Flywheel and pressure plate balancing

[Silver87]

So I was about to install my new ram aluminum flywheel and ls7 clutch kit and noticed the flywheel says to ensure balance before installation.  I was under the impression that both the flywheel and pressure plate would be zero balanced from the manufacturer but I cannot find any information on the ram website to support that.  Is it common to balance the flywheel and pressure plate as an assembly even if both are zero balanced from the manufacturer??

[Demon]

We balanced our SPEC alum flywheel and McLeod twin plate RST, I can say it does seem to rev a lot smoother in the higher revs (6-7500rpm)

[Silver87]

I spoke to someone at RAM today and they told me that the LS7 is balanced for the LS7 motor, since this will be going on an LS2 he couldn't confirm for me that it was good to go.  I assume that because the LS7 and LS2 are internally balanced they would both take a zero balanced flywheel. 

[346fc3s]

I was looking at getting a stock LS7 clutch as well, just out of curiosity do you know how much power they can hold?

Edit: Demon: Where did you get your assembly balanced?

[Demon]

Just a machine shop that built engines.

[gnx7]

LS7 clutch in a lightweight RX-7 will handle 500rwhp all day long with light pedal pressure.  With a 75-100 shot of nitrous they start to smell and are at their limit.

As long as you cool the clutch down before you do repeated hard launches with traction..... it will wear well.  Hot lap it and it will wear fast.

Take it easy on it for the 1st 500 miles and do lots of city driving/shifting often.  Freeway break in period does very little for it.

Run an aluminum flywheel with the LS7 clutch.  The factory steel LS2 unit (you must run this one and not the LS7 flywheel), combined with the LS7 clutch/PP is something crazy like 80lbs!  THe steel flywheel itself is close to 50lbs!!!!!!   A Fidanza aluminum one is about 13lbs.  With the lighter flywheel you also pick up between 5-10rwhp and the engine revs MUCH faster.

[346fc3s]

I picked up a Fidanza aluminum flywheel on general principle but a 50lb flywheel is just nuts!  Why would they make them that heavy?  Does the engine vibrate a lot or something?  Good info on the hp levels though, thanks!