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Dan Eiland Member
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I'm getting ready to purchase the Fidanza Aluminum Flywheel for my Jensen Healey. I was wondering if anyone has purchased one in the past year or so and did it fit? They list it for the Lotus Espirit, 1980-90, 2.2L, Non-Turbo, Part #122961, 8.5 pounds. I found them at a very good price of $325 delivered to my home. Just trying to get some input from anyone who has been there and done this. If someone is interested in purchasing one, contact me and I can give you the information. You may want to wait and see how this purchase turns out before placing your own order. Dan |
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Ron Earp Member 
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I've not used one, but I would expect, but don't know, that at 8.5lbs in weight you are going to have a very choppy idle from the motor. I think Judson has run one and reported that to be true. |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator 
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As long as the flywheel and all moving parts in the engine front to back have been precision balanced, the idle will be silky smooth. You should do this any time you rebuild a 907 engine, even if it's dead stock. I used a 7lb Tilton for years and was mostly happy with it. It will make the clutch very touchy compared to stock of course, that's what I didn't like. I'd never put a lightened flywheel on a Lotus engine that was not balanced - Lotus wasn't real good about that on the early engines. I've found that some Lotus 2.2 crank flanges can have a slightly different flange configuration, no idea why or what years are effected. See if the manufacturer can send you a cad drawing to compare with what you have. That's a great deal for an aluminum flywheel, let us know how that works out. |
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normv Member 
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Fidanza no longer make this flywheel I ordered and paid for one in January from their Australian distributor and affter many excuses inluding being told it was with the forwarder in the US it never arrived. Fidanza deleted it from there cataloge in June now refuse to supply one. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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I just typed in Fidanza and got their website and looked up the Lotus flywheel. Still listed. See it at: http://www.fidanza.com/ItemDetails.aspx?fid=219&mid=212&mk=LOTUS&md=ESPIRIT&yn=80-90&eid=207&mkid=28 Ordered it today at a cost of $324.95 USD. That includes the shipping cost to my home. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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I would normally agree about the vibration and choppy idle using an aluminum flywheel if I weren't getting ready to do a complete rebuild and upgrade on my 2.0L Jensen Healey engine. The reason I am ordering all the parts now is so I can have them computer balanced seperately then all together attached to my new 2.2L crank. This should smooth out the engine even at high rpm. Thanks to this forum and the great input from so many people I now have all the specs to proceed forward and I am in the process of attaining all the final parts so I can finally rebuild my engine. The parts should all be in by late next week or early the following week. Looking forward to having the engine finished so I can get my transmission adapter made for my 5 speed conversion. Then it's on to modifying the drive shaft. In the mean time I guess I need to take my body in to the body shop to have it finished and ready for the mechanicals. Last edited on 11-04-2006 03:11 am by Dan Eiland |
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normv Member
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Dan Please let me know if they wil supply you one as I an currently having a chrome Moly one built but would prefer the alloy if i can get one at a reasonable price, This flywheel no longer appears in there 2006/2007 cataloge but hopefully they will still supply them . I will go direct if that its the case becous ter Australian distributor could not get one. Pelase let us know the outcome. |
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Ron Earp Member
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Greg Fletcher wrote: As long as the flywheel and all moving parts in the engine front to back have been precision balanced, the idle will be silky smooth. If the flywheel is too light you will have a motor that won't idle very well no matter to what 0.000000X gram weight it is balanced to. If the weight of the flywheel isn't enough to dampen the power pulses it'll show up as an idle that is definitely not sliky smooth. That said, I don't know if 8.5 lbs is enough or not. The stocker is a heavy piece for sure in comparison. I'd been interested in how you get on with the project and if Fidanza will supply one. If not there are a couple floating about used, and, there is a flywheel supplier advertised in GRMS that can make one for you. All you'd need to do is supply a stock one so they can get measurements for the distance from the crank flange to the surface face, as well as ring gear diameter, and teeth. |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator
