327 4 Speed Flywheel

[Rob M.]

I was just entering my order into the CC order system when I found out they were no longer delivering the 327 4 Speed Flywheel. Does anyone know who still carries this item?

regards,
Rob.

[Joe L.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

I was just entering my order into the CC order system when I found out they were no longer delivering the 327 4 Speed Flywheel. Does anyone know who still carries this item?

regards,
Rob.

Rob-----


Your choices are becoming quite limited. You can obtain a cast nodular iron flywheel from GM under GM #14085720. I believe this flywheel will work for your application, although it was never cataloged by GM for such an application. However, this is a lightweight, 15 pound flywheel. I don't generally recommend lightweight flywheels, especially for a 327 cid engine.

You can obtain a steel, standard weight (30 pound) flywheel as manufactured by Centerforce. I believe their part number is 700100. This is the way I would go.

There may be others out there, too, but I have no knowledge of them.

[Duke W.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

A friend who restored his '65 L-76 to "327 LT-1" configuration installed the L-88 replacement flywheel mentioned by Joe and reported no driveabililty problems, but it had a 4.11 axle and as a 32 year old commercial pilot he's really into performance and buzzes it to 7200 several times with every drive. It also easily pulled from 1000 revs in top gear.

Recently he swapped the 4.11 for a 3.36 in anticipation of taking some long road trips. He reported that it took a little practice to get the car started from a dead stop, and it's obviously more sluggish off the line, but basically it's okay with the light flywheel. Being that he lives in S. Dakota, he doesn't have to deal with starting from a dead stop on hills.

As a general rule I recommend the 30 pound OE boat anchor for normal driving unless you have a SHP/FI engine with short gears.

Another alternative might be junkyards as the OE Corvette SB flywheel of that era was essentially the same heavyweight that was used on pass. cars.

Duke

[Michael H.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

A friend who restored his '65 L-76 to "327 LT-1" configuration installed the L-88 replacement flywheel mentioned by Joe and reported no driveabililty problems,

I installed a 15# flywheel in my 63 FI car and I definitely like it. (4.11 rear) I also changed my 66 big block over to the smaller diameter 15# flywheel. (new everything) I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Joe C.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

I'm using this one:

http://www.prwonlinestore.com/sfi11b...1998-04-1.aspx

It requires low profile bolts if used with a stock 5 or 6 Marcel spring clutch disc.

[Bill B.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

Joe - I was looking at an aluminum flywheel on ebay yesterday. Would you also suggest an aluminum flywheel, the one with the easy removable titanium center section....Much less centrifugal weight = free horse power.....Just a a suggestion!

Bill

1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

[Joe C.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

Joe - I was looking at an aluminum flywheel on ebay yesterday. Would you also suggest an aluminum flywheel, the one with the easy removable titanium center section....Much less centrifugal weight = free horse power.....Just a a suggestion!

Bill

1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

Aluminum flywheels are not recommended for street use. They must be serviced regularly, and are designed with replaceable friction surfaces (steel). They are generally much more expensive at about 400.00 and up, and the extra cost involved in their fabrication is truly wasted on a street driven car. Save your money and buy a high quality billet steel flywheel, which is about half the cost of an aluminum.

Cast iron flywheels are NOT certified by the SFI Foundation because they develop cracks with heat. If these cracks become deep enough, the flywheel will shatter under extreme use. I mention SFI certification, not because you will need it, but because it is a testament to the extra durability and safety inherent in a billet steel wheel versus an iron one.

If you use a lightweight flywheel, you can expect somewhat more heat buildup due to the fact that you MIGHT have to slip the clutch more, than with a 30 pound flywheel in order to launch the car. Many iron flywheels will reveal surface cracking/checking upon close examination. If you expect to be a "weekend warrior" with your Corvette, then you had better install a scatter-shield if you use an iron flywheel.

The part that I am using (one source of purchase linked above) is a high quality part, comparable in price with the GM replacement "L88" iron flywheel. It weighs 18 pounds, as opposed to the standard 30 pound part. The "L88" flywheel weighs in at about the same.

Flywheels store an engine's kinetic energy when it is de-coupled from the transmission, and transfers it back again, to the clutch plate upon re-coupling. I believe that anything within the range of 16-20 pounds is a good compromise. Anything lighter than that is just asking for trouble, because of added difficulty in launching a vehicle with gearing taller than 4.56 and the C/R Muncie with 2.20 1st gear.

[Bill B.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

Joe - Thanks for your in depth analysis of different flywheels and their applications. The link you provided displays a universal mount, I believe that will not be a problem, but I see in a note below: This flywheel is not compatible with stock type sprung hub clutch disc's (5 or 6 springs). A performance type disc with 8 springs must be used. I went through this many years ago with my heavy duty clutch & pressure plates. So now my left leg will be much stronger then the right on Saturday night cruises, and if the vehicle is primarily used in stop & go driving. Do you know if this manufacture sells a billet steel flywheel that will accept a stock clutch set up? I'm also referencing in my wife driving the 61 fuelie half a dozen times or better a year...hate to find out when she lets out the clutch and then catapults herself over the trunk breaking a fingernail holding onto the rear bumper.....That won't do well at the dinner table......

I appreciate it,

Bill

1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

[Joe C.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

Joe - Thanks for your in depth analysis of different flywheels and their applications. The link you provided displays a universal mount, I believe that will not be a problem, but I see in a note below: This flywheel is not compatible with stock type sprung hub clutch disc's (5 or 6 springs). A performance type disc with 8 springs must be used. I went through this many years ago with my heavy duty clutch & pressure plates. So now my left leg will be much stronger then the right on Saturday night cruises, and if the vehicle is primarily used in stop & go driving. Do you know if this manufacture sells a billet steel flywheel that will accept a stock clutch set up? I'm also referencing in my wife driving the 61 fuelie half a dozen times or better a year...hate to find out when she lets out the clutch and then catapults herself over the trunk breaking a fingernail holding onto the rear bumper.....That won't do well at the dinner table......
I appreciate it,

Bill

1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

Bill,

You didn't read my first post carefully enough. Do you see what it says about ".............ARP low profile bolts if used with standard clutch disc............."
Also, carefully and completely read the "Note" appearing beneath the product description at the link I gave you.

[Bill B.]

Re: 327 4 Speed Flywheel

Bill,

You didn't read my first post carefully enough. Do you see what it says about ".............ARP low profile bolts if used with standard clutch disc............."
Also, carefully and completely read the "Note" appearing beneath the product description at the link I gave you.

Obviously not!!!.....because I "didn't" stay at a Holiday Inn last night!!!..

Bill....