Weight distibution question (rotary) - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

EchoOfSilence · 10-25-2003, 11:19 PM

my friend and i were having a simple discussion about dropping a 13b or a 20b (a rotary nonetheless) in an s13 and its affects on weight distribution and handling characteristics due to the lighter front end caused by the motor's weight itself. I say that the front would be lighter, and thereby making it ass-heavy, making the front a little more off the ground and inducing understeer more. He says that the rotary would be affect it positively since it would be close to the firewall anyway. what do you guys think?

240Dave · 10-26-2003, 12:46 AM

Yeah, those engines are more compact, I think it would help weight distro if not from being smaller but also being lower. As far as weight, I dono...I thought they were actually quite heavy engines, just compact.

MazzyMan · 10-26-2003, 06:17 AM

13Bs are lighter than that of a 4cylinder piston run engine. I guess having a lighter front ain't going to make things bad cause at least you now know the car is going to be lighter! Less weight = more power!

Had a RX7 FC3C...its was real fun! Running an external wastegate makes driving at higher revs even more happening!

The ROMAN · 10-26-2003, 11:01 AM

I'm pretty sure that adding weight in the front is what causes understeer and makes turning harder on the front tires so a lighter engine would add oversteer.....I think.

MazzyMan · 10-27-2003, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The ROMAN
I'm pretty sure that adding weight in the front is what causes understeer and makes turning harder on the front tires so a lighter engine would add oversteer.....I think.

Yup i rekon you a right about that! Oversteer for our cars? Never an issue!

aznpoopy · 10-27-2003, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EchoOfSilence
I say that the front would be lighter, and thereby making it ass-heavy, making the front a little more off the ground and inducing understeer more.

how would a lighter front induce understeer? time to go back and read the basics of weight distribution... FF unders b/c front is too heavy. i.e. lots of inertia, doesn't want to change direction easily. so a heavier front causes understeer, not a light front. on the other hand a MR like the mr-s is oversteer happy b/c it has a heavier rear. same thing... inertia. except now the front is turning in and the back doesnt want to change where its going... dragging the butt out tangent to the arc of the turn.

i dunno specs of the rotaries. if they are lighter then yes, it would make our cars oversteer alot more. never herad of anyone doing this, but i have heard of a sr20det in a rx7.

10-25-2003, 11:19 PM	#1
EchoOfSilence Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles/Berkeley, CA Posts: 2,238 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Weight distibution question (rotary) my friend and i were having a simple discussion about dropping a 13b or a 20b (a rotary nonetheless) in an s13 and its affects on weight distribution and handling characteristics due to the lighter front end caused by the motor's weight itself. I say that the front would be lighter, and thereby making it ass-heavy, making the front a little more off the ground and inducing understeer more. He says that the rotary would be affect it positively since it would be close to the firewall anyway. what do you guys think? __________________ Petition Nissan to Make the IDx on http://IDxClub.co !

10-26-2003, 12:46 AM	#2
240Dave Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: . Posts: 241 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, those engines are more compact, I think it would help weight distro if not from being smaller but also being lower. As far as weight, I dono...I thought they were actually quite heavy engines, just compact.

10-26-2003, 06:17 AM	#3
MazzyMan Leaky Injector Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 56 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	13Bs are lighter than that of a 4cylinder piston run engine. I guess having a lighter front ain't going to make things bad cause at least you now know the car is going to be lighter! Less weight = more power! Had a RX7 FC3C...its was real fun! Running an external wastegate makes driving at higher revs even more happening!

10-26-2003, 11:01 AM	#4
The ROMAN Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NJ Age: 42 Posts: 730 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	I'm pretty sure that adding weight in the front is what causes understeer and makes turning harder on the front tires so a lighter engine would add oversteer.....I think.