| Author | Topic |
|---|
Location:
cronulla
Registered:
September 2002
|
|
Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Fri, 26 November 2004 15:45
|
 |
Is there anyone out there with experience or info on the effects of lightening driveline components? i was toying with the idea of getting a custom light tailshaft and flywheel and using light rims and a smaller gearbox. If the weight attached to the back of back of the engine is less, it seems logical that it would have much more pronounced effect on power delivery than if i removed the same weight from other parts of the car. The driveline is much more expensive to lighten so im wondering if its worth it. any advice/experience anyone has is much appreciated.
cheers.
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Fri, 26 November 2004 16:28
|
|
I doubt it would be worth it for stuff like a tailshaft. You wouldn't be able to shave off a great deal of mass, and most of the mass is close to the centre of rotation anyway. This is the sort of thing you'd do on a big-dollar race car when you're chasing the last few poofteenths; you'd never notice it on the street.
Lighter rims can be a good thing, but there's only so far you can go before they become too flimsy for regular street use (ie pothole = bent rim).
|
|
|
Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Fri, 26 November 2004 23:16
|
|
Lightened flywheel will let the engine spin up more easilly, at the cost of making hill starts etc more difficult (AFAIK) but that's somethign different entirely.
I actually thought a lighter driveshaft would make more of a difference than that... reduce drivetrain losses.... the 350Z has a carbon fibre one IIRC.
|
|
|
Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
August 2004
|
|
Re: Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Sat, 27 November 2004 00:16
|
|
Yes lightening the flywheel will let the engine rev up quicker at the expense of idle smoothness.
I had a group n mini cooper s some time ago in which i reduced the flywheel from 16lb to 9. It made a huge difference in acceleration but wouldn't idle much below 1200rpm (full race cam didnt help here also).
You have to be carefull in the choice of flywheel material (ie steel & not cast) and CAMS requires that a cluth / flywheel scatter shield be installed around the bell housing to stop the bits chopping your foot off or other bits (remember where a mini clutch is positioned) should the thing decide to destroy itself at 8000 rpm.
|
|
|
Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Mon, 29 November 2004 02:45
|
|
It depends on where you want to make better acceleration. A lighter flywheel will make low speed acceleration a lot better, whereas lighter wheels/tyres and drive shaft will make high speed acceleration better. The difference being the gearing.
My guess is that there is more to be gained in tyre selection than in the driveshaft.
|
|
|
Location:
Melbourne, Australia
Registered:
July 2002
|
|
Re: Effects of lightening driveline?
|
Mon, 29 November 2004 12:44
|
|
heh, poofteenths. 
|
|
|
Location:
brisbane
Registered:
October 2004
|
|
|
but superlites or proper "magnesium alloy" nowadays "lightweight alloy type" wheels... 