Came across this little bit of wisdom(?!)

DMSentra · 29 Mar 2007, 03:47 (Ref:1878876)

Height of the Center of Gravity:
There is a procedure that allows you to measure the height but this includes raising the car 2-3 feet off the ground while on scales and replacing the shocks with solid bars, etc.
BUT for most doorslammers in order to find the Height of the Center of Gravity (CG) just measure the distance from the ground to the centerline of the camshaft.

I've been working too hard at it I guess.

Goran Malmberg · 29 Mar 2007, 05:10 (Ref:1878893)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMSentra

BUT for most doorslammers in order to find the Height of the Center of Gravity (CG) just measure the distance from the ground to the centerline of the camshaft.

This is an old dragracing method of doing things. They also only use it against the wheelbase (antisquat) which is longer than the Tw.
Most of those cars are built the same way, which get most aproximation in the ballpark.
For our type of racing, the "troubble method" is the one to use.
Regards
Goran Malmberg

trikesrule · 29 Mar 2007, 10:01 (Ref:1879044)

In Circle Track the 'old way' was to sit the driver in the car and find his or hers third rib. It's funny but when u work it out mathematicly using the correct calcs it always turned out to be where the third rib is give or take a little...........trikes

**Tim Falce** · 29 Mar 2007, 12:30 (Ref:1879145)

It's nice to see that the good old rule of "as near as damn it" can work as well as engineering excellence.

Goran Malmberg · 29 Mar 2007, 16:30 (Ref:1879294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcemob

It's nice to see that the good old rule of "as near as damn it" can work as well as engineering excellence.

Agreed, but we can probabley SEE when the car is out of the window for these type of "calculation".
Goran Malmberg

Notso Swift · 29 Mar 2007, 22:43 (Ref:1879539)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMSentra

[COLOR=#800080]
[I] BUT for most doorslammers in order to find the Height of the Center of Gravity (CG) just measure the distance from the ground to the centerline of the camshaft.

OHV or OHC

DMSentra · 30 Mar 2007, 00:55 (Ref:1879591)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

OHV or OHC

Or VW Type 1 and Subaru H4's?

Davhut · 30 Mar 2007, 01:16 (Ref:1879598)

What if the ribs are misplaced?

Goran Malmberg · 1 Apr 2007, 16:56 (Ref:1881180)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

OHV or OHC

USA and year 1970-1980 and dragracing statement...
Goran Malmberg

phoenix · 2 Apr 2007, 11:51 (Ref:1881893)

I read something similar, but it was the centre line of the CRANKSHAFT that was given as the approximate centre of gravity.

I think in a single seater, or a similarly low sports/gt car, this might not be unreasonable, as most of the masses of the engine are low, the crank, rods and flywheel being relatively 'massive' compared with the rest of the engine, particularly in an allow block. The gearbox masses, the axle or transaxle, including the differential, are also approximately centred around the crank centre line. A low sitting driver (i.e. on the floor of a formula or sports/gt car) will also have their mass approximately centred around the crank height I would imagine.

The camshaft height, on the other hand, seems somewhat arbitary and obviously varies between engines.

DMSentra · 2 Apr 2007, 13:31 (Ref:1881963)

Yes but that crankshaft is also pretty close to the bottom line of the body, with said driver extending above it almost entirely, along with every other vehicle component not centered on it. It would seem the camshaft in a OHV V engine would at least be closer. But grossly erred still for anyone trying to get their best results.

JohnD · 2 Apr 2007, 18:59 (Ref:1882176)

I checked the date of the first post here - it's bit early.
John

Notso Swift · 3 Apr 2007, 01:40 (Ref:1882394)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goran Malmberg

USA and year 1970-1980 and dragracing statement...
Goran Malmberg

actually, US, drag race and 1955 (I think that is when the Chev V8 came out) to.. now!

johnny yuma · 3 Apr 2007, 04:55 (Ref:1882422)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikesrule

In Circle Track the 'old way' was to sit the driver in the car and find his or hers third rib. It's funny but when u work it out mathematicly using the correct calcs it always turned out to be where the third rib is give or take a little...........trikes

trikes you old jester you're talking about doing somersaults [in Speedway that is important I guess !!]

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