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Lightened Flywheels

To: healeylist <healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: Lightened Flywheels
From: Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:30:53 -0800
Yes, I know this topic has been beaten to death, but something has kept me
wondering. 

I understand that reducing the rotational mass would produce an engine that
would rev quicker--and Listers with lightened flywheels attest to 
this--but does that
yield a car that's quicker off-the-line, or 0 to 60, or in the quarter 
mile?  I ask
because the mass of the flywheel seems inconsequential when compared to the
the mass of the entire drive train, which has to push the weight of the 
car and its
contents.  In other words, the main source of inertia is the rear 
wheels, the weight
riding on said wheels, and the mass of the car that is propelled by the 
rear wheels.

So, does a car with a lightened flywheel REALLY accelerate faster?  Anybody
got before and after 0-60 or quarter-mile times to prove it?


bs

-- 
***************************************************************
Bob Spidell         San Jose, CA        bspidell@comcast.net
'67 Austin-Healey 3000             '56 Austin-Healey 100M
***************************************************************




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