Engine, weight specs??

[StiggF99]

I want to get an idea of how much your guys' car's weigh wet, and how much your drivetrain has a part in that. Also how much power etc. you are putting down at the wheels. Thanks for your help!

[Doug Sainlar]

While I don't have a 40 yet, I notice forum reports of gross weight figures for the car alone in the 2200-2400 pound range for a SBF equipped 40--depending, obviously, on the particulars of the build. As for power, well, that's an individual thing, but the best recommendation I got when I started posting on the forum was to aim for 350-400 honest flywheel horsepower and build from there as the need for speed increased with familiarity. According to what I'm told, that kind of power to weight ratio will create a vehicle that will outrun most anything one is likely to encounter on the street.

As for rear wheel horsepower, check the engine forum for a post on how to figure rwh from fwh--or do a search. The archives are full of 5 years of information.

More members can give their own perceptions, but I suspect you'll see much more variation in the power figures than you will in the weights.

Best of luck!

Doug

[Neal]

2380lb with full tanks. Iron block, alloy heads, Audi 016 transaxle. 402 rwhp on a Mustang chassis dyno. Engine dynoed at 462 at the flywheel.

Definite E-ticket ride. Need some sticky tires though...

[StiggF99]

Very cool neal exactly what im looking for. I looked at your build site and saw that in your drivetrain section, (well the picture to the link) was a dark blue/ gulf livery style, do you ahve any more pics of that car?

Btw i live in seattle too!!! Whereabouts are you?

[BruceLambo]

I have a Lamborghini replica but havent yet weighted it. BUT I did weight the engine and gearbox. A 350 chev, all cast iron weighs in at 550 pounds complete with flywheel, pressureplate.
My new all alloy 406 weighs 390 pounds.
I have a Renault UN1 gearbox and that weighs 76 pounds.
Hope that helps.

[Doug Sainlar]

In addition to the recommendations I related in my previous post in this thread, I guess I ought to mention that the advice I found the most helpful was to not worry too much about a high horsepower, mondo motor build at first--save the $$ and use it to install a good LSD in the transaxle and buy big brakes! In addition, as I recall some members have said one of the easiest ways to improve performance is to lighten the car somehow. To that end, I plan on using an alloy block, probably a Dart, and aluminum heads and intake--anything I can do to save weight.

I guess in the end it is the "combo" that makes the difference. It sounds like sticky tires need to be part of that combo if you are going to be able to put the power to the ground and drive it around a curve or two.

It's like Roseanne Roseanna-Dana said: "If it's not one thing, it's another!"

And, of course, each of us has his own idea of what that "other" thing is, don't we?

Best of luck, StiggF99--let us know how it all turns out!

Doug

[Neal]

Well put Doug.

Stigg, more images here...

http://www.racingicons.com/gt/1051.htm
I may have a few from Monterey few years ago.

PM me, I'm in Issaquah. You are welcome to come by...

[StiggF99]

Thanks neal, absolutely love th pics! MIght jsut take you up on that offer to come by too!

[J What?]

My MK4 weighs around 2450 but I could take at least 100 lbs out if I changed the F and R clips. Weight Bias is 35/65 and the engine/ trans combo weighs almost 800 lbs. 427 alloy head steel block. HP around 550.