Engine Set-back

61SSracer · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 147 Location: Holt, Michigan

A question on the engine set-back rule !

What does it matter how much engine set-back a car has if you have a rear weight percentage rule ? With a rule of No more than 50% rear weight, what does it matter if your engine is in stock location, or set back 3-4" ?

I understand if there WASN'T a rear weight rule, that a 3-4" set back engine car ~compared to a stock location engine car, that the set back car WOULD have an advantage, but with the rules we have it wouldn't make an difference ! !

Laughing

Just some food-for-thought Laughing

CHUCK

weasal30 · Joined: 24 Aug 2006 Posts: 63 Location: Eaton Rapids

Chuck you are always thinking, and you bring up a good point. plus some guys might not need as much lead in there cars if they could set there motor back to get the rear weight.
_________________
Scott C.
Crew chief Fox 47 Spartan Stock
2nd place points SMS 2010
ROTY pony class SMS 2010

Lack o Diesel · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 230 Location: Charlotte

Not to jump in where I shouldn't but......

The engine set back rule is not only in the matter of it being a "Street Stock"/"Sportsmen" but also there is a lot more to it than rear weight. The more weight you put to the middle of a car the better it is. The idea is to not have weight in the centerline of the tires or beyond them. The farther you move the engine back the better you center of gravity yada yada.

Just my opinion
Perry

61SSracer · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 147 Location: Holt, Michigan

Good point Perry ~ just thought i'd throw something out here to discuss, the site has been a little quiet/boring lately ! ! Would like to hear others opinion on the subject as well ! !

I Agree with your point about centering weight in the car to be faster--better handling ! There are alot of Sportsman cars that are adding 300-600 pounds of lead to their car to make weight, and it gets hard to get GOOD rear weight #'s without putting 200-300 lbs way to the back of the frame around the fuel cell area !

I have a heavy car to start with, and Still have to add about 300+ lbs of lead, and Most of it is in the rear 2 ft of the car to be even close on rear weight ! Try driving into a corner with 250 lbs of lead plus the fuel weight Swinging around the track BEHIND the rear end ! ! LOL ~ can make for a Fun ride ! !

At 3000 lbs ( fun night and other tracks weight rules) i can ONLY get about 42% rear weight with the car ~ at full weight (3200lbs) i'm LUCKY to get about 47% rear weight ~ with the engine set-back 1-2 more inches it would be ALOT easier to get my rear weight at 50%(ideal) ! !

NOT Bitching about the rules, just Food-for-thought ! ! Something to discuss with other drivers (all included) !! ! !

CHUCK

Frenchracing · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 88 Location: Eaton County,Mich

I may have started this.
My car that I ran last year was an old dirt car. it was built with engine set back. ( 3") i originally weighed 2800 lbs.
because of the 49.9% rear weight rule and the 3200 lb. weight rule I had to add 400 lbs of weight to get legal. It ended up all on my nose to compensate for my setback. Actually to meet both rules I ending up adding about 475 lbs. So I felt in that case the engine setback was more of a disadvantage than an advantage. My car this year cant run SMS because of engine set back. I run mostly stock parts in my sportsman. but because of my engine setback I cant run here anymore. I really had the best year ever last year. But now Ill return to dirt to be legal.

superfast14 · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 74

Wouldnt you just need to move the mounts forward and get a new driveshaft French?

That in all doesnt seem that bad to do, not to mention you could probably sell all your un-needed lead to pay for the new driveshaft..
_________________
-Kyle Callahan
#87 ShortTrackTrucks.com Challenge Series
www.kylecallahanracing.com

Frenchracing · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 88 Location: Eaton County,Mich

No actually I would have to move the mounts, longer driveshaft, new exhaust, longer shifter rods,longer accelerator linkage, I would have to notch the crossmember to clear my oil pan. Its too much. Its easier and cheaper to just go back to dirt.

Frenchracing · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 88 Location: Eaton County,Mich

not to mention I dont know where I would put the radiator.

oldgold · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 168

you could put the radiator in the trunk Smile

i too am looking at the dirt, palo, and maybe 96 half mile i had a blast last year at palo by making my way into the a main for a 2nd year with the 32 pure stock on radial tires. while the big boys were burning the tires off and sliding sideways i just drove it like asphalt starting 6th to win the B and 12th in the A with 4 laps to go running 6th when the carb picked up some dirt and flooded over and quit.
and with the mspa rules you can race at about 5-6 tracks.. oldgold

Frenchracing · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 88 Location: Eaton County,Mich

Yeh I really love sms but you gotta do what ya gotta do.
My car is a proven winner in the dirt. My car is featured in Lane Automotives catolog. I just have never been a very good dirt driver. I have had more success at SMS than on dirt, that Im sure is the main reason I love Sms so much, among other reasons. I really wished that I could have run SMS this year, but not to be.
I will be racing mostly at Butler. They are UMP sanctioned this year. So I will be like racing a volkswagon against a super late. but oh well. You have to race for the fun of it, win or lose. Maybe we'll run into you somewhere. good luck.