[Shotimes] Re: corner weights

[Mark Nunnally]

I'm not so sure aiming for 50/50 on a FWD car would be ideal.  A FWD car by
nature is gonna overpower the front tires at some point, just because they
are doing the turning and powering the car.  So some understeer is always
gonna be there at the limit.  So I would say keeping some weight bias on the
nose isn't really a horrible thing, as that's where the drive wheels are
anyway.  Sure with a RWD car with more rear bias and under forward g loading
is loading the drive wheels even more.  As long as you can get a FWD car to
rotate decently, then you are doing ok.

I wouldn't mine getting mine closer to 60/40, but even at current 65/35 it
will rotate the rear ok (within having to worry about it totally coming
around :)

You can pull weight off the nose but it's hard to transplant to the rear, as
there isn't a bunch that you can bias back there.  I've thought of a fuel
cell in the spare tire area, out behind the wheel base, but I would think
you could screw with balance more with a full tank vs an empty tank.  Where
the tank is now (inside the wheel base) dropping 100 lbs as you go from a
full tank to empty wouldn't be as noticable.

All that being said, I plan to concetrate my next round of weight loss
(replacement light weight parts) on pulling weight off the nose and trying
to shift what I can to the back.  I wouldn't complain about 60/40 in my car.
Also I think keeping weight inside the wheel base (and not hanging off the
extreme ends of the car) would help the car to rotate better.

It's amazing for as much as the SHO has going against it, you can get one to
handle as good as they do.  I would be interested in any thoughts you have
on the matter Robert, especially with your experience.  When I get my
coilovers installed I'll drive down to PA some weekend and we can throw it
on the pads and shift weight around all day :)

mark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Bruce" <rbruce@bellatlantic.net>
To: "SHOTIMES" <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 8:21 PM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] Corner Weights


> Leigh is absolutely correct noting the sway bar preload.  Had I taken the
> time to disconnect / reconnect everyone's swaybars at the convention, I
> would have only gotten a half dozen or so cars weighed.  To raise a decent
> amount of cash for donating, I would have had to charge $50 or so per car.
> Scaling the cars with the bars connected isn't the most accurate method,
but
> is does offer some ballpark numbers.  After all the real  challenge with
> these cars is to reduce nose weight.
>
> As for the adjustable links, I already have them on the front of my 93.
> Someday I may find time to make a set for the rears.
>
> Robert Bruce
> 93 atx