Less lbs over the nose = better handling ?

[67ragtp]

Did'nt know where to put this question, perhaps the handling gurus can tell me if a first gen camaro will handle/ turn better with less weight over the nose. Is there a significant difference running an alluminum engine block versus an Iron block? Both small blocks either would have allum heads.

Thanks Rich

[jp455]

Yeah, any car that has less weight will handle better. Think of it as trying to swing a heavy bat versus swinging a light bat. It is much harder to swing the heavy one quickly...

The only thing that weight won't affect is top speed. Naturally it will take longer to accelerate but eventually the top end will be the same.


manuel scettri

[MoeBawlz]

The car will be more agile... It will be able to change direction faster. Its just about momentum, along with that bat swinging analogy, try swinging a heavy bat back and forth, and try swinging a light bat back and forth... you notice you can change direction MUCH faster in the lighter bat.

along with that, tires will hold up longer and there will be less weight transfer as there is less weight to transfer.

[jeffandre]

I drove my 71 Camaro once without the front end on it (radiator support was the only part on the front) and it was awesome! After logging thousands of miles with performance suspension components and then a few hundred with 275/40/17's on all 4 corners I drove it across town without a front end and it handled excellent, steering response was better, and the overall feeling was excellent. This is why I believe I will go with glass front end parts and an aluminum motor, I want that great handling feeling all of the time!!!

[ProdigyCustoms]

I cannot think of any single move that helps all around performance more then weight loss off the front of the car. Weather it be drag racing or for handleing (to a point), loosing a couple hundred pounds off the nose, getting the percetages more even, is worth it's weight in gold.

[gwbutch]

For an example, get a grocery cart and push it around, then have a kid stand on the front of that grocery cart and push it around, again. There is a big difference in the way that cart handles!

[67ragtp]

Thanks guys, The reason I ask is Im shopping for a power plant for the camaro and I was thumbing through my new issue of super chevy. And along comes this Bill Mitchell all alluminum 427 cu in. small block making a little over 500 hp / 500 ftlbs . I figured the all alluminum engine fits the protouring theme nicely and the price falls in to my budget(11k). Hopefully its reliable and was considering the weight savings as a bonus. Bill Michell offers a lot for the money since its a turn key motor with ignition and carb.

I got to thinking the weight savings in the engine is probably a 100+ lbs, add a fiber glass hood and an enduro bumper and we could be talking about 250 lbs. That sounds pretty significant to me.

Rich

[Mean 69]

That might be a little generous one the weight savings of the hood and bumper, but you are clearly on the correct path. I can move a steel hood by myself from area to area without dropping a testicle, so I doubt it is anything near 200 lbs (maybe more like 70?).

Mark

[yody]

i have a question pertaining to this(sorry to steal your post) on my 71 firebird i have a huge endura front bumper, that probably weighs close to a 100 ilbs. I can get a fiberglass front nose that looks real nice that i believe weighs around 10-20 pounds. This would be a huge weight savings especially so far foward. The only thing is that this is a street car, and i would be nervous to people bumping the bumper in parking lots, also if i got in an accident i think the front end would be totalled? Is it worth it?