Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
#2686526
08/11/19 03:08 PM
08/11/19 03:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 182 USA
Nitrofish
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 182
USA
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I scaled my 69 B-Body 496 BB - 600HP 727 4200 stall Cal-trac mono leafs, Cal-tracs bars. 4.10 Viking double adjustable on all 4 corners 390/45/R15 M&H Racemasters. 95% Street Car.
Before, the adjustment the vehicles ride heights were even/equal on all four corners (Front Driver and Front Pass ride heights were equal). Vehicle drove and tracked true.
Starting weight: Driver in car, no cal-trac preload, front sway bar disconnected, all shocks at 0 (soft) FL -1031 FR - 981 RL- 870 RR- 835
Next, I adjusted the drivers side torsion bar clockwise/tighter 3 turns, and loosened the passenger side torsion bar 3 turns. Driver in car the weights are: FL- 1061 FR-951 RL -831 RR-873
While I think the weight distribution is correct, the ride height has now changed as I expected it would. The pass side is 1/4" lower, while the drivers side is 1/4" higher from their original starting points. So now overall, the Drivers Front and Drivers Rear ride heights are now a 1/2" higher than both the Pass Front and Pass Rear. The Drivers side of the car sits a 1/2" higher than the passenger side. After a test drive the car still seems to drive well and track true under WOT and cruise speeds. However, is this normal to have this much of a difference in ride height?? Have others experienced the same?
Another option that I tested was to return the torsion bars to their previous/original loads and adjust the RR cal- trac bar by adding 1-1/2 turns (one and a half) of pre-load, this test adjustment provided near the same corner weights and ride heights as the torsion bar adjustment did. However,I felt that adjusting the torsion bars was a better route than driving around on the street with 1-1/2 turns of preload on the RR.
Open to any technical recommendations and/or comments.
Thanks!
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: Nitrofish]
#2686561
08/11/19 05:02 PM
08/11/19 05:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,526 Fulton County, PA
CMcAllister
Mr. Helpful
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Mr. Helpful
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,526
Fulton County, PA
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How heavy is the driver?
I always want to get the car dead level, or as close to level as possible, regardless corner weighs. 95% street car? With a driver? The first set of numbers doesn't look terrible if the car sat right.
A little bit of extra load on the LF bar and a little bit of pre-load on the RR will add weight to the RR (and the LF) if that's what is needed without making it sit goofy. Coilovers on the rear would make it easier, but preload on the bar is about all you have to work with now.
I wouldn't worry about getting the weight where it should be in a strictly drag situation if it's only going to go to the track occasionally. But if the rear weights are close to equal, it should be fine when you do go.
If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: CMcAllister]
#2686646
08/11/19 09:44 PM
08/11/19 09:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 182 USA
Nitrofish
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 182
USA
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How heavy is the driver?
I always want to get the car dead level, or as close to level as possible, regardless corner weighs. 95% street car? With a driver? The first set of numbers doesn't look terrible if the car sat right.
A little bit of extra load on the LF bar and a little bit of pre-load on the RR will add weight to the RR (and the LF) if that's what is needed without making it sit goofy. Coilovers on the rear would make it easier, but preload on the bar is about all you have to work with now.
I wouldn't worry about getting the weight where it should be in a strictly drag situation if it's only going to go to the track occasionally. But if the rear weights are close to equal, it should be fine when you do go. Thanks for the reply. Driver = 235 lbs. All weights given were with the driver in the car. Whether I add weight to the RR with the torsion bars or with the cal-trac bar (pre-load) the ride height is offset. I will remove some of the weight/load to the RR as you suggested. This will even out the weight in the rear and start to return ride height closer to equal. Seems that I need to find a happy medium and I likely pasted that point with the adjustments made.
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: Nitrofish]
#2686780
08/12/19 09:55 AM
08/12/19 09:55 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,206 New York
polyspheric
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,206
New York
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Can't help with the question, but... 1. Equal weight on rear wheels neglects how hard the weight transfer and pinion action load the right rear on launch 2. To me, the most important chassis set-up is "what makes the car go straight the whole time?", which may be quite different from best street conditions
Boffin Emeritus
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: polyspheric]
#2686788
08/12/19 10:07 AM
08/12/19 10:07 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,673 On the parachute mount
n20mstr
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,673
On the parachute mount
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My car always liked 30lbs more on the Right Rear.
Your almost 40 now. Id go even on the rear weights and see if the car goes right or left. Then add preload from there. when on the scales, see what 1/2 a turn on the T bar does, then you can make small changes at the track. Its nice to have the tbars to adjust the weight, but yes it does make the car look weird sometimes.
LOVE my ladder bars and rear coil overs for that ….LOL
....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: n20mstr]
#2686802
08/12/19 10:32 AM
08/12/19 10:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,102 Western Md.
skicker
"The Champ"
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"The Champ"
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,102
Western Md.
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I have messed with scales a lot however everything has been for dirt car applications... When moving cross weight (opposite corners) you need to be able to adjust in and out on all 4 corners to get the full effect. I fully understand how this isn't always possible with leafs and torsion bars...Torsion bars will move weight just as you would like but have no adjust-ability as far as the rate...(spring rate) If you were to use a longer shackle on the RR you would add weight there while also pushing the LF back down and leveling the ride height back out...A 1/2" lowering block on the LR may also do what your looking for as it will transfer weight onto the RR while lightening the RF. There's a way to get nearly any number you want without sacrificing ride height but you'll have to be willing to experiment a little. Ultimately what your car likes best will determine the direction you'll need to take...
...FAFO...
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Re: Scaling a car/Corner weight and ride height question
[Re: polyspheric]
#2686863
08/12/19 12:21 PM
08/12/19 12:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,696
Bitopia
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Can't help with the question, but... 2. To me, the most important chassis set-up is "what makes the car go straight the whole time?", which may be quite different from best street conditions That is my thinking, kinda like bowling, I don't care how you knock all the pins down.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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