Cobra Front to rear weight balance

B.M.B.C · #1 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 10:56 AM

Ive seen people write on this forum about the f - r weight balance. It seems most SBF cars have a near 50/50 balance the norm being 48/52. What im interested in finding out about is how the balance would be for a iron FE / iron jag diff vs alum FE / iron jag diff and alum FE vs alum diff.
How does everyones car stack up on this weight distribution balance???

Thanks guys

ERA Chas · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:01 AM

Not quite that simple-need more specifics. EG:
My iron block, ally head / waterpump /intake in ERA w / jag IRS is 48 / 52 w / half tank of gas. Measured with digital corner weighting scales. It's 47 / 53 with me in the seat.
The 'whole FE is nose heavy' is myth believed by the small block guys.

patrickt · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:08 AM

I'm similar to Chas -- iron FE block, aluminum heads, manifold, water pump, and flywheel. Here are my numbers both with me in and out of the car. Half tank of gas and small bag of tools in the trunk. Digital scales, of course....

Left Front 646 (703) Right Front 666 (667)
Left Rear 663 (756) Right Rear 678 (725)
Cross Weight 1328-50% (1319-50%)
Left Weight Percentage 1309-49% (1456-51%)
Rear Weight Percentage 1337-50% (1478-52%)
Total Weight 2651 (2846)

B.M.B.C · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:30 AM

ERA Chas - Patrick , you both answered my question. Seems it is all myth...
Is the FE engine positioned further back towards the firewall ?

ERA Chas · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:35 AM

I doubt it. Acton or Kirkham could answer better.

lovehamr · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:40 AM

Chas and Patrick are right on point here. When the entire engine is mounted behind the front axle centerline and the engine DOESN'T weight that much more than than a windsor, then looking for a beak heavy boogy man is gonna be hard to do.

bobcowan · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 11:42 AM

Of course, a lot would depend on the chassis and other options. An ERA will have a differant balance than an FFR with the exact same drive line. And how the chassis manages that weight is also important.

Silverback51 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 12:11 PM

The biggest extremes I have seen is 47/53 to 52/48.

A lot of people with small blocks would like others to beleive it's much greater than that, but it's not.

And there are many, many other factors that will affect handling beyond just the weight bias.

AL427SBF · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 12:21 PM

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running lol.

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running.

No, no, no... it's the small block guys constantly trying to justify, and explain away, their poor decision.

vector1 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

No, no, no... it's the small block guys constantly trying to justify, and explain away, their poor decision.

and vice versa

my jbl f-r is 45/55.

AL427SBF · #12 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 12:56 PM

No, no, no... it's the small block guys constantly trying to justify, and explain away, their poor decision.

Yeah right, take it up with Bob Bondaurant or the Shelby guys. Bob was one of the 1st to state the 351 Windsor was a better balanced Cobra for racing, you don't think he knows what works? When Shelby put their spec racing Cobra out it was a 427 body with a 351 Windsor, like those guys don't know how to make a properly balanced race car?
----

patrickt · #13 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 01:07 PM

If it's a 427 car, and it doesn't have an FE in it, then it could have a uranium enriched phase engine in there that takes you to the next dimension and it would still be wrong, wrong, wrong. And everybody except guys that put wrong engines in their cars will all be nodding in agreement with that statement.

ERA Chas · #14 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 01:29 PM

Bernie, bail now. Here's where all the good information in your thread goes straight to hell...........

Silverback51 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running lol.

I'm not stating that there is a weight difference, there is. However the balance of the car is not affected that much.

I have see SB cars with more weight percentage wise on the front than some BB cars. A lot depends on the car make, options and such.

patrickt · #16 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Bernie, bail now. Here's where all the good information in your thread goes straight to hell...........

Al threw the first punch.

Silverback51 · #17 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

If it's a 427 car, and it doesn't have an FE in it, then it could have a uranium enriched phase engine in there that takes you to the next dimension and it would still be wrong, wrong, wrong. And everybody except guys that put wrong engines in their cars will all be nodding in agreement with that statement.

Unlike Patrickt who feels that his way is the only true way, I believe that whatever you do to make the car yours is the correct way. It's only you that you have to make happy.

SB, BB, or hell, even a Chevy. It's your choice. Do what makes you happy.

Sorry for the off topic rant.

patrickt · #18 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Unlike Patrickt who feels that his way is the only true way, I believe that whatever you do to make the car yours is the correct way. It's only you that you have to make happy.

The opposing viewpoint, of course, is that there is an overriding societal duty to do what's right when it comes to the engine choice for 427 cars. If you're going to shirk that duty, then the least you can do is step up to the plate and acknowledge that the choice is "only correct for you" and, in fact, is wrong for the rest of the Cobra loving universe.

vector1 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Unlike Patrickt who feels that his way is the only true way, I believe that whatever you do to make the car yours is the correct way. It's only you that you have to make happy.

SB, BB, or hell, even a Chevy. It's your choice. Do what makes you happy.

Sorry for the off topic rant.

think i'd have to vote for this one.

doesn't matter what you put in your fake cobra.

Silverback51 · #20 (**permalink**) 01-22-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

The opposing viewpoint, of course, is that there is an overriding societal duty to do what's right when it comes to the engine choice for 427 cars. If you're going to shirk that duty, then the least you can do is step up to the plate and acknowledge that the choice is "only correct for you" and, in fact, is wrong for the rest of the Cobra loving universe.

There is no god damn duty. If you truly believe that you are even worse off than you come across at times.

And for that I'm sorry for you.