Impact of engine location on handling?

[Smitty67]

I have a 67 Camaro that I'm building. I am curious if it would be worth the trouble to move the engine back a few inches for those occasional autocross events. I have the TCI front IFS, so it already shaves 120 pounds off the front. My engine is a 383 with AFR heads.

Looks like it would be an easy mod with the TCI setup and I have no problem cutting into the firewall.

Thoughts?

[6spdcamaro]

Moving the battery to the trunk has a larger effect than moving the engine back a few inches. Not worth the trouble in my opinion.

[ProdigyCustoms]

We did a article on this for Super Chevy a couple months ago.

http://www.superchevy.com/technical/additionaltech_perfdir/carbuilds/sucp_1009_1967_chevy_camaro_project/index.html

[Kenny]

If you have the time and means, and this is a startup project, go for it. It can only help. If it is a completed car..... Leave it be. When relocating weight the main goal would be to keep as much weight as possible between the wheelbase centerlines. Centered weight would be more the goal than 50/50 bias. Take a V-8 S-10 as an example. Adding a 400 lb rear bumper would get you to 50/50 but will swing you everywhere, and transient handling would be far worse than an unbalanced truck. Add that same 400 lbs in the bed between the axle and the cab and bed...... much better.

You will have to trust that this was a very hard learned lesson during an attempt at improved snow driving traction......Replacing the neighbors fence posts in the snow will make you ponder these things.... Hillbilly R&D at it's best!:D

Remember all those old adages:

"It's easier to turn a bowling ball than a dumbell" (Herb Adams)

"Balanced weight is good, but lightweight (to a point) is better" (Addco?)

I am more than certain you already know this stuff, but sometimes it is worth repeating ..........

[Smitty67]

Thanks Guys, I appreciate the input. Some guys on the ProTouring forum pointed out that these mods put you in a different class if you autocross so that kinda killed my enthusiasm for the mod.