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I'm curious about mine. My brother and I took some old mowers(we do lawn care) to a metal scrap yard. Have to sit on a scale with your vehicle. I've done a lot of stuff to lighten my 78, which I know was originally very heavy.
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by Doug1
I'm curious about mine. My brother and I took some old mowers(we do lawn care) to a metal scrap yard. Have to sit on a scale with your vehicle. I've done a lot of stuff to lighten my 78, which I know was originally very heavy.
How did you measure the front vs. the rear?
The last time I weighed my car was at a truck stop. The scales are long and segmented, so the truckers can see how the weight is distributed amongst the axles. I just parked my cat straddling two segments, and got the F/R weights. I'm thinking on my next trip I'll also try straddling the scale sideways, so with two measurements I can get F/R, L/R, and be able to do some simple math to get total weight and corner weights.
It came in at 3264 with about 1/2 tank of gas. 1636 front, 1628 rear.
My car is a 1970 convertible with aftermarket a/c, manual steering and manual brakes.
That is really fabulous! You probably could call it 3200lbs with an 1/8 tank of gas. Any weight saving measures you took to reduce the weight or all stock, except AC? I would assume a SBC and that weight distribution is pretty close to ideal at 50:50% which to me is even more impressive since weight distribution is SO important to competent handling. The later SBC C3's are heavier than your C3 BUT some actually have the ideal 48% front/52% rear distribution which is near perfect, especially if you race.....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jan 27, 2019 at 08:14 AM.
BUT some actually have the ideal 48% front/52% rear distribution which is near perfect, especially if you race.....
you should update what is ideal. Modern open wheel rear engine are 30% front 70% rear. rear tranny late model vettes in racing trim are like 42% and 58%. They also use big rear wings which add more rear bias at speed. I am also right at those numbers.
you need rear weight bias for both braking and traction. When you are at maximum braking you want all the weight bias to the rear because of the weight transfer. An example is road racing motorcycles. They can get daylight under the rear tires going into a turn
that is also why our old vettes have front brake bias and respond very well to 13 and 14 inch front rotors and stock diameter rears .
you should update what is ideal. Modern open wheel rear engine are 30% front 70% rear. rear tranny late model vettes in racing trim are like 42% and 58%. They also use big rear wings which add more rear bias at speed. I am also right at those numbers.
you need rear weight bias for both braking and traction. When you are at maximum braking you want all the weight bias to the rear because of the weight transfer. An example is road racing motorcycles. They can get daylight under the rear tires going into a turn
that is also why our old vettes have front brake bias and respond very well to 13 and 14 inch front rotors and stock diameter rears .
Maybe I was not clear..I was referring to C3 cars Only, for racing in relatively stock trim , NOT for racing, in general. I have raced many a rear engined formula car which are heavily rear engine biased and you are correct. The slightly rear weighted bias for my 78 C3, as I pointed out, is beneficial for all the reasons you stated, and I previously pointed out, is more advantages than just a 50:50% weight bias. I did say that, didn't I?
Last edited by jb78L-82; Jan 27, 2019 at 10:09 AM.
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by jb78L-82
Maybe I was not clear..I was referring to C3 cars Only, for racing in relatively stock trim , NOT for racing, in general. I have raced many a rear engined formula car which are heavily rear engine biased and you are correct. The slightly rear weighted bias for my 78 C3, as I pointed out, is beneficial for all the reasons you stated, and I previously pointed out, is more advantages than just a 50:50% weight bias. I did say that, didn't I?
There's nothing magical about a Corvette. The laws of physics are the same for all brands. A Corvette, like any other car, will be faster with a rearward weight distribution, for the reasons George stated.
There's nothing magical about a Corvette. The laws of physics are the same for all brands. A Corvette, like any other car, will be faster with a rearward weight distribution, for the reasons George stated.
Of course, that is obvious but most street cars do not have a 50:50 weight distribution or rear biased weight distribution if a front engined car. That is the difference on a Corvette and a few other select front engined street cars.
There's nothing magical about a Corvette. The laws of physics are the same for all brands. A Corvette, like any other car, will be faster with a rearward weight distribution, for the reasons George stated.
Well, 'magical', no but putting all the heavy stuff behind the front wheels is a pretty good start. My car clocks in at 48.7/51.3 and 2996 #'s. I may have put on a pound or two since this measurement. I was lucky enough to borrow some car scales and have a calculated cross weight of 49.4%. Wouldn't be too hard to get to 50% with a little weight jacking here and there.
Well, 'magical', no but putting all the heavy stuff behind the front wheels is a pretty good start. My car clocks in at 48.7/51.3 and 2996 #'s. I may have put on a pound or two since this measurement. I was lucky enough to borrow some car scales and have a calculated cross weight of 49.4%. Wouldn't be too hard to get to 50% with a little weight jacking here and there.
Bingo Ignatz...You get the prize for getting it! Thank You!
Jim2527’s ‘gold standard’ for front engine rear drive weight distribution is 46/54 courtesy of Ferrari and their F12 and 47/53 for the 812 Superfast... it’s newer replacement.
Jim2527’s ‘gold standard’ for front engine rear drive weight distribution is 46/54 courtesy of Ferrari and their F12 and 47/53 for the 812 Superfast... it’s newer replacement.
Jim, I'm not sure how came up with ill handling daily driver as the gold standard when presently the 488 is their only car being raced in IMSA the 812 Superfast is a pig at 3851 pounds of luxury car
I have a scale appox. 100 yards away from where I am sitting in this small town that I work at.......
Can't wait to get the Vette up here and weigh it!
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
My 82 was on the scales with a half tank of gas and me in it @ 3350. I need to go on a diet. Just looked up what the curb wgt is... 3342, not bad I guess then at 3350.
Last edited by Buccaneer; Jan 28, 2019 at 01:28 PM.
Weighed my car today
Just looked up what the curb wgt is... 3342, not bad I guess then at 3350.