Vehicle weights and Distribution

[RykrosGT]

Here's what I deduced from all the weight, and weight distribution threads...

an S14 weighs about 2750 in the SE model with Sunroof and Power Doors and Windows, the S13's weigh in about 2,600 or a little bit over depending on options.

an S14's weight distribution is about 56/44, with KA24

S13 hatchback has better weight disty like 52/48 something like that, and the KA24 engine is the only reason why it's not just about 50/50...  but again, more chassis flex...  the only difference is the coupe is about 50lbs lighter.

The "X-Type" was the hatchback. With the right body panels it doesn't look bad at all.. but the coupe looks better to me.

The hatchback was also the only S13 240 equipped with HICAS

So I guess if you can tighten up a hatchback a little bit, and you like it, that's the overall best weight distribution at the expense of a couple more lbs.

I'd rather be a bit heavier in the nose anyhow... better turn-in for the twisties, and less overall oversteer and slightly easier to rotate the back end at the expense of the front end being perhaps a little bit less nible.  -but hey, the weights aren't all that different... and a 4% difference in weight distribution between the S13 and S14  isn't going to make that big


Just looking for verification. I'm again, inbetween an S13 and S14.
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/dozingoff.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzz:'>

Am I a bit on the nose, or is my thinking slightly flawed?

I edit too much...

[RykrosGT]

bump &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':blush:'>

[Tyler Durdan]

From my understanding...the s13's were 52/48, but I thought the s14's were 50/50....I could be wrong, but this is what I was told.

As for the heavier nose, it's not necessary good to have extra weight on your front end...it will allow your rear to slide out easier. &nbsp;In my times at autocrossing, I find I'm faster with a fuel tank of gas than I was on empty. &nbsp;This is my personal peference though....keep in mind I take all my seats out, along with the spare tire in the trunk to lighten the car up overall. &nbsp;Good Racing Tips (http://www.turnfast.com)<-----check this out for any other thoughts.

[tys240]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tyler Durdan @ Dec. 03 2002,7:14)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">From my understanding...the s13's were 52/48, but I thought the s14's were 50/50....I could be wrong, but this is what I was told.

As for the heavier nose, it's not necessary good to have extra weight on your front end...it will allow your rear to slide out easier. In my times at autocrossing, I find I'm faster with a fuel tank of gas than I was on empty. This is my personal peference though....keep in mind I take all my seats out, along with the spare tire in the trunk to lighten the car up overall. Good Racing Tips (http://www.turnfast.com)<-----check this out for any other thoughts.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Actually, from the documentation I have, the RPS13 (hatch) was 50/50 thanks to the extra glass in the rear. The S13 coupe was slighly different in w/d. The S14 is 54/46 weight distribution.

An S14 weight about 2750 without a full tank of gas. At about 6/7lbs per gallon an almost 15 gallon tank brings an S14 up to a porty 2900 (depending on driver weight).

I don't know the exact numbers for the S13, but it is about 300-400 lighter than the S14.

The KA doesn't affect w/d much, especially when you consider that 1% of the car's actual weight is almost 30lbs. Just for the hell of it, let's say the KA and SR weigh about the same. Using your number of 2750, &nbsp;for the S14 we have 54/46 weight distribution which, in lbs, is 1485/1265. Let's once again assume that the driver is in the car. So the back half of the car weighs 220lbs less than the front of the car. that's an 8% difference.

You could probably make up the difference, at the expense of additional weight, by putting 17 x 8s up front and 18 x 10s in the rear, a rollcage and throw in a huge sub woofer. But that's just silly.

Regardless if you do anything about the disparity in weight, it's probably not going to make much of a difference. Now if it were 70/30 we might have problems....

-ty

[HippoSleek]

Way too much differing information on weight distribution here. &nbsp;Here's my back up:

C&D Article thanks to 240sx.org for s14 (http://www.240sx.org/links/magazine/car&driver/c&d0594/c&d05946.jpg)
C&D Article thanks to 240sx.org for s13 (http://www.240sx.org/links/magazine/car&driver/c&d0289/c&d02896.jpg)

Unfortunately, there is no link to the dohc s13, so we will have to add some unspecified amount to the nose of the s13 (or not, just for the sake of having facts from a common source).

According to C&D, the s13 is 2795# w/ a 52.8/47.2 distibution the s14 is 2860# w/ a 55.2/44.8 distribution.

The body rigidity is a MUCH bigger issue, imho. &nbsp;If I had a fastback, I'd want at least two chassis braces b/c it does get sloppy back there. &nbsp;The second thing is that I would ALWAYS trade away 1% of weight dist. for 50# of weight reduction. &nbsp;

So, I guess my pecking order is:
1) chasis rigidity
2) weight
3) weight distrubution
Under these factors alone, I would pick the s13 coupe just barely over the s14, then s13 fastback. &nbsp;Of course, I think there are other factors that are equally or more important...

[AKADriver]

Stuff is definitely flexing around quite a bit back there in the fastback. &nbsp;Not so much on the street, but on the track there are tons of squeaks coming from the rear of the car.. and yes, I've checked to make sure my unibody's not cracked. &nbsp;I think I'd rather have a rear strut brace than a front one, even. &nbsp;There goes the cargo capacity <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sarcasm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sarcasm:'>