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Ron, all I can tell is what I personally experienced and that is that I had an aluminum Tilton 7 pound flywheel on my Jensen Healey and with the balance it received, it performed perfectly and in fact was very smooth at idle. |
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Ron Earp Member
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Sounds like 7lbs is enough to do the job then. I'd love to be able to use a flywheel this light as I'd imagine it'd rev a lot better - the stocker is around 18-20lbs just from guessing from moving it around. R |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator
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That was one cool feature about the light flywheel- if I'd jump on the throttle at 50-60mph, it would fly up to 90mph in a heartbeat. The original flywheel is a boat anchor, but certainly better suited to city type driving. Commuter driving with a light flywheel was not very fun. |
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Sylva Member
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Dan Did I read earlier tha that you are using a Sunbeam 911 Crank? If so be carefull as I wrote on another post the 911 crank is 6 mm longer than a 910 or a 912 Crank, Maybe this is the thing that Greg noticed over the years. All the guys at Lotus today say that all the cranks are the same and that there is no reord of any diffrences, but I've had a 911, 910 and 912 next to each other, and the fly wheel face on the 911 is 6 mm further out from the back face of the block. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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My crank is from Delta Motorsports and the box has Garry Kemp's name on it. It was purchased new about 8 to 10 years ago by a PO who abandoned their project after about 8 years of storage and no progress other than purchasing a lot of expensive upgrades. I purchased the project for all the upgraded parts which are new and still in their boxes with the original protective coatings intact. I have one complete Jensen Healey engine with under 8000 miles on it since it was rebuilt in 1989, and one spare block and main bearing panel with all bolts removed and vanished years ago. The liners on my complete engine have already been bored 30 over so they should be perfect for my new 2.2 pistons. The block on the complete engine has a crack in the side of one of the bolt locations for the auxilliary housing. I'm in the process of disassembly of the complete engine which is why I noticed it. The spare block looks to be in very good condition. I need to borrow a liner remover from someone and move the liners from the rebuilt engine to the spare block. I'm getting ready to take the spare block down and have dowels added to all ten bolts surrounding the main bearings. This should help stiffen the bottom end for the 2.2L crank. I'll have the machine shop check the two cranks and see if there is a difference. I haven't heard of any issues concerning this swap in relation to one crank being different from another. With my Ford T5 conversion it might make a difference. If it does, I'll post what I find out on this forum. So far as where the new crank came from---since it is not a x-drilled crank my guess would be it had to come from an earlier Lotus engine. What car I can't tell you. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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It looks like we were Both wrong on this one or we were both right. Not real sure which! I spoke with the Factory today and they have emailed me back with an offer. They will make 10 Aluminum Flywheels without the ring gears for the 2.2L Lotus Non-Turbo engine 1980-1990 at a cost of $350 each. We would have to mount our old ring gear to the new flywheel. Turns out they lost their supplier for the ring gears so they discontinued the flywheel. I will definitely purchase one but that leaves 9 more that would have to be presold. On another front, I also spoke with Dave Bean today about this situation which they were not aware of. They informed me they could supply the ring gears to Fidanza and would call them. I gave them my cell number and they said they would call me back to let me know what happens. Anyone interested in an Aluminum Flywheel for your JH or Lotus 2.0L or 2.2L better cross their fingers and pray that Fidanza will make us some Aluminum Flywheels. If they don't I do know of a small company that will make them for $1200 each to order. |
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Sylva Member
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If you reuse the ing gear, I'd try to find a way to mechanicaly lock the ring to the fly wheel, I reused my ring gear (on a light steel wheel) after starting the car about 50 tmes the ring gear came loose from the fly wheel, turnng the starter simply rotated the ring around the fly wheel, so engine had to come out. Solved it by stitch welding the ring to the fly wheel, this was possible for me to do as although I had to sort out a sutable welding procedure and welding rods, at least it was for steel to steel. I wassubsequently informed that it is very common for the ring to move if it is reused and simply heat shrunk into place. If any one is interested there is a good photo of my engine on terato.com, under the section for round 6 of the Malysian Super Series, forgive me for it not neing a JH, |
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Ron Earp Member
