McLeod Flywheel Aluminum Chevy LS Motor 1997 Up 12in Steel Insert 168
McLeod 560530 is a 15 lb aluminum flywheel for the Gen III and Gen IV Chevrolet LS V8 with the original 6-bolt crankshaft flange, the engine found in the 1997-2013 Corvette, the 1998-2002 Camaro and Firebird, the GTO, and countless LS swaps. It has a 168-tooth ring gear and a replaceable steel friction insert, and it is what builders reach for when the stock flywheel is worn out, when they want a boosted or high-revving LS to pick up rpm faster, or when they are assembling a manual swap from scratch.
The flywheel bolts to the rear crank flange, gives the clutch disc its rear friction face, carries the ring gear the starter engages, and stores rotating energy. McLeod machines the body of the 560530 from 6061-T6 aluminum and fits it with a bolt-in steel friction plate and a hardened 1045 steel ring gear. The aluminum body cuts weight to about 15 lb, so the engine accelerates through the gears more quickly and falls back to match revs faster on a shift. McLeod pitches its aluminum flywheels at supercharged and turbocharged engines and combinations that build rpm quickly. The steel insert is the wear surface: when it is worn or heat-checked it can be replaced instead of throwing the whole flywheel away. The trade-off is less stored energy for launching a heavy car, which our lightweight vs. stock flywheel guide explains.
Separate a flywheel problem from a disc, pressure plate or hydraulic problem first. Our clutch chatter guide and the slipping diagnosis guide cover the checks. Then count the bolts on your crank flange: this flywheel is for the 6-bolt pattern only. Check the old flywheel's tooth count too; 560530 has 168 teeth to match the common LS starter setup.
McLeod lists 560530 as an aluminum flywheel for 1997-2013 Chevrolet LS-X engines with the 6-bolt crank and a 168-tooth ring gear, 15 lb. Our listing data notes a 12 in steel insert and a 168-tooth, 6-bolt design. It does not fit the later 8-bolt cranks used on engines such as the LSA, LS9 and Gen V LT; for those, see the McLeod 560538 8-bolt flywheel. McLeod also makes 6-bolt versions with extra offset to the face for special bellhousing setups, so if your build uses a non-standard bellhousing or hydraulic bearing stack, confirm before ordering. Send us your engine, transmission and clutch part numbers if you are unsure. Browse more in our hard parts category, and if you are still picking a gearbox, see best transmission for an LS swap.
| Brand | McLeod Racing |
| Part number | 560530 |
| Fits | McLeod Flywheel Aluminum Chevy LS Motor 1997 Up 12in Steel Insert 168 |
| Vehicle fitment | Chevrolet Ls Motor 1997 Up (1997) |
| Type | Flywheels |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
It fits LS engines with the 6-bolt crank flange, which McLeod lists for 1997-2013. Count the bolts on your crank before ordering; 8-bolt engines need the 560538 instead.
168 teeth, on a hardened 1045 steel ring gear according to McLeod.
Yes. McLeod's aluminum flywheels use a replaceable steel friction plate, so a worn insert can be swapped rather than replacing the whole flywheel.
An LS single-disc clutch whose pressure plate pattern matches, such as McLeod's Super Street Pro LS-X 11 in kit. McLeod's twin-disc RXT and RST kits use their own matched flywheels.
McLeod's chart lists 11 mm crank bolts at 65 ft-lb and 3/8 in pressure plate bolts at 35 ft-lb. Hold the crank with a holding tool and torque in a crisscross pattern.
It works on the street, but the light mass makes launches touchier in a heavy car. McLeod recommends its aluminum flywheels for boosted and high-rpm combinations.
