<VV> Welded vs. Bolted flywheels

[airvair]

In the early days, welding was the first fix tried. As I understand it,
the only problem with welding is that it's difficult to do it and
maintain a good balance job. Hence, someone came up with the idea of
replacing the rivets with bolts and self-locking nuts, and the "bolted
flywheel" was born.

If one can weld the flywheel and still maintain its balance, I'd say
there's nothing wrong with it.

-Mark

Tony Underwood wrote:
> 
> At 01:05 PM 5/3/2007, kaczmarek at charter.net wrote:
> >---- Dennis FullerFuller <fullerhotshotz at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >Is there really a problem with welded flywheels, or is this a myth
> >propagated by the "flywheel bolters"
> >
> >Hell, I'm just an Ignorant Polack. In 20 years of Corvairs I've
> >never seen a "welded flywheel".
> 
> I myself indeed have.   It was about 25 years ago in NC at a Fall
> show when it used to be held at Modern Chevrolet in
> Winston-Salem.    Someone had a batch of them for sale, very clean,
> nicely done, excellent weld quality.   They looked like they'd last a
> long time.    They were the only welded flywheels I ever saw.
> 
> I'd still like to see how whoever did it, did it.     Nice work.
> 
> >Seen lots of riveted ones that needed bolting. Never used a solid,
> >could be only for racing.  I always replace a riveted with a bolted.
> 
> I am at this time and point out of bolted flywheels.    I have a
> stack about a foot tall that rattle.   Next time I need a flywheel,
> I'm gonna have to do one up.    So far, all the stick 'Vairs now have
> bolted flywheels but that Spyder is gonna need something when it goes
> back together.
> 
> As time passes and I continue to play with the welder, I keep
> pondering whether I'd ever get as good as the guy who welded up those
> flywheels I saw in NC that time.    I do know that it's entirely
> possible to get good welds in dissimilar metals... after looking at
> all those Cragar mag wheels with aluminum centers welded to the steel rims.
> 
> tony..
>