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Old 05-25-2004, 08:36 PM
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Default weight distribution

What is the weight distribution of an LS1 f-body? I did a quick search of the forums, but came up empty.
Old 05-25-2004, 10:50 PM
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/162965-f-r-weight-distribution.html

It should be approximately 56.6% front, 43.4% rear
Old 05-26-2004, 10:27 AM
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That's for an LT1.

An LS1 is about 53/47 (according to an actual scale).

That is all stock. With weight reduction up front you could easily get better than 50/50 distribution.
Old 05-26-2004, 10:33 AM
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What are some worthwhile weight reductions you could do up front?

I could see moving the battery to the trunk, losing the A/C compressor and condensor/evaporator. Anything else that would add up?

I'm mostly just curious, I'm not trying to make a dedicated track car out of my Camaro. (yet )
Old 05-26-2004, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by z98
An LS1 is about 53/47 (according to an actual scale).

That is all stock. With weight reduction up front you could easily get better than 50/50 distribution.
If your LS1 weighs about 3600 lbs, and you measured 53% front / 47% rear, you'd have to add 108 pounds to the rear end while eliminating 108 from the front. Either that, or 216 pounds needs to come off the front. That would be quite a weight loss plan, considering that the AC only weighs 50 lbs, and a tubular K-member would take off another 40 pounds. Are you planning on a carbon fibre hood?
Old 05-26-2004, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by John95Z28
If your LS1 weighs about 3600 lbs, and you measured 53% front / 47% rear, you'd have to add 108 pounds to the rear end while eliminating 108 from the front. Either that, or 216 pounds needs to come off the front. That would be quite a weight loss plan, considering that the AC only weighs 50 lbs, and a tubular K-member would take off another 40 pounds. Are you planning on a carbon fibre hood?
If you could manage to remove 158lbs from just the front you'd be at:

front 1750lbs -- 50.84%
back 1692lbs -- 49.16%

for a total of 3442lbs curb weight.
Old 05-26-2004, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by technical
If you could manage to remove 158lbs from just the front you'd be at:

front 1750lbs -- 50.84%
back 1692lbs -- 49.16%
That's completely true, and at 50.8% on the front tires you'd be so close to 'perfect' weight balance that nobody could tell the difference. BTW, how much do you think that would improve autoX handling compared with stock? You should get less plow / understeer, but I wonder how noticeable it would be
Old 05-26-2004, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by John95Z28
That's completely true, and at 50.8% on the front tires you'd be so close to 'perfect' weight balance that nobody could tell the difference. BTW, how much do you think that would improve autoX handling compared with stock? You should get less plow / understeer, but I wonder how noticeable it would be
158lbs is significant weight especially if it was lost completely from the front of the car. Of course losing 150lbs from the front end might be tricky.

Should be a noticable improvement when entering a turn. Probably need to pick different front springs since the car might sit higher.
Old 05-26-2004, 01:34 PM
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Thanks guys!

I found this too after posting:
http://www.engine-power.com/pontiac/firebird_ws6.html
http://www.new-cars.com/2002/pontiac...fications.html

they both list 55/45 for firebird, 56/44 for trans am

z98- was it your car on the scale? just curious.
Old 05-26-2004, 05:18 PM
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Or just take 200lb of stereo and what not, and mount it aft of the rear axle
Let's see, how much does that Stealthbox, JL 10" and 5 channel PPI amp weigh?
Old 05-26-2004, 05:19 PM
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Not mine, a friends on 4 floor scales.

He was sitting in it and he had his nitrous bottle in the back full (20 lb bottle I believe).

It was 52/48. Not really that far from 50/50.

I said 53/74 because most people don't have a nitrous bottle in their back seat.

If your LS1 weighs about 3600 lbs, and you measured 53% front / 47% rear, you'd have to add 108 pounds to the rear end while eliminating 108 from the front.
Why would it weigh 3600 lbs? Have you ever actually weighed one of these cars?

Either that, or 216 pounds needs to come off the front. That would be quite a weight loss plan, considering that the AC only weighs 50 lbs, and a tubular K-member would take off another 40 pounds. Are you planning on a carbon fibre hood?
Don't forget A-arms, drag brakes, headers, relocate battery, !egr, !air, !bumper support, !power steering, !fog lights, wiring, !ABS module, skinnies, hood, etc etc.

Probably more if I actually thought about it.

158lbs is significant weight especially if it was lost completely from the front of the car. Of course losing 150lbs from the front end might be tricky.
Is that being sarcastic?

A-arms, drag brakes, k-member, skinnys, bumper support, move battery = goal
Old 05-26-2004, 07:01 PM
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I was asking about weight distribution b/c i am interrested in handling, so that means no skinnies in front, and keep the power steering, ABS, and all that stuff. if it is between 50/50 and 55/45, then that is probably good enough for me. thanks again for all the info guys!
Old 05-27-2004, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by z98

Why would it weigh 3600 lbs? Have you ever actually weighed one of these cars?
Don't they weigh 3500-3700lb full of gas and other fluids?
Old 05-27-2004, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by z98
Don't forget A-arms, drag brakes, headers, relocate battery, !egr, !air, !bumper support, !power steering, !fog lights, wiring, !ABS module, skinnies, hood, etc etc.

Probably more if I actually thought about it.

Originally Posted by technical
158lbs is significant weight especially if it was lost completely from the front of the car. Of course losing 150lbs from the front end might be tricky.
Is that being sarcastic?
What about a daily driver?

Originally Posted by Z98
A-arms, drag brakes, k-member, skinnys, bumper support, move battery = goal
Skinnys and drag brakes don't help handling much.
Old 05-27-2004, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by TTopJohn
Don't they weigh 3500-3700lb full of gas and other fluids?
yes, they do.
Old 05-27-2004, 03:37 PM
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I saw a weight reduction list were everything added up to about 500 lbs, meaning you could have a sub 3,000 lb Fbody with 50/50 distribution. Although a few items on that list I'm not willing to remove. You can take a lot of weight of the nose by getting rid of the front bumper and replacing the battery with a lightweight version. Moving things to the trunk is not the best; may improve the distribution but won't help the angular moment of inertia (pendulum effect.) Better to place weight as close to the rear axle as possible, but stay between the front and rear axles.

I recently replaced the stock steering wheel and was shocked that it weighed 9.5 lbs (with air bag.) Aftermarket wheels are 2 lbs or less. Another good item to toss is the kick pannel under the gauge cluster . . . that thing is about 1/4 inch thick!
Old 05-29-2004, 01:15 PM
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What about a daily driver?
Yeah, no drag brakes and I need air in my daily driver.

Everything else would be fine though.



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