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Weight transfer

Paul_G

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Would raising the front end an inch or so help transfer weight to the rear for better traction? Easy to do if it makes sense.
 
Would raising the front end an inch or so help transfer weight to the rear for better traction? Easy to do if it makes sense.
It depends on a lot of variables, SO, all you can do is try & see what happens.
 
You could also try 90/10 shocks which allow the front to lift faster on initial acceleration but let the front end back down as you pick up speed down the track.
 
Raising the front in theory and technically would assist in applying more weight to the rear. Basically would you rather lift a heavy object from the ground or off a bench at knee height....

However it may not be enough to be noticed. But its easy enough to adjust the torsion bars and try it out. Different shocks up front would help as mentioned above.
 
I have the front a little low right now from Autocross racing. I will make a few passes like this. Then raise it and see if there is any noticeable difference.
 
I have the front a little low right now from Autocross racing. I will make a few passes like this. Then raise it and see if there is any noticeable difference.
when you raise the front get a tape measurer & check the toe in
 
Would raising the front end an inch or so help transfer weight to the rear for better traction? Easy to do if it makes sense.
Why don't ya tell us a little more about the car in question? Is it losing traction right off the line? What size tires does it have and what type? If you're running slicks and drag racing it, a PSI adjustment might help and that's a lot easier than adjusting the front end height.....
 
If you auto cross I'm assuming stiff torsion bars and a sway bar. The exact opposite is needed for drag racing. In your case raising the front might help. But probably very little. 4 speed and stock suspension? Bias ply slicks would be the biggest single step you could make..
Doug
 
Why don't ya tell us a little more about the car in question? Is it losing traction right off the line? What size tires does it have and what type? If you're running slicks and drag racing it, a PSI adjustment might help and that's a lot easier than adjusting the front end height.....
It's a 73 Charger Rallye muscle rat. 4000# plus my fat a$$. It has stock front and rear sway bars. Fully restored interior, A/C P/S P/B. All Poly bushed suspension. It is a comfortable cruiser, literally daily driven with the B engine in it for the past 2 years.

I recently built a 505ci Trick Flow headed, roller valve train, Comp roller cam 234/240@50 .542/.539 lift with 112 LSA. Stock 4 speed, 3.23.gears, 255/60-15 tires, 26" tall, 5 year old Coopers all around. Old school slapper bars with the bumpers set 3/4" from spring. And yes the rear tires turn to smoke at anything more than 1/2 pedal and aggressive with the clutch. I even tried Short shifting first and blew the tires off in second. The car has to pedaled off the line till well in to 2nd gear.

Doing Duct Tape drags this weekend. I am going to bring tires from my Roadrunner with. They are 275/40-17 Michellin Pilot all seasons, 26" tall, brand new. But I dont want to destroy them. Got to be careful with them. A friend is bringing a pair of 9" slicks. I will try those as well.

I got to make my clutch last the weekend. It is almost at minimum. No time to break in a new one before DTD. So hopefully it holds till the end.
 
It's a 73 Charger Rallye muscle rat. 4000# plus my fat a$$. It has stock front and rear sway bars. Fully restored interior, A/C P/S P/B. All Poly bushed suspension. It is a comfortable cruiser, literally daily driven with the B engine in it for the past 2 years.

I recently built a 505ci Trick Flow headed, roller valve train, Comp roller cam 234/240@50 .542/.539 lift with 112 LSA. Stock 4 speed, 3.23.gears, 255/60-15 tires, 26" tall, 5 year old Coopers all around. Old school slapper bars with the bumpers set 3/4" from spring. And yes the rear tires turn to smoke at anything more than 1/2 pedal and aggressive with the clutch. I even tried Short shifting first and blew the tires off in second. The car has to pedaled off the line till well in to 2nd gear.

Doing Duct Tape drags this weekend. I am going to bring tires from my Roadrunner with. They are 275/40-17 Michellin Pilot all seasons, 26" tall, brand new. But I dont want to destroy them. Got to be careful with them. A friend is bringing a pair of 9" slicks. I will try those as well.

I got to make my clutch last the weekend. It is almost at minimum. No time to break in a new one before DTD. So hopefully it holds till the end.
Do the slicks first imo then do other things if they don't help.....and left off of the clutch right away all the way. If it slips at that point, then it's passed it's life time.
 
So cool that you’re going to the drag strip. So few people, do despite it being in the heritage of these cars.

Remember that the trap speed (mph) is a good measure of the power, or power to weight ratio. So, irrespective of the traction and suspension challenges you might have, and potentially wildly different et’s, the mph will be fairly consistent. So, with your mph you’ll be able to reasonably estimate what the et could be.

Good luck. Have fun.
 
So cool that you’re going to the drag strip. So few people, do despite it being in the heritage of these cars.

Remember that the trap speed (mph) is a good measure of the power, or power to weight ratio. So, irrespective of the traction and suspension challenges you might have, and potentially wildly different et’s, the mph will be fairly consistent. So, with your mph you’ll be able to reasonably estimate what the et could be.

Good luck. Have fun.
I have run a best of 13.1 quarter mile in a 96 Vette many years ago. This car pulls much harder than that did. I plan to use my track info to calculate hp.
Don’t forget your duct tape.
My vacuum gauge is sitting in the open ash tray duct taped to the dash.
 
I have run a best of 13.1 quarter mile in a 96 Vette many years ago. This car pulls much harder than that did. I plan to use my track info to calculate hp.

My vacuum gauge is sitting in the open ash tray duct taped to the dash.
With that much power, a 4 speed, and the factory iso-wimp suspension, you may need a little more.
 
Let the clutch out easy with that combo. Don't dump it or you may need these additional tools : Floor dry, broom, dustpan.
Serious have a good time.
Doug
 
I think it will depend a lot on the track. It might be sticky or could be a skating rink. Only one way to find out!
I doubt 1" will matter at all. You could try unhooking the front anti sway bar. Duct tape it up.Lol
 
Not sure with the slapper bars but there should be clamps on the front of the springs only.
 
Let the clutch out easy with that combo. Don't dump it or you may need these additional tools : Floor dry, broom, dustpan.
Serious have a good time.
Doug
Could also let the clutch out quickly with light throttle then mat it. I've done that before with cars that had plenty of power but was light on traction....
 
Could also let the clutch out quickly with light throttle then mat it. I've done that that before with cars that had plenty of power but was light on traction....
That has been working well on my street practice launching. Then slowly apply power after the clutch is fully engaged. The tires squawking all the way through first gear. It is easier on my thin clutch too. I hope.

You guys should see the road coming in to my neighborhood. It has a dead end past the last turn in. Looks like a drag strip. lol

I am going to swap my rear tires left for right before the weekend. They are feathered out pretty good.
 
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