Best way to adjust rear coil overs for proper height on my SPF

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

AGAIN all your calculations, measurements and adjustments are OUT THE WINDOW when you have a passenger on board (or you gain 10 pounds over winter, or both).

I might as well clear this up, since it is absolutely false. My cross weight percentage with me out of my Cobra is 49.9%. With me in my Cobra it is 50.1% -- a passenger that weighs less than I do (195 lbs.) only brings the values closer to the perfect 50.0% number. How is this possible? Because when I sit behind the wheel of my Cobra, my weight is distributed as follows: 47% goes to the left rear wheel, 29% goes to the left front wheel, 24% goes to the right rear wheel, and less than 1% goes to the right front wheel. The difference in cross weight by adding me behind the wheel is less than ten pounds. It is that difference that affects the cross weight percentages. I just didn't want anyone not adjusting their car because of the belief that adding a few pounds around the waistline, or even adding a passenger, would negate it. If you want to play with exact numbers, here's a nice on-line Corner Weight calculator Corner Weight Calculator

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, I gotta ask... "How will you know that?"

Because I have scales (don't have to go anywhere)
Because I design and scratch build my car
Because I have an engineering degree
Because I do "impossible" things for decades
Because I'm very careful to use internet calculators (do my own)
Because I don't like "internet engineers"
Because I have a very large skill set

...because I know.

[patrickt]

How far along on the build are you?

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I might as well clear this up, since it is absolutely false.

Alright it is absolutely false - my statement is wrong.

I apologize for any inconvenience that I have created...


I just took your statement (need to place the weight of the driver in the driver seat) and drew logical conclusions.
The fact you changed variables and came to the same outcome led me to the following:
Don't argue with idiots - just say sorry and move on

[menace1]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Speaking of wife, mine will Auto-X with my Cobra. Should I set up the car for her or for me ---- or both.

Simple solution, buy her a Cobra just for the wifey

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by patrickt

How far along on the build are you?

Do you really have to be such an arse all the time? I don't know about the rest of the users of this board but I sure wish there was an IGNORE button for your posts. You are just trying to get a rise out of people and are an internet bully. You call it part of your "schtick" but I call it juvenile. Grow up man.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Hydramada

Do you really have to be such an arse all the time? I don't know about the rest of the users of this board but I sure wish there was an IGNORE button for your posts. You are just trying to get a rise out of people and are an internet bully. You call it part of your "schtick" but I call it juvenile. Grow up man.

His thread on the scratch build has slowed down so it's hard to tell how far along he is. What was wrong with that question?

[dont]

Originally Posted by patrickt

His thread on the scratch build has slowed down so it's hard to tell how far along he is. What was wrong with that question?

It has nothing to do with the subject of the OP. Just you being a MASTERPOSTERBATER.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dont

It has nothing to do with the subject of the OP.

Don, he's building a scratch Cobra, and in this thread he writes that he has his own scales, refuses to check his corner weights, but asserts he will have a 50/50 weight distribution. And I can't ask where he is in the build? C'mon, it's not like I asked him how he knows he won't have to set the corner weights if he hasn't even finished the car yet....

[dont]

Ok, my bad. I thought the subject line was "Adjusting rear coil overs for proper height". The OP was wrong in his title it should have been about proper corner weighting.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dont

Ok, my bad.

Don, you're a smart guy, do you really think Pete is going to build that car from scratch and not check his corner weights with the scales he has there in is shop?

[dont]

Why don't you start a new thread on "Adjusting corner balance after adding padding to duel roll bars"

[akfish]

well since we're on the subject are these any good?

Intercomp Racing 170125 - Intercomp Racing SW500 E-Z Weigh Cabled Scale Systems - Overview - SummitRacing.com

[Pman1961]

Why don't you start a new thread on "Adjusting corner balance after adding padding to duel roll bars"

dont...you cracked me up!!

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Hydramada

Do you really have to be such an arse all the time? I don't know about the rest of the users of this board but I sure wish there was an IGNORE button for your posts. You are just trying to get a rise out of people and are an internet bully. You call it part of your "schtick" but I call it juvenile. Grow up man.

Actually truth be told, he's not much of an "internet bully". Post whore is a better description.

However I do have to give him credit. At times he really will come up with something good. Only problem is you have to wade through about useless 500 posts to find it.

