Losing weight

[BigE77']

I was wondering if anyone out there new how much time you can pick up on the 1/4 by losing weight. I have a 4500 lb truck running high 13's fully dressed. Is there a ratio like a tenth per 100 lbs or something like that?
Thanks in advance

[Alex1]

I've read somewhere the same thing - about a 10th per 100lbs.

Let the hacking begin...

[Wild83C10]

I've heard and read the same as well. My truck went on a diet awhile ago. It's down to 36xx lbs. Also remember that you are driving a "brick wall" and brick walls aren't that aerodynamic.

[BigE77']

Originally Posted by Wild83C10

I've heard and read the same as well. My truck went on a diet awhile ago. It's down to 36xx lbs. Also remember that you are driving a "brick wall" and brick walls aren't that aerodynamic.

LOL, yea on windy days I call her the Sail. Im not sure I could lose that much weight and still drive it around everyday. For a cruiser High 13's is fine by me. I appreciate the input

[Super73]

I'm not sure there is a perfect ratio.. But for your range, I'd say it's close. But, loosing weight does't always make you faster. Moving weight is just as important. So what can you move from the front to the rear.

Battery
Gas tank (if it's behind the seat).

Remember the farther back things go, the more leverage will affect things. The center of your rear tire is where a teatertoter point is. One of our members here corner scaled his truck and gave me the info. He added 175lbs to the rear. One thing I notice with that is it acted like 219lbs (125%) on the rear and took 44lbs off the nose. The 44lbs it took off the nose is in effect 25% of that weight added to the rear. Think about a battery.

Battery say 35lbs..
35 * 1.25 = 44 added to the rear
35 * .25 = 8.8lbs + 35 = 43.9lbs off the nose.

This does not include any leverage the battery has on the rear being in front of the front axle. 44lbs+ off the nose and 44lbs on the back, that will help!!

He also showed me what the scales were with and with out him in the seat. The weight change breakdown looked like this:

Front – 58.65%
Rear 41.35%

Front Driver – 47.68%
Front Passenger – 10.97%
Rear Driver – 29.54%
Rear Passenger – 11.81%

I’m thinking gas tank here, but I think yours is already under the bed. But, food for thought, anything in the cab ect would be close to that ratio. Given it might be a little different based on rake, ride height, leafspring/coil set up, but good info is just that.


I'm also a firm believer that roatating weight is worth more than fixed weight.

[Wild83C10]

Super73 you make some good points. Transfering weight maybe better then losing weight.

[Mordachai]

^ and as super73 said also rotational mass, or rotating mass will help tons. lighter wheels, tires, rotors, driveshaft(s) etc will help get the power to the ground.

[BigE77']

Thanks guys, it really makes sense when you look at it that way. Yea it is under the bed or both sides really. Im no pro at the strip so all these common sense things really stand out with the weight distrobution. Sometimes it makes the most sense when you get a different perspective. Again I appreciate it. Ill post some times next time I get out

[Super73]

Glad to help..

[CreditGod]

The loosing ration does not really matter until you get down in the 6.50's in the 1/8 mile before you star cutting anything start with the basics gear ratio, tire size, motor etc..

we have 3 cars in the low 6's and we never worry about real weight cutting until we get our cars to 7.00 1/8 mile

but 4500 pounds is still a lot of weight to be hauling down the track

[Captainfab]

If it is an option for you, getting rid of the saddle tanks and installing a single tank between the frame rails behind the rear end is bound to trim a little weight as well as transfer some to the rear as Super73 posted. If you take a look at where those saddle tanks are, they are partially under the cab as well as under the bed. They are actually fairly far forward. The tanks and hangers themselves weigh a bit, and if you were to install an aluminum tank in the rear that would save some weight itself.

Originally Posted by BigE77'

Thanks guys, it really makes sense when you look at it that way. Yea it is under the bed or both sides really. Im no pro at the strip so all these common sense things really stand out with the weight distrobution. Sometimes it makes the most sense when you get a different perspective. Again I appreciate it. Ill post some times next time I get out

[Super73]

Also, believe it or not, the hgher the weight is, the easier it transfers.. that goes for fuel cell in the bed and motor..