 cast one used to look when the clutch was shagged.

my 2¢ ...

billet steel flywheels and pressure plates where needed because when you machined (ie lightened) cast flywheels you lost a lot of the streath and durability. add that to a high rpm race motor they tend to break up after a lot of use. not doubt a big tourque motor in a heavy vechile will do the same. afaik this only applys to machined cast iron however i've heard of a few standard ones shattering.

Thanks Guys

I think I will stick with using a stock cast flywheel as thats what I currently use and its done over 250.000klm with no issues at all.

I'm doing a bottom end rebuild for another engine and if I have another flywheel I can get it all balanced and installed rather than take my 4Runner off the road just to get the flywheel etc.

It was just easier and quicker to to get new billet steel one but since then I've decided I'll get a factory cast one from the US. Ford Oz wanted my arm and a leg for a new one .

Something really needs to be done about our new parts costs as for their cost of one I can get 4 from the US and that includes postage !!!

Cheers