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You can pin it on too, I know some folks do that as well. A few small diameter roll pins carefully put in through the ring gear into the flywheel will hold it well. Just have to make sure your pin sits below the level of the gear when you put them in. Ron Last edited on 11-08-2006 12:26 pm by Ron Earp |
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jcdean Member
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Link to Sylva's 9xx motor picture. http://www.terato.com/cars/content/view/353/46/ Third column, 5th down. Joey Last edited on 11-08-2006 01:28 pm by jcdean |
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Dan Eiland Member
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Ron, any idea how many roll pins would be needed? With the high torque starters today and HC engines, you could be placing quite a bit of torque onto some very small roll pins causing some major shear forces to be present. I would think it would take several roll pins to overcome, or at least spread out, the shearing forces to more than one pin. I have heard of using roll pins before, just not how many or what size. |
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Ron Earp Member
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Hi Dan, pinning every 90 degrees is plenty. Friction from the ring should still be the primary force holding it on the flywheel. R |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator
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The Club Store has been selling custom made, 7 pound aluminum flywheels for some time http://www.jhps.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=jhps&Product_Code=AFW&Category_Code=ET They are not cheap, but they have a ring gear already installed and are equal in quality to the old Tiltons (which are no longer made for this application). I've just sold my last one, the only other one I have in stock is made to go with the 5 speed conversion kits. |
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Dan Sommerfeld Member
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Greg, You may want to take a look at your link. It states the part is 7lbs, but the shipping weight is 4lbs. |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator
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I know- it's that way because of the formula I use for shipping, otherwise the shipping cost is much more than it should be. It's a long story and I didn't create this software, I just use it. Anyway, the imaginary weight of a particular item (more so for heavy stuff) on the website usually relates to more accurate costs at check out. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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Sorry Greg, but I can't afford to pay $900 for a flywheel. It was why I looked and shopped for another source. The Fidanza Flywheel has been around for a while and has been offered by all kinds of for-profit business' for $299-$400. Even Dave Bean sold the Fidanza Flywheels. Is there a reason the club decided to have these custom built at two to three times the price as the Fidanza parts? Just my thoughts, but why not approach Fidanza and have them make a minimum order of 10 flywheels and offer them to members for $350 + S & H? I'll purchase the first one. |
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Greg Fletcher Administrator
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A business of any kind operates on economy of scale and there isn't much demand for a 7 pound aluminum flywheel on the 907 engine regardless of cost. I have no idea, but I sort of doubt that Dave Bean stopped selling Fidanza because they made so much money on them. Buying 10 flywheels for thousands of dollars and sitting on stock for 7-8 years to sell them all isn't a great use of capital for the hilariously low profit on these parts. The lightened flywheels I've been selling are made a few at a time, the company that makes them ships them to me and I pay for them when I sell them. At least they are excellent quality, available, and it is a bit less than the $1,200 "custom flywheel" you mentioned. |
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Dan Eiland Member
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Greg, I understand your delemma. What I was trying to suggest was to develop some kind of agreement between all the specialty companies like DB, DMS, BM, JHPS, etc... that might keep companies like Fidanza making the parts we so badly need. From what I can tell, Fidanza has made these flywheels for some time at very reasonable prices and it sounds like DB stocked a few on their shelves. If these items were passed on at more reasonable prices (basically at cost--around $299) rather than trying to make any mark-up at all--it might keep these kinds of rare parts selling just enough to keep them from being discontinued. Also the close networking between the specialty suppliers and the big manufacturer may have also kept this item from being discontinued. I don't know what your markup is on the flywheel you currently sell, but I do know that Fidanza is willing to make a low number production to accomodate our group at a cost of $350 per Aluminum Flywheel. If you are having 2-3 custom made then don't you think the other specialty suppliers have 2-3 requests per year as well? Even if you made nothing on the items it is a service you could offer your clients and at a very low cost. Even on a presale basis. Once there are 10 orders the group of suppliers can place an order and agree they will be handled by just one of you to keep the costs down. No different than what you do with DMS, isn't it? Or something like it? You really didn't even need to stock the Fidanza Flywheel. You could have become a dealer and just listed them for sale. That is how I found one at $299 + S & H. Unfortunately Fidanza couldn't find what they needed to continue production. Hopefully, DB will be able to convince them they can supply their parts so they will make some more. All this aside, I guess I'll look for one of those lightened steel flywheels like the ones they use in Europe. Anyone know where I can find one in the US at a reasonable price? If not, then it's down to having one of my boat anchors lightened by the machine shop. |
