About a Flywheel
Flywheels are one of the simplest yet most complex parts you'll find in an engine. While muscle car flywheels look like little flat wheels that store energy, there's a lot more to it than that, with some muscle car flywheels having bearings, springs, locking pins, and other complex parts within them to ensure the smooth transfer of power.All that complexity aside, the engine’s flywheel is found between the engine and the transmission, and its purpose is to act as a buffer between the two to create a smooth shifting experience. It accomplishes this feat by rotating in sync with the crankshaft to provide inertia and maintain consistent engine speed, which reduces vibrations. Typically, flywheels are found on muscle cars that feature manual transmissions.
That said, your average OEM flywheel is a rather simple piece of heavy steel that rotates with your crankshaft, and while this is fine and dandy, OEM flywheels usually don't improve performance – they hinder it. The good news is that plenty of lightweight aftermarket flywheels with unique inner workings are available when you shop online.
Benefits of Aftermarket Flywheels
Upgrading from your OEM flywheel can save you a lot of headaches. Brands like McLeod are known for making lightweight high-performance flywheels that can handle a lot of power flowing through them without cracking under pressure. Not only is it helpful to have a high-performance flywheel that can handle your horsepower and torque needs, but it can also reduce the weight of your vehicle and the stress that weight places on other components. For example, some S550 Mustangs have flywheels that are north of 30 pounds – that's a lot of metal spinning around down there.If you plan on taking your muscle car to the next level and building a dragster, you’ll need a racing flywheel that can handle those power needs. For example, brands like Exedy offer lightweight muscle car flywheels with unique designs that offer more airflow to keep your clutch cool as well. When shopping for a new muscle car flywheel make sure you don't forget about the bolts. Most options only come with the aftermarket flywheel part, so you'll need to grab a flywheel bolt kit to make sure everything works properly.
If you need help finding the right parts or want to make sure the bolts you choose will fit your new high-performance flywheel, our sales techs are here to help. Shop online and get your new parts fast with hassle-free shipping options.