Weight distribution in the S13

[BigMACKenzie]

as far as my studies have show me, I have found one or two truisms as far as improving the handling of the vehicle. 1.) you want to lower the car slightly (1-2.5 inches depending on the app) so as to lower the cars center of gravity and 2.) A car with a 50/50 weight distribution is easier (I say easier bc again depending on the app and the type of racing involved changes a lot/makes a huge diff) to handle than one that is front or rear heavy, at least in a TA situation. So I have been drooling over the thought of boosting my s13 convertible with a SR swap for so long I had a strange thought for the first time the other day: With the extra weight in bracing and whatnot in my convertible will a heavier KA balance the car out weight wise better compared to the sr20? iirc the SR20det in a s13 chassis has a closer to 50/50 weight ratio front/back in coupe/hatch form than with the KA24de (the KA being much heavier). but is the bracing distributed mainly in the back/enough in the back to make having a heavier front end be more productive as far as balancing the car? As far as I can find the ka clocks in around 477lbs? and the SR20 comes in near 328lbs?. while the bracing I have heard adds around 400lbs to the cars total weight. Also balancing a cars weight ratio is something very new to me so if im flat out wrong on any info or even as to whether or not this difference in weight will change things plz throw me a bone and clue me in ^^ thanks for teh help in advance.

[biggie]

No one to my knowledge has corner weighed a stock S13.

And the SR with all the turbo stuff is about 30-40lbs lighter than the stock KA.

[Hijacker]

Last time I weighed my car: SR Swap w/ 5 speed and nothing else to reduce/increase weight. I was at a 49/51 f/r distro. That was with a half tank of gas, spare tire, scissor jack, and some random clutter in the trunk.

[BigMACKenzie]

okay, this is what I thought was going to be the case. Thanks for the help. I am going to stick with my original plan of doing the SR swap if there is not a significant difference in the weight distribution. also, since we are here and finished so early. Is there any time where it is better to have more weight in the front/rear other than dragging? I know in that case you want all the weight on the wheel with teh drive axle as much as you can but is there any other situation where something like this could benefit you?

[Hijacker]

Rear bias helps a lot if you're going for drag. Front would help for drift. even is what you want for grip racing. Of course, you balance out your corner weighting based on course, or natural preference.

The one issue I've had with racing the vert is it's propensity for understeer. Part of that was due to touchy front brakes (thanks stock BMC and Z32 brakes!) and the other was due to the heavy rear and sub-par factory sway bar. A heavier duty rear sway bar really wakes the vert up in low speed auto-x. The rear is structually tied together really well, it just is plagued by having standard coupe suspension equipment.

[BigMACKenzie]

yeah Im slow I admit it, are you saying the brakes are touchy even with the z32 upgrade? and BMC? will the q45 brakes help at all/ are they an option/your thoughts?

[Hijacker]

They were touchy with the stock S13 BMC. The Z32 BMC helped immensely. And I only used the 1" BMC.

I don't have any experience with the Q upgrade, but for auto-x, they would be more than enough. I only went for the Z brakes because of a good deal I got on some of the parts.

[BigMACKenzie]

No, BMC? meant "I have no idea what this abbreviation you are using means bc I am teh n00bsauce still sometimes" lol I need helps. I think the z32 parts will be easier for me to locate as well.

[DeXteR]

Brake Master Cylinder

[BigMACKenzie]

hey, brake master cylinder, I know what that is, *hurrrrr* yeah, i feel special

[-RJ-]

i would install q45 brakes even if you werent going to race it. im all about the safety lol

[onosqv]

No one to my knowledge has corner weighed a stock S13.

And the SR with all the turbo stuff is about 30-40lbs lighter than the stock KA.

That's cuz your *** doesn't search...

zerothread?id=173330

These numbers don't correlate w/ what I found on google, and couldn't search for this stuff on nico, so guess I'll post them.

Just got back from seeing my good buddy @ Road & Track. He weighed Candy for me (name of the vert). I did this w/ the top down, windows rolled down, half a tank of gas, completely stock. The scale is accurate to w/in 5 lbs.

Curb Weight: 3108Test Weight: 3310 (driver is 202lbs)Weight Dist (F/R): 53/47

w/ driverLF: 920 RF: 847LR: 781 RR: 762

He commented that the car, weight wise is pretty well balanced. Not after I finish w/ her, hahaha. Let the dieting begin!!! (for both Candy & Driver). If you had wanted to know, now you know .

Modified by brokeAs240sx at 5:55 PM 5/4/2006

[BigMACKenzie]

oh, so its like I originally thought, I could stand to lose a little weight up front, but still for a stock car those numbers are hot pajamas. Or maybe I could just move the seat frame back a foot or two and drive like short round with wooden blocks on my sandals "DR. JONES, NO BRAKE!"

[Hijacker]

Or maybe I could just move the seat frame back a foot or two and drive like short round with wooden blocks on my sandals "DR. JONES, NO BRAKE!"

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Totally off topic, I almost accidentally edited Mack's post. I was meaning to quote and hit edit

[BigMACKenzie]

oh come on was the joke that bad? I heart short round, that kid had guts.

[DeXteR]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

However, rally racers will move the seat frames as far back and as far down as they can. They will modify steering columns, pedal assemblies, gear selectors and hand brakes to accommodate their more centered position.

[Eikon]

Go McLaren F1 style and make it a single seat dead center!

[BigMACKenzie]

yeah I was j/k about moving my seat back. I know it works for rally drivers but i am all of 5'10 on a good day so I dont want to have to super modify my pedals and shifter. One day however I will def have a center drive car, always wanted to try that. oh and dexter, have you never seen indiana jones and the temple of doom? Short round is the little asian kid who was driving the cab with wooden blocks on his feet (redundant but I cant think of another good example of something he did in the film other than that and make fun of the white lady).

[DeXteR]

oh... man... I haven't seen that film in years. Next time I watch it, I'll try to catch that part.

[BigMACKenzie]

its at the very beginning of the film, right as Indy and the white lady escape the chinese night club they jump into the cab and short round is driving. If you are going to go back and watch it, the next best part is when the plane that just showed a %100 empty fuel tank crashes into the side of a mountain in a huge fiery explosion. with what fuel? lolz