Drag Weight Transfer

[Walt]

With the fuel cell/batts/tailgate behind the rear axle, is it advantageous to keep the tailgate (weight) and use a larger fuel cell (full) to use that moment arm to aid in weight transfer to the rear wheels, or is it better to minimize weight altogether by using the smallest cell practical and eliminating the tailgate? Any engineers out there?

[v8blazer]

I know it is very important to keep weight down when you start getting hardcore; but if you think about it,in the grand scheme of things, S10\'s dont really have an overweight problem. Ive heard of a few V8 S10 guys in town here welding manhole covers to the bed of their truck to help plant the rear. If you think that most S10\'s are around 2800 or 3000 lbs and camaros start at 3200 or 3300, Id say we\'re already ahead of the game in that department. Our issue is, as most would agree, weight transfer not the weight itself.

[Knanthrup]

I\'ll have to agree with v8blazer. It\'s a tradeoff but you\'ll have to break it down to which is the bigger problem.... hauling the weight down the track or gaining traction from weight transfer? Your answer is most likely gaining traction in which the right positioning of weight can help. Most of our S10\'s don\'t weigh all that much (mine only weighed 2500 with the 4cyl), and a lot of other performance oriented cars like camaros, mustangs, etc start with more weight.

[lowrthnus10]

i have also heard to put every thing you can put (battery, fuel cell, ect..) on the right side because thats the way the engine torques and you want as much weight as you possible can on that wheel

[jimmya]

Keep you tailgate! Don\'t worry about weight in the back at all. put batteries, nitrous bottles and fuel in the back(batteries on left, bottles on right works best for me). If you want to loose weight, take it off the front. the big skid plate under the engine on the crossmember can be cleanly cut off, and that saves atleast 5-8 pounds. that isn\'t alot, but 5-8 in the front is better than 20 in the back.the lower a-arms have 4 pounds each begging to be removed(in non critical areas).you can use lowered spindles if you want, but they weigh 3 pounds each heavier than the factory ones. My small block truck has full roll cage and interior and weighs 2540 wet. it also has 1.29 60 foot times and carries the front wheels for 50 feet on 10 in slicks.

[grinch-boy]

do you have pictures or video of your truck in the air

[jimmya]

you can go to my profile and click on the bottom picture, the tires are almost in the air, but the picture was shot to soon. I should have better pictures soon.