Full weight skylark. Mild 455 build lets say 360hp, and 510ftlbs. 290-08H cam. Close ratio T10. Rear gear yet to be determined. Either a 3.08 or a 3.42. 28lb flywheel or 38lb flywheel? I used to have a 87 firebird, which is a 3500+lb car, with a mild 355, big cam and a centerforce flywheel, and 3.42 gear. It was 30lbs flywheel, and the car had a ridiculously long 1st gear. (was able to merge on the highway with it) and I thought that was ok. My only complaint was it was tough to get up a gravel hill with it, since the slowest it would go was 20mph with the clutch fully out, and thats a bit quick for offroad. For this reason im leaning towards the 28lb one, because the buick will have way more torque, and anything to help reduce the rotating mass in our cars can only be good. Anyone using this flywheel??
A flywheel stores energy, a heavier one will take longer to rev but transferes more torque in the accelerating phase a lighter one will rev quicker and get you to the upper rpm quicker, less rotating mass.....you answered your own question...
Interesting feedback here: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=108503 Can't comment since I haven't had to deal with the situation myself. Devon
The flywheel also acts to smooth out the idle. A 290 cam will want to idle rough, I would want the bigger flywheel. The 290 cam will also have a bit softer bottom end torque. More inertia helps there. You will not have optimum gearing with a close-ratio T10. Unless you go with a 3.73 or higher rear gear. Roughly 10:1 overall first gear starting ratio (SLR) is about where you want to be for lighter flywheels. My .02 is to vote for the heavier. My plan is to use the lighter flywheel, but my cam will be smaller, and I will have just under 10:1 SLR.
Azeem, Go with the heavy flywheel, and go at least 3.42 gear. You will hate the 3.08 and it will be hard on clutches with the close ratio trans. Adam.
