Okay, I've got a couple questions for all you smart folks. I bought a stealth ram for my 305 (yes I know a 305 is too small), b/c I didn't want to waste $$$ building a TPI setup that won't support a larger engine/ high rpms.
The cam in my 305 likes to make mid range power. So, if the setup is going to run like ***/lose low-end torque, would a decent way to compensate be to go with a lighter flywheel? I am converting to a T56 setup, and am currently running 3.27 gears (which will eventually be replaced w/ 3.73s). I figure that with a lighter flywheel, the engine will spend less time outside of its powerband, and will spool up more quickly thus minimizing the effects of low-end torque loss.

Also, how well would flywheel weight correlate w/ rearend gearing? AKA could a lighter flywheel compensate for higher gearing as well?

What do all y'all think?

TIA

MILT

 

do you mean numerically higher? like 4.10s?
i see very little if any correlation between the two. except that both should help you with accelerating, less rotational mass and steeper gearing

 

I meant higher gears as numerically lower. A lighter flywheel should act as if I had 3.73s instead of 3.27s or something...

 

The lower the rear end gear ratio (3.73's, 4.11's) the easier it is to accelerate. The benefits of the lighter flywheel will work well with these gears. If you road race at all the lighter flywheel is the only way to go.

 

I agree that the lighter flywheel would work well for road racing. However, driving in stop and go traffic you would very likely miss the smooth takeoff from a stop that the additional spinning mass of the heavy flywheel would give you. A very light flywheel could make launching a 3400 lb car at the track very difficult.

I think you should stay away from the lighter flywheel until you get more torque multiplication in the rear (like 4.11s). Perhaps then the lighter flywheel would help.

With a 3.27 rear you would find yourself slipping the clutch a lot more when taking off from a stop, and the engine would feel like it has lost significant off-idle torque.

When you have a really fast-revving combination it gets to a point where the engine is wasting power on spinning the flywheel up to speed. I think your setup is a long way from that, light flywheels work better in lighter cars and more rear gear than what you have.

In my humble opinion, of course...