I would like a bit of advice for a flywheel on a Jaguar AJV6 engine, do I buy a Fidanza aluminium weight 9 lbs Or do I spend the same amount of money refacing, lightening and balancing my OE Ford Duratec V6 one. The OE cast one is a bit rusty so definitely needs refacing (about $110) as a minimum lightening and balancing would add another $200 and would weigh 16lbs. I am thinking 9 lbs is too light for street use but since the OE cast flywheels are becoming scarce they are difficult to find in good condition and this makes the Fidanza an equal cost option.
I take it this is for your MGB. If this will be a daily driver with a lot of city driving, I would go with the 16 lb. flywheel. For a less used, back road, autox, or track day car, the even lighter flywheel would be fun.
Thank you Carl
Yes it will be a daily driver for both my wife and I, but not into large towns/cities, we live in a fairly rural area with hills and windy roads. One thing that I should have said is that the starter motor engages the flywheel from the opposite side to what it was designed for, ie in the Mondeo the starter engages from the gearbox side but on the Jaguar it engages from the engine side. Is that a problem? looking at a photo it appears that the ring gear is fitted from the engine side so the starter would tend to push the ring gear against its shoulder.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/fiz-186251/applications/engine-type/v6
That would be a problem if there is not a chamfer on the teeth to aid engaging the starter gear.
Would also need a starter that rotates in the opposite direction or it'd spin the motor the wrong direction I'd think.
Rob
The starter motor stays in the same place as it did on the S Type, in fact the starter used is a modified S Type one or in my case a modified one from a Ford Focus. You obtain both a Ford Pinto/Zetec and a S Type starter motor (both are badged Motorcraft) and swap the pinion over, because the Zetec starter that I bought appeared to be in better condition (outwardly at least) I just swapped the mounting bracket over. I attach a video of this in operation, I take no credit for it due to it being on the Locost forum. It is shown working with a billet steel flywheel (7" twin plate clutch) and the Mondeo (Contour)/Cougar one and if you look closely you will see that the starter mounting holes have been moved 4.25mm (approx 1/6") closer to the crankshaft. The nice part of this modification is that you use the Mondeo/Cougar/Contour clutch which not only bolts to the flywheel but the 23 tooth spline is exactly the same as the RX8 one as is the clutch spigot bearing.
The adapter plate is one of many being sold in the U.K. by an aircraft engineer who rallies Ford Escorts fitted with RX8 gearboxes. I think the beauty of these engines is their light weight (320lbs) and reasonable power (275bhp+) at a reasonable price. I recently bought a "spare" engine with a S type manual gearbox for £250, I then sold the catalytic convertors for £180 and the gearbox for £225
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l01vP9_wnm4&feature=youtu.be
Random thought, how about machining a 215" Olds, Hydro flywheel, to accept a Fidanza/etc., bolt-in steel insert ? One could use a more aggressive frictional. Much less work than making complete billet flywheel.
Art.