Cobra Front to rear weight balance

[B.M.B.C]

Ive seen people write on this forum about the f - r weight balance. It seems most SBF cars have a near 50/50 balance the norm being 48/52. What im interested in finding out about is how the balance would be for a iron FE / iron jag diff vs alum FE / iron jag diff and alum FE vs alum diff.
How does everyones car stack up on this weight distribution balance???

Thanks guys

[ERA Chas]

Not quite that simple-need more specifics. EG:
My iron block, ally head / waterpump /intake in ERA w / jag IRS is 48 / 52 w / half tank of gas. Measured with digital corner weighting scales. It's 47 / 53 with me in the seat.
The 'whole FE is nose heavy' is myth believed by the small block guys.

[patrickt]

I'm similar to Chas -- iron FE block, aluminum heads, manifold, water pump, and flywheel. Here are my numbers both with me in and out of the car. Half tank of gas and small bag of tools in the trunk. Digital scales, of course....

Left Front 646 (703) Right Front 666 (667)
Left Rear 663 (756) Right Rear 678 (725)
Cross Weight 1328-50% (1319-50%)
Left Weight Percentage 1309-49% (1456-51%)
Rear Weight Percentage 1337-50% (1478-52%)
Total Weight 2651 (2846)

[mdross1]

My big block car was when scaled 48F- 52R with iron heads intake and water pump,now has all aluminum including 9" pumpkin.Engine is in same place small would be.

[B.M.B.C]

ERA Chas - Patrick , you both answered my question. Seems it is all myth...
Is the FE engine positioned further back towards the firewall ?

[ERA Chas]

I doubt it. Acton or Kirkham could answer better.

[lovehamr]

Chas and Patrick are right on point here. When the entire engine is mounted behind the front axle centerline and the engine DOESN'T weight that much more than than a windsor, then looking for a beak heavy boogy man is gonna be hard to do.

[bobcowan]

Of course, a lot would depend on the chassis and other options. An ERA will have a differant balance than an FFR with the exact same drive line. And how the chassis manages that weight is also important.

[Silverback51]

The biggest extremes I have seen is 47/53 to 52/48.

A lot of people with small blocks would like others to beleive it's much greater than that, but it's not.

And there are many, many other factors that will affect handling beyond just the weight bias.

[AL427SBF]

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running lol.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running.

No, no, no... it's the small block guys constantly trying to justify, and explain away, their poor decision.

[vector1]

Originally Posted by patrickt

No, no, no... it's the small block guys constantly trying to justify, and explain away, their poor decision.

and vice versa

my jbl f-r is 45/55.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by AL427SBF

Big Block guys forever trying to make the case that there is no weight/distribution difference between a FE and a Windsor. Absolutely laughable, you can't argue with physics. Spend some time around the road course guys who WIN and see what they are running lol.

I'm not stating that there is a weight difference, there is. However the balance of the car is not affected that much.

I have see SB cars with more weight percentage wise on the front than some BB cars. A lot depends on the car make, options and such.

[Jeff Frigo]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

I'm not stating that there is a weight difference, there is. However the balance of the car is not affected that much.

I have see SB cars with more weight percentage wise on the front than some BB cars. A lot depends on the car make, options and such.

100% Wrong. It makes me sick when somebody says they have a 427 and it is a small block. They just say 427, not 427 small block. I love to tell people I have a 454. They say Chevy, I say no FE, (.030 over 27 with a 28 crank).

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Jeff Frigo

100% Wrong. It makes me sick when somebody says they have a 427 and it is a small block. They just say 427, not 427 small block. I love to tell people I have a 454. They say Chevy, I say no FE, (.030 over 27 with a 28 crank).

Okay, what am I 100% wrong about?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Okay, what am I 100% wrong about?

I think Jeff was just venting after a bad day.

[Jeff Frigo]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Okay, what am I 100% wrong about?

Boy, I screwed that one up. I don't know if I was getting threads mixed up or what. What I was trying to say, it is just wrong to put a small block in a big block car.

[mdross1]

As many years as I have been in the business of restoring and building muscle cars it never fails someone will inevitabally pick things apart.First time I overheard a couple of purists or whatever it kind of ruffled the feathers.Now it makes me grin cause I could care less.Having my name on the title is all that really matters.Besides that I am always 100% happy with the outcome of my projects.My car is badged 460 when in reality it is 468" You can bet the purists have picked up on the badging as they have the 385,the fiberglass,the Tremec,etc etc etc.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by mdross1

As many years as I have been in the business of restoring and building muscle cars it never fails someone will inevitabally pick things apart.First time I overheard a couple of purists or whatever it kind of ruffled the feathers.Now it makes me grin cause I could care less.Having my name on the title is all that really matters.Besides that I am always 100% happy with the outcome of my projects.My car is badged 460 when in reality it is 468" You can bet the purists have picked up on the badging as they have the 385,the fiberglass,the Tremec,etc etc etc.

I agreed with the BB part, not necessarilly the FE part.

I wouldn't take an FE if it was given to me, but I love my 385 series.

[Silverback51]

First picture is just rolling the car on the scales.



Now with my fat butt in it.




This was just to get me an idea of what I had.

I then disconnected the sway bars.

Once again, just the car.



And then with me in it again.