just as the title says, the best and cheapest.

That would be best OR cheapest.

Cheapest involves using a dremel

Depending on access to machine shops in your area, cheapest is to get a 90's Camaro 3800 flywheel, take it to a mchine shop and have it turned down to proper thickness (.840") and have it (un)balanced to match the balance of the 3800's flexplate.

Easy way is to buy one already done in PFF's mall, or West Coast Fiero.

Best way is to pull your rotating assembly out of you motor and have it balanced with the flywheel, pressure plate and harmonic balancer.

Obviously that is an expensive endeavor which conflicts with your second requirement.

I believe the camaro flywheel is like $90 and you can easily pay over $100 for the machining, typically around 150.

I did not have mine balanced. So far no problems. Some say it is not needed, and have done fine without it.

Camaro is N/A, so internal balance. Only stock supercharged versions require external balance weight.

Technically the L36 was external balanced, it just uses less than the SC blocks do.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: Camaro is N/A, so internal balance. Only stock supercharged versions require external balance weight.

They are both externally balanced, but the mass is just different.



You can see the weights here, Left 3800 camaro manual, Right, 3800 S2SC Flex plate.

[This message has been edited by Fierobsessed (edited 01-20-2011).]

I know the 3800n/a and 3800s/c autos use a very similar, but different imbalance on the flexplate. The n/a has a little less weight than the s/c. Niether engine uses a neutrally balanced flexplate, nor does the camaro use a neutrally balanced flywheel. All 3 examples have a built in imbalance.
How this translates from a s/c or n/a flexplate to an n/a flywheel, I have no idea? One factor that I don't fully understand is how or if the extra mass of the flywheel effects things? I don't THINK the extra mass has any effect on the overall imbalance, but I'm not sure?

I have read here on PFF that all you need to do to match the 3800 flexplate imbalance (n/a or s/c) to the 3800 flywheel is bolt the two together, rotated 180 degrees off from each other, then remove weight on the heavy end of the flywheel untill the assembly has a neutral balance. This in turn indicating that the imbalance of the two cancel each other out and that the overall imbalance must be the same from one to the other.

In quick thinking, this makes sence and sounds great, but I'm still just not sure of how or if the extra mass of the flywheel will effect harmonics at high rpm's?

how will the shop know how to balance it? ( if its needed)
do i just take both in?

Just take them both to any good engine machine shop and they should be able to match the balance. If you need to re-explain what you want go somewhere else !

But I think a lot of people confuse the heck out of this when they try to tell the shop what they want.

quote What you want is to use a manual transmission flywheel on my 3800 SC.

quote No, I checked. There isn't a stock flywheel available for this, that is why I am here

That's it. They can look up what the imbalance is supposed to be. Yes it would be fine to bring the 3800sc flex plate with you.

And yeah, if they don't think they can do it, or the make funny noises and drool as they ponder it, or their mind locks up and is resetting with their eyes rolled back, then just pick up the flywheel and check out the next place.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 01-21-2011).]

bought a flywheel from wcf for my 03 3.8sc for my 88 gt conversion. wasn't sure if it was balanced or not so called them. chris at wcf said it wasn't balanced and didn't need to be. i should have compared it to the flex plate that came off of 3.8. everything i have bought from chris has been top notch and came with good advice for application. so maybe i misunderstood him? from what i'm reading here i hope its all good .
that is a great idea about fliping them 180 and bolting them together to do a comparison check.

quote Originally posted by tomsablon: bought a flywheel from wcf for my 03 3.8sc for my 88 gt conversion. wasn't sure if it was balanced or not so called them. chris at wcf said it wasn't balanced and didn't need to be. i should have compared it to the flex plate that came off of 3.8. everything i have bought from chris has been top notch and came with good advice for application. so maybe i misunderstood him? from what i'm reading here i hope its all good . that is a great idea about fliping them 180 and bolting them together to do a comparison check.

