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weight distribution
Turbo54 - July 7th, 2006 at 12:01 PM

Hi All,
I have almost finished mocking up my car before I start cutting holes and start bolting things down and start runing water, oil and fuel lines. What I want to know form some of you is what is the best way to set up for weight in the car. Where is the best place to add and subtract weight to get the car to launch evenly. Do you or dont you want to promote body twist.

I have the 2165 turbo with the turbo at the back passenger side, which under the pass. rear guard I also want to mount a small oil cooler and the exhaust runs from here over the rear axle into a muffler and exits in front of the rear pass tyre. I also have to mount the oil filter etc somewhere, I was thinking under the drivers rear guard but this makes the lines really long. Is this a problem? I also have a air pod/ box under the drivers rear guard.

There is also the oil cooler over the gearbox which I dont really want too close to the muffler and I have it sitting on the drivers side at the moment. I behind the back seat I have a water tank that would weight about 10kgs with water that could go on either side to balance the weight up as with the battery and ECU pumps etc. I have 2 small radiators mounted on the front beam that will hopefully put some weight over the front wheels and last but not least... I weigh 65kgs. Have for the last 10 years and it doesn't look like moving for the moment.

This is in a full interior 54 sedan street car that is going to see some strip work. It is IRS and hoping for around 250hp with a 3.88 and low ratio first.

Thanks for the knowledge,
T54

dangerous - July 7th, 2006 at 09:04 PM

I would try to mount things where they will not be damaged by debris,
and a place that is easily accessed for maintenence.
The trans should have tall first gear for turbo use. For road use I would use somewhere
between 3.55 and 3.0 with that 3.88 diff...lookk at the 930...2.25 first with 4.222 diff
...this is prob too tall, but you get the picture.
Volksies would all leave the line nice if they had tall first gears and soft clutches.

dragvw2180 - July 9th, 2006 at 03:35 AM

Hello,
Sounds like you have put alot of thought into this already,like dangerous said ,keep it easy for maintenence.The one thing that caught my eye was that you were going to run an IRS trans,unless you are not going to do drag race starts or run real sticky tires to put that 250hp to the ground,you may want to rethink the trans.I just changed a friends car over to swing axle from IRS because he was breaking the stubs off at the tranny where the flanges attach,this with a 150hp motor.Since the change,no breakage.Good luck on your project

malcolm - July 9th, 2006 at 07:24 AM

t54 have you put yourcar on scalesto see how the weight is distributed I thinkyou can hire them.

Turbo54 - July 9th, 2006 at 10:34 AM

Hi Guys, thanks for the answers. Everyone questions the gearbox decision but as I said it is a street car not all out race and when I get sick of going in a straight line I might want to go round some corners. Adam Debiasi ran a very similar gearbox in his green bug and ran a 11.88@110mph with a 1915 turbo and was wheelstanding that a foot high off then line with no breakages. Here are the exact ratios.
3.88 C&P
1st - 3.1 Albyns
2nd - 1.93 Albyns
3rd - 1.26 Kombi Big Tooth
4th - .89 Kombi Big Tooth
Debiasi LSD

Back to the topic, I have thought it all out where is the best to service the car, drop the exaust etc but what I want to know is what is the best side to have the most weight on. Shouls the battery and the computer go on the opposite side to the water tank or should they both do on the passenger side tocounter weigh me etc. Doest the car twist to the left (passenger side down) and is this a good thing or not.
Thanks again,
T54

JVLR - July 9th, 2006 at 11:24 PM

To acheive the best results is corner weighting by using scales.You need to keep the heavier items of your car as lower as poss.Theres no best side!!!Balance is what you need(weight scales)JVL

dangerous - July 10th, 2006 at 06:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Turbo54
and low ratio first.


T54


That 3.1 ratio is fine... it was the quote above that started the conversation. That is a tall first ratio.
I had some shocking weight distrobution ratios with my chassis car,
but in the end, it drove fine untill I backed off in an out of shape condition.
I would try to balance your accessories and extra items onto the passengers side if you can,
you will never get it perfect in a street car...there is just too much stuff.
Also I would never "allow" the car to flex.
That chassis will need some stiffening and bracing to make the suspention do its thing,
and prevent body and chassis cracking.

malcolm - July 10th, 2006 at 02:55 PM

hows those intakes going :tu:

Turbo54 - July 10th, 2006 at 03:47 PM

I booked them into ASE today to be finished in the next few weeks. Once the injector bosses are on it will be all plumbed up. The ice box is almost finished also, just waiting on a radiator to come in to finish it. I am finding I have all these bits but just need one more for it to come together. I will update my members rides post when it happens.
T54