Check Out That Chassis

I have a ‘65 Malibu SS bracket car. It has been back halved w/ladder bars and coil over shocks. I have a 355 sbc w/pg and transbrake, 5600 stall, 5.13 gears. I run M/T 12.2 x 31.25 radials. I recently weighed the car with 4 wheel scales. Total weight w/driver is 2993. What I’m concerned about is the front to back bias. Front weight 1684 or 56.3 percent, rear 1309 or 43.7 percent. The car runs 10.50`s @ 125. 60ft times are 1.43. The car hooks good and straight, pulling front tires equally off the ground approx. 5 inches. How much would moving the engine back 2 inches help? The engine is in the stock location and could easily move back without cutting up the firewall. I would like to lighten up the front weight or get it closer to 50/50. Currently the ladder bars are mounted in the level position, what will raising the bars do to this combo?  

Slick, Canada

Slick,

If you can move the motor back it will help, the weight % change I don’t know. If you lighten the front you need to check your front spring rate and possibly change springs if you take weight off and move the motor. You don’t want to lose the front end travel that you have now. Now moving the ladder bars up in the front will make it hit the tire harder, you may need to go to an adjustable rear shock to be able to control the hit and keep the tire planted. In making all of these changes you should video tape your runs as you change things and make adjustments base on what the car is telling you in the tape. If you have any questions or tapes you need help with please call me.

Scott Weney
President, S & W Race Cars
610-948-7303X111