When I first did my swap and still had the 5speed I used a turned down Camaro flywheel that I did not have re-balanced, I had a pretty good vibration from it. When I swapped to the auto trans the vibration was gone, so I know it was in the flywheel/clutch. Not having it properly balanced could wear out the rear main bearings prematurely.

quote Originally posted by tomsablon: bought a flywheel from wcf for my 03 3.8sc for my 88 gt conversion. wasn't sure if it was balanced or not so called them. chris at wcf said it wasn't balanced and didn't need to be. i should have compared it to the flex plate that came off of 3.8. everything i have bought from chris has been top notch and came with good advice for application. so maybe i misunderstood him? from what i'm reading here i hope its all good . that is a great idea about fliping them 180 and bolting them together to do a comparison check.

You will be okay with out having the flywheel balanced.....I have never used a balanced flywheel in any manuel swaps I have done.....But if you get it balanced it is not going to hurt anything at all....Will only make it a smoother ride....but then again with poly some of the smoothness is already out the door even in an auto setup....

now all i need is to find a flywheel from a camaro. all the ones at the yard near where i live are automatic. At least what i've seen.
any one know of any good camaro forums where they might be doing a swap to a v8 and let one go for a good price?

I guess not having the flywheel properly balanced would be the cheapest, at least to start.

Along with the vibrations having a flywheel improperly balanced will prematurely wear out your bearings. As the crank turns it will get pushed into the bearings.

Yes it will work. So will not balancing your tires when you get them mounted.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 01-23-2011).]

I'VE GOT TO CALL CHRIS AT WEST COAST FIERO . I'M PRETTY SURE HE SAID THAT THE CUT DOWN FLYWHEEL THEY SOLD ME WAS NOT BALANCED. I JUST RECENTLY GOT MY 3.8SC STARTED . I DON'T HAVE THE EXHAUST ON YET SO IT'S HARD TO TELL OVER ALL THAT NOISE BUT I THINK THERE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF VIBRATION. IT COULD BE THE POLY MOUNTS, I WOULD HOPE FOR $ 295 WHAT EVER NEEDED TO BE DONE WAS DONE .

Here is my take on the balance. The 1996-2002 3.8L Camaro flywheeel is balanced for THAT engine. The closest thing to that engine is the naturally asperated 3800 seriesII. They are quite similar, if not identical inside. This may be the only application that the flywheel is swappable without rebalancing? Now with a s/c seriesII, the balance is not the same as the n/a. It is different due to heavier connecting rods and different design and weight of pistons. The different balance is pretty obvious when looking at the flexplates for these two engines (series II s/c vs. n/a). The balance on these two flexplates is, however, close. Close enough that people have tried. Close enough that people have reported it to work fine, yet still far enough off that others have reported a vibration. This type of vibration can be hard for some people to feel or notice or distinguish from normal engine vibrations.

I am going to mirror balance my flywheel to my flexplate, for reason of balance and piece of mind. I just have a hard time accepting "close enough" with something this important to the life of the engine. As phonedawgz said, it may work to leave the balance a little off, but so will not balancing your tires. It will work, it will vibrate, it will wear the tires unevenly. I don't want to take the chance, and now is certainly the time for me to do it (my setup is still in pieces).

CHECKED WITH CHRIS AT WEST COAST FIERO . HE SAID THE CUT DOWN FLYWHEEL THEY SELL IS BALANCED . HE SAID THAT THEY COMPARE THEIR CUT DOWN FLYWHEEL TO OTHER 3.8 SC FLEX PLATES AND BALANCE TO AN AVERAGE. HE SAID THAT IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE PROBLEM FREE WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE MY ORIGINAL FLEXPLATE TO COMPARE TO.

See, when you're not clear on the exact details, post up what you recall, and let everyone correct you. Worked for me.

DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I THINK YOUR SAYING?

quote Originally posted by tomsablon: DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I THINK YOUR SAYING?

Why are you always yelling?
<hint> turn your caps lock off </hint>

BECAUSE I'M A BLITHERING TYPING IDIOT AND IT KEEPS ME FROM HAVING TO REEEEACH FOR THAT ELUSIVE SHITF KEY (NOT A MISSPELLING). PLUS IT'S EASIER TO READ .

quote Originally posted by tomsablon: BECAUSE I'M A BLITHERING TYPING IDIOT AND IT KEEPS ME FROM HAVING TO REEEEACH FOR THAT ELUSIVE SHITF KEY (NOT A MISSPELLING). PLUS IT'S EASIER TO READ .

LOL