[DougD]

At the risk of adding further gasoline to this fire, I think it's not a bad idea at all to corner weight a home built car. Several posters have compared or questioned whether a Porsche or a Mustang or whatever was corner weighted by the manufacturer. Well, I'd have to say that they may not weigh each car, but you can be sure that they design it to handle safely, and that they move components around in their design process to optimize the weight balance. It's a moot point anyway, since most don't have adjustable suspension to allow for weight jacking. But remember that we're talking about home built Cobras here. We've all seen really nice ones, and abortions, too. I certainly think that checking and adjusting the corner weights on a vehicle that was built by some guy in his home garage, and potentially has some errors in the assembly or selection/installation of components, would be a good idea. Some of these guys drive their cars daily, and in all kinds of weather. Do you think that having an ill-handling car would increase the risk of an accident when making a panic maneouver on a rain-soaked highway or, heaven forbid, a snow covered road?

[Jerry Clayton]

I think we ought to start a new thread about how and why to adjust alignment, brake balance, ride heights, and corner weights for the people that are truly interested in high performance cars and see if the moderators have a way for the Patrick haters to be blocked from seeing the posts.

[vector1]

for drag racing i would think if the rear tires are pointed in the right direction and weight equally distributed on the rear tires.... would compromise braking as the weight transfer to the front would favor one tire over the other and turning wouldn't be optimal, but if drag racing is your venue.....

the thrust line could also be adjusted to be to the right, anywhere up to 6 degrees which is not much, but would help with torque steer, never to the left unless you like carving left hand turns.

if you still decide to optimize the corner or diagonal percentage it probably wouldn't make much difference, depending on the type rear limited slip setup.

jerry has done some drag racing i believe so he should be able to help and scottj has some good advice.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

... corner weights for the people that are truly interested in high performance cars and see if the moderators have a way for the Patrick haters to be blocked from seeing the posts.

I do think that some are letting their dislike for me cloud their better judgment. And some have just boxed themselves in to a stupid position and have dug their heels in to defend it regardless of how ridiculous it may sound. Anyway, a buddy sent me a link to his favorite local shop, Albany Speed Shop, and sure 'nuf they check it all out for you for $75. I can't even fill my Cobra's tank up for that. It was nice of him to send it on, so I thought I'd post it.

Chassis Scaling Service – Yup - we do that!

[D-CEL]

Jerry,
It’s troubling that you don’t understand “Lower level of involvement” I would think such a basic and descriptive group of words was easily comprehendible. Be that as it may, here is what I meant: A Cobra owner that doesn’t want to: race, do open track events, has no interest in set up or ultimate performance. He has few tools and does not change his own oil.
He loves looking at and talking about his cool, loud car. I have many friends that fall into this category. They are not “posers” (as you say) they are car guys, just like you and me, but at a “LOWER LEVEL OF INVOLMENT”. I am not “better” than them because I enjoy those things. And I certainly don’t talk $hit about them for it.
“Patrick hater” not at all. However, his propensity to continually make snide comments and attack the members of this group makes him a target. His “shtick” draws fire, if he doesn’t like it, he should STFU. The problem is he cant and he proves it everyday.
You suggest that a group (The B-slap Patrick club) should be blocked because he is a _ick? I disagree. The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the village idiot. I would say: play nice or get out of the sand-box. But I digress…

Patrick,
First you said it was free:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Your car will do everything better if you set it up this way and it costs nothing to do it.

Then you said:

Originally Posted by patrickt

the cost for a suspension shop to set your weights runs from $75 to $200. I bet most of them would just check them and give you the print out for $50 or less.

Your last post basically says:
For $225.00 MINIMUM my local speed shop will set the ride height and c/weights….in preparation for alignment, camber, caster, toe to your specs at extra cost… So figure another $75-150.00 for rest of it.
So what do you gain from having the C/W checked? Knowledge? To do what? Adjust the car? To where? To what end? For the casual driver, what is the optimum “street cruising set-up” oh sage of ultimate performance? Is it 50/50 or is it 48/52? And what is the net effect of the change. You assume your own set-up is correct, but you haven’t provided any lap times, skip pad data, tire temps, nothing that shows you are even remotely qualified to speak on the subject. Having someone do it for you, does not make you an expert.
Should the OP spend $75 to “know” what the numbers are while he sips his latte on Sunday morning? Why? To him the car is perfect, it accelerates, stops and tracks just like it’s supposed too. Then you go on to say he should spend $300-400 and have the car “set up”..too what specs?.. Oh I get it…So he can preach his percentages to the masses on the internet? “My car has been corner weighted and that makes me better than you…” Hmmm that sounds more like a poser to me. LOL

Jason