View Full Version : 33 weight distribution & traction ?
AGL302
05-08-2022, 06:40 PM
Maybe this has been answered already but watching the driving videos and knowing how high the gas tank is on the frame makes me wonder if the car would have better stability if the tank could be mounted lower. I’m not sure how that might be done but just asking if anyone else has thought about this.
Ltngdrvr
05-08-2022, 07:06 PM
Well, about the only other location for you to mount the tank to lower the center of gravity would be behind the axle, below the trunk area.
But then you'd have to work out some sort of cover as it would hang below the body line, maybe some sort of roll pan or skirt.
I don't think it would be enough improvement to make it worth the investment.
AGL302
05-09-2022, 03:17 PM
Thanks for the thought!
progmgr1
05-09-2022, 06:22 PM
I have the IRS in my Gen 1 '33 and found space in front of the axles and under the trunk floor. Boyd Welding in FL fabricated twin aluminum tanks to my design. The tanks are covered in blue painters' tape in the attached photos. I don't know enough about the details of the chassis design to know if my solution will work in Hot Rods with other rear end types. If you want to look at this in more detail, I will give you a copy of the tank drawings. Just send me a PM with your email address.
The guy you should talk to about CG and traction is NAZ. He's been drag racing a '33 for several years now and seems to be extremely knowledgeable in this area. However, he is very busy dealing with the aftermath of the recent AZ wildfires and probably isn't spending much time on the forums these days.
Keith HR #894
166527 166526
Brastic
05-09-2022, 06:41 PM
I have the IRS in my Gen 1 '33 and found space in front of the axles and under the trunk floor. Boyd Welding in FL fabricated twin aluminum tanks to my design. The tanks are covered in blue painters' tape in the attached photos. I don't know enough about the details of the chassis design to know if my solution will work in Hot Rods with other rear end types. If you want to look at this in more detail, I will give you a copy of the tank drawings. Just send me a PM with your email address.
The guy you should talk to about CG and traction is NAZ. He's been drag racing a '33 for several years now and seems to be extremely knowledgeable in this area. However, he is very busy dealing with the aftermath of the recent AZ wildfires and probably isn't spending much time on the forums these days.
Keith HR #894
166527 166526
If I were to build a Hot Rod right now, I would get these IRS side saddle gas tanks and the Boyd main tank. On my long drive weekends, I would really like an extra couple of gallons of gas.
cob427sc
05-09-2022, 06:48 PM
The extra gas would be nice ( my 33 with the Buick nailhead only gets 10mpg) but I would need to rob a bank to fill at todays gas price.
Biscuit74
05-09-2022, 08:57 PM
Could you put your 33 on some scales and check the cross weight and adjust the coilovers to throw some weight on the back?
Tom Veale
05-10-2022, 01:11 PM
Could you put your 33 on some scales and check the cross weight and adjust the coilovers to throw some weight on the back?
Here's my sheets from back in 2012.
This is with me in the car:
166562
This is without the driver:
166563
My car's a pushrod 5.0 SBF with a 5 speed and solid rear axle.
These weights were done on a county scale for weighing salt trucks, so they aren't super accurate. They are within ~5lbs + or -, however.
The car has great balance, handles well on a road course and hooks up reasonably well for a light weight car. I've never had it to the drag strip, but that will change when I go on the Hot Rod Power Tour in June this year.
Best wishes,
Tom Veale
Ltngdrvr
05-10-2022, 03:16 PM
Looks like from those weights, a good move for handling would be to figure out how to move the battery to the extreme right to help offset the weight of the driver.
FF33rod
05-10-2022, 05:39 PM
Quite a few mount the battery in the trunk which is unfortunately higher but gives the flexibility of more to the side
Steve
HVACMAN
05-11-2022, 12:46 AM
Quite a few mount the battery in the trunk which is unfortunately higher but gives the flexibility of more to the side
Steve
You can only move the battery a limited distance to the passenger side due to the trunk hinge.
My gas tanks post411 in toms33
Ltngdrvr
05-12-2022, 12:10 PM
You can only move the battery a limited distance to the passenger side due to the trunk hinge.
You'd have to move it off that shelf behind the tank and mount it somewhere else in the right side of the trunk area.