Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

In a honda drivetrain where the flywheel is surrounded by the bell housing, and a bunch of grade 10 bolts holding the engine to the transmission & the flywheel is also bolted to the pressure plate and crankshaft, my guess is that even in the most remote chance of it scattering, the mess would be contained safely.

Also we are not dealing with the torque load on the flywheel that even a weak small block v8 has, and they use aluminum flywheels in race appliactions.

Many clutch companies such as exeddy, fenco and centerforce currently offer aluminum flywheels, some with aluminum pressure plates too.

Really this post was just meant to see if anyone is currently using one, or has interest in them.

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

What kind of aluminum is he using???

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

I'll find out the specific grade tomorrow I'll keep you guys posted.

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

A normal bellhousing has NO chance against an exploding flywheel. A scatterproof bellhousing won't exactly be intact but it won't let the flywheel tear your car apart. Made from steel whereas a normal bellhousing is cast aluminum or cast iron. A scattershield or scatterproof bellhousing is required in cars under 10.99 IIRC rather than 11.99 where I live. They also require a shield or a blanket on the transmission at those levels.
I've seen a DSM (Eclipse GS-T to be exact) with an exploded flywheel, it was not a pretty sight. There was one piece of flywheel in the passenger seat, one piece sticking out of the hood and pretty much everything around the flywheel was beat as hell.
Flywheels and torque converters do blow up on high performance cars. Most of the flywheel explosions I think are traced to improperly lightened stock flywheels, I don't think that was the case with the DSM though.

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

what material is he using for the friction ring. i would think it is 1050 carbon steel, that is what they use on the JR aluminum f/w's. what is he using for a ring gear? is he using the factory ring gear and bolting it to the aluminum plate? what about the dowel pins, are they shrink fit in so they won't come out? what grade of fasteners is he using to put it all together? these things are all very important. pics would be good too. how is he balancing them? when i used to lighten factory flywheels i used balancing stands for a grinding wheel to balance them. i've done about 2 dozen and have had no problems with them. he might be more interested in just lightening factory f/w's. it is a whole lot easier than making one from 3 different pieces. i used to charge $100CDN to lighten, balance and replace the pilot bearing. i can't imagine making one from aluminum for under $300-250.

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

1- you are so wrong

2 its rpm that makes her come apart

3- they know what there doing

No offence here, I bet he is a sweet goddam machineist but this is not some billet shift knob hes making. I have seen clutch componentes come apart and through bell housings/cars, I would not run one its not safe ;)

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

I'll stick with my cromoly ACT flywheel, I trust steel and ACT

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

i will take one for 50$ us :D

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

i wouldn't wanna be the guinie pig trying one of those till i see they work. if one breaks at high rpms.lol watch out, it's gonna go thru the transmission.

Re:Aluminum flywheels
 

I have a Fidenza flywheel. I hear more and more than lightened flywheels kind of suck for boost, but what do I know?

What sort of warranty & liability does he plan on offering?