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CRX flywheel explodes, Carnage ensues.

CRX flywheel explodes, Carnage ensues.

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I remember a conversation I had with my father-in-law many years ago about SFI ratings. The topic came up because I was putting a 7lb flywheel in my car, and happened to notice the sticker strongly affixed to the flywheel and the corresponding clutch stating the parts were SFI certified. I wasn’t very familiar with what that meant at the time, and the explanation was that it is a rating and standardization body that supports the automotive industry, and a company who pays particular attention to racing parts.

The story I got was : “Back in the old days, flywheel explosions were common and fire suits and other safety gear were not. The SFI came along and changed all that by inspecting manufacturing processes and materials used to produce performance parts and safety clothing. In other words, the sticker is a good thing.”

As I got more involved in vehicle performance, I became acutely aware of SFI ratings on certain parts, but one thing still stuck in the back of my mind: “Flywheel explosion?! that must be a hell of a sight.”

I have never experienced a flywheel explosion before, but what I found on Honda-Tech.com the other day changed all that. Here is the video:

[youtube n0TxZFDLa3w]

The following is what is left after a flywheel explodes in a 1991 Honda CRX, in pictures:

CRX Flywheel Explosion 1
CRX Flywheel Explosion 1
CRX Flywheel Explosion 2
CRX Flywheel Explosion 2
CRX Flywheel Explosion 3
CRX Flywheel Explosion 3
Whats Left of the Transmission
Whats Left of the Transmission after the flywheel exploded
leftovers
leftovers
broken Transmission Mount
broken Transmission Mount

As you can see from the wreckage, this is a spectacular display of the potential energy stored in a flywheel. The bell housing of the transmission is totally gone, as is the flywheel housing on the engine side. Motor mounts were broken in half, and the radiator, intercooler, clutch pressure plate and clutch disc are completely destroyed.

Some speculation about the flywheel that was used is still going on at honda-tech.com, but my opinion on the matter is that it looks like the flywheel being used was a modified stock(!) flywheel. You can see in the “CRX Flywheel explosion 3” picture that the leftovers of the flywheel appear pretty dark, just like the stock flywheel. Were it an aluminum flywheel, there would be a much brighter silver color where the aluminum sheared apart, much like what you see where the aluminum engine and transmission were blown apart.

Anyway, I think I will be spending my $100 summit racing giftcard toward a scatter shield..

source: honda-tech.com via SpeedClubPR.com

A revolution in ProFWD Drag Racing is coming…

A revolution in ProFWD Drag Racing is coming…

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ProFWD Drag Car

Drag racing has always been a uniquely American sport. It spawned from weekend cruisers getting a little too frisky with their cars on public roads. Then, along came the Drag Strip where people from all over would congregate to find out who had the fastest car in town. These contests of acceleration and speed developed with the inception of the NHRA, which established rules developed over many years to help racers compete more fairly.

Despite all the rules of the NHRA, every once in a while somebody would come up with a new idea that does not break the rules, but causes he or she to have a significant advantage over other racers. The changes might be small, but become readily apparent in the new times and records he or she sets. Over the years, drag racing has endured the induction of Nitrous Oxide, the supercharger (single and multispeed), the turbocharger, and last and certainly most dangerous, Nitromethane. New rules are created to help racers compete, and the sport moves forward, sometimes in great leaps.

Enter Brent Leivestad, of PFI in Fort Collins, Colorado. The picture you see above is Brent’s take on how pro front wheel drive drag cars should get the power to the ground. In his setup, the output shaft of the engine points to the front of the car, which puts power into a GM Powerglide transmission. The output of the normally rear wheel drive transmission goes into a v-drive assembly, normally used in speed boats, which then drives the front wheels via a ford 9in rear end. Some may ask how he is going to steer it, and to be serious, I have no idea. Did I mention this setup uses 12 fuel injectors? Brent intends to make in the neighborhood of 1500hp with this setup, and possibly a few new pro front wheel drive records as well. If you would like to read up or see more pictures of the madness, check out the 20 page thread on the topic on Honda-Tech.com.

Brent, on behalf of the entire Import Drag Racing Scene, thanks for the hard work making this crazy idea come to life.

Check out the video of the beast running:

[youtube FrmEHYPuXZ8]