Thanks CortC.
I was hoping that I had the correct part fitted. And I could feel the difference between the stock flywheel's weight, and the Mazdaspeed flywheel set's weight. But when my dealership told me that there wasn't much in it, I started to worry a little. :o

 

Slight hijack here...tokenbrit, are you going to have any problems with vehicle inspections over there in the UK with the CZ MP4 on your car? I might be moving to the UK here in a year or two and am looking for all the info I can get about the mods I can and can't do to my car if I'm going over there...you can PM me if you have the time...thanks...now, back to the show...just for everyone's info, regarding the counterweight...I bought my flywheel from Racing Beat, and they included the same counterweight that cortc showed the picture of earlier in the thread...as for install costs, I am going to run it by the dealer tomorrow and see what they quote me...

 

As far as I'm concerned, it will pass European emmissions without any major problems. I thought that the C.Z. midpipe, and cat passed Californian emmissions. If it can get past these, then the European one's shouldn't be a problem. My thinking is that as the O2 sensors get put back into the C.Z. cat, the emmissions aren't significantly affected either way.
I hope I am right.
The problem with living in the U.K. is that performance parts are harder to get. :o I seem to order everything from Japan, or the U.S.
ScudRunner, please feel free to PM me. I will willingly give you the lowdown on U.K. living. And I have worked in the U.S. too (1 year), so I know the difference.

 

Q re Clairfication on comparative weights. First, thanks Cortc for sharing your information and the photos on your LWFW install etc.

2nd, I know how difficult it can be to get any, much less comparative accurate moment of inertia data for a rotating body, but just on the "gross" or raw weight comparison I've now found & read your weight posting listing the "stock" flywheel's weight as @ 21.5# as compared to the MazdaSpeed version coming in at @ 10.5# for the flywheel, plus I gather another 3.5# for a separate counterweight. Would I be correct in assuming then that in terms of "total" comparative weight, the MazdaSpeeed flywheel only enjoys approximately a 6.5 pound raw weight advantage (10.5 + 3.5 + x msic bolts etc.) vs. the stock flywheels 21.5 lbs (including integral counterweight)?

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Mike
Colorado

 

Yes Mike, but also remember that wit the MS flywheel most of that weight is located very near the center and the old flywheel has it spread all over the edge... And the thing is spinning at 9k rpm, so this all has a profound effect...

 

I've a question... when the turbo kits start popping up on the 8's, which would be better, the stock or the current lightweight flywheels? or a new one maybe?

 

Finally, after all those months, I have the MazdaSpeed Flywheel sitting in my garage, ready to be fitted in the car!!

Cortc,
Do you have any hints or tips for the installation? I read the whole thread again just to make sure what to tell the mechanic. I'll go to a mazda dealer to install it, in order not to loose my warranty...

Thanks!

 

Hey cort,

Did the MS Flywheel come with installation instructions?

 

^yep, mine did have instructions...

 

Yes, it brings instructions...

 

I had my MS flywheel installed yesterday at the dealer. The whole process took 1h and 45min, cost was about 180euros. I think its a nice price, from what I've read here. I am very pleased, because everything was done very professionaly, and I was allowed to watch.

I had no previous experience with flywheels. I drove the car and I can see now why it is so extensively discussed. It is worth the money. It's not only the fact that the car comes alive, but I was really impressed when I saw the rev counter showing 3500rpm with just feathering the gas pedal. Very drivable too, almost same as stock.

Thanks to everyone here that provided correct information and helped me go ahead with this modification

 

Welcome to the club...

 

Got mine installed yesterday! Nice upgrade...no regrets. throttle has some snap now......highly recommended.

 

this is what i have been wanting to do, just so the car revs faster and i can trick myself into thinking that my car is wicked fast :D

 

I was quoted 3.6 hours at $80 per hour. Does this sound about right for the install?

 

yea thats a good deal. Is it installed by a mazda dealership?

 

Yep - just talked to the master mechanic.

 

So where have you guys found good prices on MS flywheels?

I think it's my next mod. I've so far only done minor things- syn fluid in trans and diff, stainless steel clutch line, swapped out fog and marker lights, installed subs and amp, fog light mod.. and that's about it. I have been saving for a good performance mod, and after driving my friend's 350, I've decided the 8 needs three things to make it sexier: faster throttle response, throatier intake, and a more snick-snick engagement at the shifter. Unfortunately for a poor college student, these three are some of the more expensive mods. Prob 800-850 flywheel, 500 for intake, 450-500 for short shifter. Sigh.. I guess it's ramen for a while.. haha

 

s**t - i thought this was a new thread - Grrrr!

search the "flywheels flywheels flywheels" thread

 

Nice pix cortc !

 

Thanks...

 

guys, which flywheel do you propose to me? all stock in car, i ll change flywheel and clutch kit (smoother-organic possibly)

 

I recommend MS since it is a lighter flywheel that won't punish you too bad on your daily commutes. I had it done for $375 plus the cost of the flywheel. You will lose some torque..but..the 8 doesn't have much of that anyways, so you aren't losing much. HOWEVER, 1st-3rd gear now rocks!!!! You can tell just by giving it some gas, that it doesn't take as much energy to crank these lighter flywheels....definitely worth the $$ to make it more fun to REV!!

 

this mod actually decreases torque? how much whp increase did this mod yield and how did it affect mpg?

i am confused as to why having less torque is a good thing.

 

Don't have the stats for the whp portion, but as for the mpg didn't affect it that much. On HWY trips, avg. 20-22 mpg. In the city, 17-18mpg. Granted, it helped that I shift between 4K - 4.5K...