Anyone out there know anything about the aftermarket stick flywheels available?
I bought a cheap SFI rated somewhere on line and it seems the engine has a slight vibration after 4000 RPM. Do these flywheels need a balance right out of the box?
Good thing it came with a set of Ginsu knives for the kitchen.

 

I never use a flywheel without balancing it first; I try to have any flywheels I might use balanced when the engine is done. Second, the pressure plate could be out of balance, or not exactly centered (using non-shouldered bolts, or threaded holes off-centered). If you have a perfectly balanced flywheel, a good performance engine shop can check the new wheel against it for you, and verify that the pressure plate is not contributing to off-balance. The crude way would be to put a longer bolt and small weight at one pressure plate mounting position at a time and see if the vibration gets better. Or use an extra hole such as for 10.5" pressure plates if yours is 11". A short 3/8" bolt in one of those holes would make a noticeable difference. If you are turning over 4000, I hope you have an SFI bell housing, Lakewood or Quick Time. The latter would allow this experimentation.

 

You have brought up some great points. I appreciate the info on the balancing. I never thought of bringing in the pressure plate with the flywheel. I think I'll have my sons pull them out and we'll get it all balanced.
I have the factory bell...but you got me thinking about a Lakewood. We had a clutch come through the floor in a 396 Camaro many years ago, so I know that stuff can happen,
Thanks again,
Dave

 

I suggest you go to www.quicktimeinc.com and look at their housings. About half or 2/3 the weight of a Lakewood, stronger, fewer bolts to deal with, well made. Sometimes you can get a deal on ebay or Summit. I haven't even saved any stock bellhouisngs over the years because my feet are discontinued If someone criticizes my car for having an aftermarket bell, so what. I guess I could paint it copper/bronze but why add the weight of another layer of paint, lol.

 

and as was said above brought it to the engine builder to be balanced with the rest of the assembly, I also bought the damper ( sfi too) and my machinist said they were good pieces, he said he wouldn't use em on a drag only car but absolutely fine for the street.