Hi guys,
I have put a few posts up about building a racer... but i was interesed to know what you racers were doing about weight in the front??? Do you simply rely on the car being setup well or do you still add weight in the front???
Hi
Its better to set the car up properly, weight can be added to the car for racing class restrictions.
You need to follow the old racers tip, want more horsepower; add more light weight.
Steve
That's what i was wandering...
Colin Chapman (LOTUS) used to say "If you want to add anything (to a race car), add lightness"
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
lighter the better
instead of adding weight try to redistibute weight, like moving the battery, moving motor and gearbox forward. anything infront or behind the axles should go on a diet like your bumpers and brackets.
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123
I agree, I agree, do you have to compensate though... you can check my other threads to see what i am planning, but basically, lowered front and rear, camber -2*, 2 castor shims each side, adjustable swaybars F and R, refurb all joints and shocks, aiming for KONI adjustable, rear kafer bar, rear engne support bar, ???
Weight at the end of the day is weight, and the less the better, what you've proposed to put on should make the car handle well. What Mactaylor said is the best thing if you are really worried about weight distribution.
The point is though that until you've really felt how the car handles at the "limit" you won't know what to do, so add your bits a pieces and go from there, you might even find that you'll remove some things.
I've been told under good authority though that Konis don't need to be wound up to much on the front other wise your front won't stick.
BMW R65 LS
1967 1300 Deluxe
Swing-axles FTW
❗
Hi
I don't know if you need a rear engine support bar, I Kafer Cup brace does a good job on my sons 1303 to stop wheel hop.
Steve
You can put more weight on the front wheels by lowering the front and softening the front and allowing the car to transfer weight to the front when you brake and turn-in. Stiffer rear springs should resist the weight distributing back to the rear under acceleration. Or something like that.
My 2 Yen
esratrams
mactaylor wrote:instead of adding weight try to redistibute weight, like [...] moving motor and gearbox forward.
Does this result in extra angulation through the CVs and more stress? How far can you practically move the engine/transaxle without excessive CV wear for a race car?
Just curious,
Peter Hill
1975 Type 2 Double Cab
modulus.com.aujust think of a standard height bus and the angles they run. they stil get great life out of cv's. it might be a compromise but any time you move weight to the centre of the vehicle the less reactive it swings on its CoG
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123
Have a look at some of the off-road racers. They modify the CVs to give incredible angles.😵💫
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
Moving the trans foward doesn't increase any cv angles, unless the trans goes more than 3" or so, as the trailing arms make an arc foward, max angle is at suspension travel limits, moving trans foward will introduce some angle at the point where the cv's are horizontal where normally there is none. It actually improves the angle when massive 5' and bigger arms are used in some cases.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
fullnoise wrote:You can put more weight on the front wheels by lowering the front and softening the front and allowing the car to transfer weight to the front when you brake and turn-in. Stiffer rear springs should resist the weight distributing back to the rear under acceleration. Or something like that.
My 2 Yen
Yes you can redistribute weight to the front of the car ie battery.
But CT nailed it, tune the car to your driving style, remember it,s a whole package your chasing not just front end grip.
Cheers Col