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Sylva Member
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Greg, can I make a comment, I think the JHPS is the bst site I've found for the 900, hence my membership, I don't have JH but I do have 900. The prices you have are generally very very competaive, compared to UK prices, and the technical knowledge of the contributors is first class. My comment is is it possible to widen the apeal of the site to attract people with Esprits etc, I'm sure somthing could be done,without damage to the JH brand, and may move stock quicker. |
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Harkes Member 
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Hi Dan, I follow your progress with great interest. Your car will be awesome and i can't wait to see pics of when it is all painted and of your engine. About flywheels: if the aluminium flywheel turns out a costly affair or undoable, then i don't think you should leighten your OEM JH flywheel. Why not go for an Lotus Esprit leight weight steel flywheel. Not as leight as an aluminium one but most certainly a lot leighter than the orginal JH stocker. Garry Kemp mounted the Esprit leightweight steel flywheel to my 2.2L engine. Have a look at; http://jhppg.com/gallery/album109/Gearbox_conversion_007?full=1 I use an Esprit pressure plate (the flywheel/pressure plate where used with a Renault gearbox at that time). I have heavy duty gear reduction starter as well. Erik Harkes, JH 15175 Last edited on 11-10-2006 11:44 am by Harkes |
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Jensen Healey Super Moderator 
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Hi Dan, It's not Greg's responsibility to provide parts at cost. He now seems to stock the lowest priced aluminum flywheel on the market so it must be a good deal. What's a couple hundred dollers in relation to the total cost of the hot rod JH? When I took my flywheel to the local race machine shop they refused to lighten it at all for safety reasons. It seems there have been some issues in the past. I recall their comment, "Do you like your legs?" Kurt |
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Ron Earp Member
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They can be lightened to a certain extent, but, nothing like bolting on a aluminum flywheel. There is a place that a lot of racers use to fabricate flywheels advertised in Grassroots Motorsports. I'll check an issue of that and see if I can locate them. I've not used them, but a lot of racers do for their cars, many of which have an even "odder" compliment of parts than a JH, if you can believe that. All they need, as I recall, is your current flywheel and they will do one up in ally for you. They are not cheap, IIRCC, last fellow I heard using them was about $450 for an ally flywheel with ring gear installed. Was for an old GT6. However, for a "group buy" with Greg or forum members I bet they'd be cheaper. I'd be really interested in getting one, but alas, in my class they are illegal. Ron Last edited on 11-10-2006 03:29 pm by Ron Earp |
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Ron Earp Member
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Well, just checked the latest issue of GRMS - it actually came yesterday - and didn't see the place I was looking for. I'd give these guys a call: http://www.kennedyeng.com/ They did a special flywheel for my Ford motor to a Getrag transmission and I know they have the skills and facilities to do the job. I don't know if they want to, but dang, replicating a flywheel is pretty easy business for shops like this and they just might want to do it - never know to you ask. Ron |
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normv Member
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Dan You can count me in on a flywheel if iyour purchase goes ahead, if numbers are needed I may take 2. You can sen me a email to normv at tpg.com.au (I am sure you know which bits to change on that address to make it work, don't you just love spam). Thanks Norm |
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Dan Eiland Member
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I tried Kennedy Engineering and they do not do flywheels. But, I have one more company that is supposed to get back with me this week on a price to custom build some aluminum flywheels. They were also telling me that there is a company across the border in Juarez, Mexico that can make the ring gears for us. I'll keep the list up to date on what I find out and will offer anyone a chance to purchase at the same price as I am getting. Last edited on 11-20-2006 02:43 pm by Dan Eiland |
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