Here is some good evidence that we will not be able to use the flywheel in
 place of the flex plate.

 On this page at Mazdatrix, scroll down until you see the tools labeled
 "flywheel stopper"

 http://www.mazdatrix.com/**ftools.htm<http://www.mazdatrix.com/ftools.htm

 Note that one of them fits the non-turbo flywheel BUT NOT THE AUTO.  And
 the
 other fits the turbo (Which I assume is different than the n.a. auto since
 they don't list it there either).  We may be stuck just trying to beef up
 the existing flex plate.

 --
 David Leonard

 Turbo Rotary RV-6 N4VY
 http://N4VY.RotaryRoster.net
 http://RotaryRoster.net


 I would not look upon it as being "stuck". I would now look at it
 as being better :)

 Ideally one could make a die and form thin 4130 to nest inside
 the flex plate. Bond it in with RTV. That would allow motion between
 the plates and damp the vibration. Unfortunately sandwiching it
 between 4130 plates would help but it would move it towards the starter.
 Perhaps we could space the starter out 1/16th of an inch.

 Also lighten Tracy's damper plate to reduce its moment of inertia. Drill
 the
 bolts and cut away low stress parts of the plate. I will do a sketch.
 Let Jeff do this as he can set up a static balance rig.

 ------------------------------**-----------------------

 Here is the sketch. Use shear lock nuts instead of full size.
 That will allow shortening the bolts a small amount. Every little
 bit helps when it is out near the rim doing 6500 RPM.

 We can also make a die for cutting 500 F silicone rubber washers to replace
 the 200 F black rubber bushings.

 Paul Lamar


Some great ideas but I am not in favor of cutting down the damper plate...
 It was basically holding my flex plate together waiting for me to discover
the cracks... but I was a bad inspector and the pin broke first.  I also do
not mind a little more weight out there to smooth out idle a littls
(albeit would be better on the flywheel side of the dampers).  Though you
are right, it was possibly the high RPM that did me in (although I though
the RD-1C guys ran at 7500 all the time).

If you can figure out how to make silicone dampers instead, I would buy
them!