|
Author
|
Topic: Weight VS. traction
|
Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 11429
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 09-14-2002 01:16 PM
   
I've been changing my air shocks and adjusting my tire pressure and my traction bars.I got a nice even tire prints from both tires now.I added 80lbs to the truck most of it over the P,side.Today I added another 50lbs more over the middle of the trunk area.I think I'm getting closer to better traction.Tire spin this morning is less then ever.How much more weight should I add,and is there a point were it's not worth added more weight?
More weight makes you slower,less traction makes you slower.Which one helps more?SCOOP ------------------
2.634 60's
[email protected] 1/8 mile 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
IP: Logged |
steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
|
posted 09-14-2002 09:12 PM
Ron,There is a point of diminishing return. Probably around 100 pounds for your car, but maybe as much as 200. If each 100 costs .1 seconds, but 200 will reduce your 60'ers by .2 you'll go quicker with the weight.  SteveW
IP: Logged |
Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 11429
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 09-14-2002 09:26 PM
Thanks Steve thats the info I was after.I know the best thing to do.Is go to the track and try it all ways. 
Would you go over 200?SCOOP ------------------
2.634 60's
[email protected] 1/8 mile 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
IP: Logged |
steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6522
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
|
posted 09-14-2002 10:24 PM
No, but it's up to you.BTW, ballast must be bolted down with 1/2" diameter bolts to be "legal". SteveW
IP: Logged |
kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4538
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 09-14-2002 10:38 PM
quote:
Originally posted by steve'66:
BTW, ballast must be bolted down with 1/2" diameter bolts to be "legal". SteveW
Sure it does. But who checks anyways  I won several rounds with my granada with bags of sand laying in the trunk. And the ballast in my racecar now isnt what is considered "legally bolted down". It's supposed to have two half inch bolts in it, mine has one half inch bolt and a smaller 3/8" bolt in each piece. But, NO ONE has ever looked under the car at the ballast. Not even at the national events I have run.
IP: Logged |
Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 11429
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 09-15-2002 01:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by steve'66:
No, but it's up to you.BTW, ballast must be bolted down with 1/2" diameter bolts to be "legal". SteveW
What about the spare tire,I have it bolted to a J hook.I was thinking of putting some bags under the tire. SCOOP ------------------
2.634 60's
[email protected] 1/8 mile 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
IP: Logged |
Rustang
Gearhead Posts: 471
From: Clarion PA
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 09-15-2002 08:56 AM
Scoop, here's something you might want to consider. Buy some VHT and coat your tires with it. It's around $30.00/gallon thru summit. I think in your ET range this would be effective and save you the cost of new street/drag tires, and save you the need of adding alot of ballast.------------------
'68 mustang 351 clevor- 10.92@124
'67 Stang, 351W -11.18@118
'69 351C Torino-14.90@100
'78 Pickup 351W-15.56@88
'79 Pickup 460 ET=??
IP: Logged |
kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4538
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 09-15-2002 09:15 AM
More weight does help, when added in the proper spot. My granada was fastest with 180 lbs of lead in the trunk. Scoop, I would try it with no more than 100-150 lbs. I would start with 100 and see what it does, then decide if youwant more or not. Since your motor doesnt have alot of stall, a little tire spin to get the rpms up right off the line might be a good thing. But there will probably be a fine line between too much spin, and not enough.
IP: Logged |
capri man
Gearhead Posts: 3385
From: doerun, ga.
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 09-15-2002 09:51 AM
hey scoop, a 205x14 spare tire full of water weighs approx. 90lbs. dont ask me how i know that!! hehehe------------------
mike r
racing is real
everything else is just a game.
81 capri-7.51 @89mph 1/8
1.54 60 ft.
http://prestage.com/site/site_display.asp?SiteID=141
IP: Logged |
stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
|
posted 09-15-2002 11:04 AM
Kid:
Please elaborate on where is your ballast? Roger and I are both going to add ballast and we aren't sure nabout how to do this. Roger's T-bird has the potential of putting over 100lbs of flatbar in his rear bumper, bolted down of course, where we think the car will have move leverage. I just thought I would add sandbags to the back of my trunk; my car is very sensitive to weight, as when I am low on gas there is no traction left!
Dave
IP: Logged |
TomP
Gearhead Posts: 4812
From: Delta BC Canada
Registered: Dec 99
|
posted 09-15-2002 08:53 PM
If you need to add weight in a class that doesn't have a minimum weight rule then that is a crutch for something else wrong. Suspension adjustments, tires, weight distribution or whatever Light makes right in drag racing. Instead of adding dead weight to the back end, try reducing the weight off the front or relocating it rearwards. Battery, horns, extra brackets and whatever are places to look. The tires are the main thing... my ramptruck smokes 'em big time unloaded, but can't even chirp them with a 3000lb car on the back... guess which way is quicker?  And yes...i have thought of leaving the car on but not tied down!
IP: Logged |
capri man
Gearhead Posts: 3385
From: doerun, ga.
Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 09-15-2002 08:59 PM
SCOOP, what kind of front shocks are you using? if you dont have 90/10s or 70/30s, they could be keeping your front end from coming up and transferring the weight to the rear.------------------
mike r
racing is real
everything else is just a game.
81 capri-7.51 @89mph 1/8
1.54 60 ft.
http://prestage.com/site/site_display.asp?SiteID=141
IP: Logged |
kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4538
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 09-15-2002 09:31 PM
I only have 50 lbs bolted in this car now. It is clear in the back, righ next to the fuel cell. On my granada, most of it was as far back as I could get it, and the rest was behind each wheel.
IP: Logged |
Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 11429
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
|
posted 09-16-2002 01:30 AM
quote:
Originally posted by capri man:
SCOOP, what kind of front shocks are you using? if you dont have 90/10s or 70/30s, they could be keeping your front end from coming up and transferring the weight to the rear.
Mike I'm going to get the CE adjustable shocks for the front.Right now it has worn stock shocks,and springs. SCOOP ------------------
2.634 60's
[email protected] 1/8 mile 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8"3.40 TracLoc,Cragar SS,Black Suede. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/Fastymz.html
IP: Logged |
kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4538
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 09-16-2002 08:58 AM
quote:
Originally posted by TomP:
If you need to add weight in a class that doesn't have a minimum weight rule then that is a crutch for something else wrong. Suspension adjustments, tires, weight distribution or whatever Light makes right in drag racing. Instead of adding dead weight to the back end, try reducing the weight off the front or relocating it rearwards. Battery, horns, extra brackets and whatever are places to look.
Not always. If you have already reduced the weighto ff the front as much as you possibly can, and the front to rear weight bias is still terrible, bolting lead in the back will make a car work better. My granada was prrof of that. It was just as fast with the 180 lbs in the trunk, but it would then run the same 60' every pass. Without the lead, it would yank the front wheels, move a couple of feet then slam them back down. With the lead, it would pick them up nice and easy, carry it about 10'-12' and set them down just as nice and easy. A lot of racers asked me what I did to make that heavy old car leave so pretty.
I wouldnt view that as a crutch.
IP: Logged |
Mustangsandmore Forums
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! 
