S197 Is Weight reduction bad sometimes?

[JDmustang82]

Hey everyone! have a quick question about removing weight from my 2012 mustang that I have built for autocross and running Cam-c. I was finally able to weigh my car and it was 3516lb without me in it and a 56% front weight Bias. (3701 with me) I was debating on removing all the trunk carpet and the rear seat from the car, but is this a smart option without transferring some of the other weight from the front of the car back? I get lighter is faster but removing that just from the rear and making the bias worse. It seems like the wrong move or am I just thinking about this the wrong way?

 

[blacksheep-1]

Sometimes, here's an example, the old Ford F150 Lightnings were never as fast as the SUV version, even though the pickup was 400 pounds lighter. They used the same frames and driveline but that extra 400 pounds were over the back tires.
So.. if you can reduce weight do it, but to be able to place that weight where you want it is just as important.

 

[mavisky]

Sometimes, here's an example, the old Ford F150 Lightnings were never as fast as the SUV version, even though the pickup was 400 pounds lighter. They used the same frames and driveline but that extra 400 pounds were over the back tires.
So.. if you can reduce weight do it, but to be able to place that weight where you want it is just as important.

Are you thinking the GMC Syclone and Typhoon?

 

[blacksheep-1]

Are you thinking the GMC Syclone and Typhoon?

No it was the Ford F150 chassis and it's SUV counterpart.

 

[Vettel-ish]

What you are removing wont make that big of a difference. However moving the battery to the trunk would help the balance.

 

[Vettel-ish]

What you are removing wont make that big of a difference. However moving the battery to the trunk would help the balance.

Our cars are nose heavy. This does help with trail braking though.

 

[mavisky]

No it was the Ford F150 chassis and it's SUV counterpart.

I had just never heard of any form of a SUV version of any generation of the Lightning and Google isn't turning any up either.

 

[blacksheep-1]

I had just never heard of any form of a SUV version of any generation of the Lightning and Google isn't turning any up either.

It was an explorer or something, same chassis I've run against the cyclones in NASA, the SUV version would always out handle the pickup.

 

[mavisky]

It was an explorer or something, same chassis I've run against the cyclones in NASA, the SUV version would always out handle the pickup.

Yea i agreed with the premise of weight distribution being more important than raw weight.

 

[navseng]

start finding front weight to remove.. lol

 

[GAR944]

start finding front weight to remove.. lol

Can i sit in the back seat to drive?
Bugger, already removed that. Maybe i can just hang onto the cage.

 

[GJarrett]

It was an explorer or something, same chassis I've run against the cyclones in NASA, the SUV version would always out handle the pickup.

SUV model of the F150 was/is the Expedition; Explorer is a smaller platform. I too never knew about a high performance version, must have been custom (?)

 

[Dave_W]

In autocross, there are some times when I've been faster with a passenger. Usually a car with open diff and FWD, and a course with more RH turns.

 

[carver]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29486431/weight-vs-horsepower-explained/

 

[302BOB]

Weight control is a constant battle with me and my Boss that we fight every day!!!!............we've come to terms with what we got, we'll have to put up with it even tho G forces beg to differ..

 

[blacksheep-1]

SUV model of the F150 was/is the Expedition; Explorer is a smaller platform. I too never knew about a high performance version, must have been custom (?)

Yep, that one, our district fire chiefs used them.

 

[Apex3V]

All of the above are correct, getting rid of weight helps overall but if the weight you already have is in the wrong spot then you should try to find out what can be removed or re-distributed. A common theme with most cars would be moving the battery to the passenger side of the trunk and removing extra stuff off the front end like the windshield cleaner reservoir and so on...

I'm not very familiar with the rule set for cam so reference that as to what can/cant be touched and figure out what compromises you can live with and how committed you are to building a car for that class.

 

[OX1]

start finding front weight to remove.. lol

I did not "road course" my S197, but I did lightweight batt, removed washer bottle, lightweight rad support, and alum lightweight crash beam
(which might be a bad idea on a road course car). It nicely offset the Roush blower I added.

Not sure if any of the full "cradle's" hold up to road course use, but that could be another decent weight savings.
Pretty old article, but goes into quite a bit of what Grigg's was doing 10 or so years ago.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/m5lp-0707-s197-ford-mustang-suspension/

 

[Mike_FL]

I’m trying to prioritize reducing rotating mass 1st

 

[blacksheep-1]

I’m trying to prioritize reducing rotating mass 1st

Forged wheels then..