Stick Flywheel - Availability?

[sdaughtry]

Getting ready to replace my clutch; I have no service history for my '73 240Z and have no idea what shape the flywheel will be in. The only flywheels I can find are lightweight aluminum flywheels intended for racing - MSA hasn't had availability for stock flywheels since 1997, and Black Dragon only has the aluminum flywheel.

My car is a daily driver driven in lots of stop & go traffic - it is my understanding that light flywheels make feathering a clutch much more difficult, and I don't feel like stalling my car in highway traffic <g>.

Does anyone make / stock stock flywheels any longer?

[Bruce Palmer]

Typically a flywheel will, after resurfacing at a machine shop, be pressed back into service. Been done a billion times. Probably why there aren't any around, it's a very low demand item.

[jmortensen]

Light flywheels make the car a lot faster and make heel/toe downshifting a lot easier. They can be tough to drive if you have an engine that has no torque. I've driven an RX7 that was nearly impossible to get moving and also a 510 that was pretty difficult to get off the line. That said, they're EASY to drive in a Z car. I think the long crankshaft means you already have a lot of rotating mass there. I had a 12 lb in my car with triple carbs, big cam and exhaust and a heavier than stock clutch and drove it in stop and go traffic for a couple years, no problem at all. A friend of mine has a 10 lb in her car with SU's. Both are very easy to drive.

[Arne]

That's one of those parts that takes up so little room in storage that I kept one from one of the parts cars for just-in-case, even though I strongly suspect I'll never need a spare. But if I ever need to change the clutch, having a spare will seriously speed up the job - I can have my spare resurfaced ahead of time to make it a half-day job, instead of waiting for the machine shop.

[IdahoKidd]

I have several used ones if you need to go that route. All will need surfaced. Freight could be an issue as they are heavy. They are all the same for the non turbo and non 2+2, so even one from a zx will work fine. Probably $20(?) at a wrecking yard. Unless you have chattering or noise or some other issue, yours is probably good as it is, just needs resurfacing. I am with Arne, take a spare in and get it surfaced and ready so the clutch job is a same day event. It may take a machine shop a day or two to get yours in line.