http://www.intercomp-racing.com/Products/SW500_E-Z_WEIGH_SCALE_900.cfm - Scales.

Not the kind that Reptile from Mortal Kombat would rock out, no. Picture what the semis have to stop at prior to bridges. Now, divide that in to four individual plates and give it a full computer.

The system is actually pretty cool. It can determine centre of gravity, weight bias front/rear, left/right, front-left/rear-right and front-right/rear-left. It's accurate to 0.1%. And, of course, it has the weight of the vehicle.

Can you imagine the possibilities? One could adjust around all dead weight (Battery, amps, heater coil, etc) to their own desire. Figure out if their last weight-stripping venture accomplished as much as they thought. See how much one body upsets the balance of the car.

Of course, there is a minute downside... It's $1050. But I mean, hey, divided up between five of us that's only a mortgage payment or two!

How about four bathroom scales bought at Value Village for 20 bucks tops?

 Or just go here, its the Mecha of the car geek crowd.  Scale sets as cheap as a couple hundred bucks.

http://www.racingjunk.com/search?searchString=scales - http://www.racingjunk.com/search?searchString=scales

Patrick wrote: How about four bathroom scales bought at Value Village for 20 bucks tops?

Those and a few measured jigs and you'd be set. 

http://www.rverscorner.com/tongueweight.html - http://www.rverscorner.com/tongueweight.html

AllanJ wrote: Patrick wrote: How about four bathroom scales bought at Value Village for 20 bucks tops? Those and a few measured jigs and you'd be set.  http://www.rverscorner.com/tongueweight.html - http://www.rverscorner.com/tongueweight.html

Cool!

Patrick wrote: How about four bathroom scales bought at Value Village for 20 bucks tops?

Will look in to David's link though, would be really nice to set up 20% on each front wheel and 30% on each rear wheel.

Romeo wrote: You do realize our cars can have northward of 1200 ibs on each axle? Not too many bathroom scales can take that. Hehe.

Yes, I realize that. Did you look at Allan's link?

'Aye, I did. But you'll also note that there IS going to be a worse accuracy rating that way. Now, compound inaccuracy for the left-front, then inaccuracy for the right front, on a fairly light section of the car. I think I'd just save up, and actually get the measuring devices. Hell, the first one on that racing junk was $600. Expensive? Yes. Useful for both autocross and off-roading? Definitely.

If you had the right suspension pieces (adjustable ride height at each corner), then you could corner balance your cars with the driver's weight in the seat.  This is not left/right equality.  This is making the crossweights come out fairly equal by adjusting the ride height on a particular corner so the weights would be like this:

Left front + Right rear = Right Front + Left Rear

Then you do your 4-wheel alignment.  This procedure will make your car respond equally left/right.

Just get lowering springs and put on KYB's...it's a Fiero, we don't have all the options to adjust, and it really makes a difference with R-Comps, that's where if you want a autox car you should put your money into...I'll still beat ya...lol

I lack the finances to constantly replenish ultra-soft slicks. Coil-overs are really cheap and easy to do. And while I will concede that the Koni's are a touch expensive, like the K&N for my truck, at least it's just a one-time expense.

And the Fiero can be adjusted quite a bit. I noticed with the Konis that they're grooved in both bolt holes, so if swinging the bottom out doesn't net you enough camber, you can tilt the top in as well. Caster is still an issue, but Colby managed a work-around for that too.

You still need driver skill...and my car is proof that the best investment is tires, you could run OEM suspension with R-comps compared to what you want to do and the R-Comps would win plain and simple 

Now having what you are doing just adds to a performance feel...but you still need skill...Joking with ya buddy...lol

Romeo wrote: I'm also not really concerned with winning. It's hard to take my odds seriously against 100% race spec BMWs and Honda S2000s in a streetable commuter car from the mid-eighties.

That's exactly how I feel, which is why I expressed myself http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2460&PN=1&TPN=1 - Here with these comments...

Patrick wrote: Unless a person really thinks they can win a particular "class" (and receives the million dollar bonus that goes with the distinction), what real difference does it make to a weekend warrior what class they're in? Speaking for myself, all I'm concerned with is going around the course as fast as I can, how ever I can. I couldn't care less what class I was in. I know, I have an attitude problem.

Yeah, I don't want to limit how much I enjoy my car 99% of the time just so it's "legal" for a particular class the 1% of the time it's on the track.

Romeo wrote: Bassman wrote: Tris...not comparing driving levels, just a point that drivers skill not matter the condition of the car is the main difference, ask Allan after his driving coach took his car for a spin...lol, let's say Allan was sweating a bit...lol Oh, I know. But still, moneys can't buy skill. But they can buy go fast stuff that lasts, so when the skill level goes up it affects an overall faster vehicle.

Kinda....maybe.....maybe not....

My driving coach is an ex-Porsche factory race car driver.  He knows his stuff.  Man, do I have a LONG way to go! 

Problem with buying go-fast goodies before you're ready for them is they can mask many bad driving habits and you won't learn properly.  So you really need to start off with a basic car and learn the basics - properly - and then as you master each level you upgrade the car a bit and continue the learning process.

If you took a guy with no experience and stuffed him in an F1 car, you'd have a mess.  Even after a bunch of coaching because it's hard to learn on a car that responds to instantly to driving inputs when those inputs haven't been tuned at all.

For anyone interested in learning about the art of driving, the best thing to do is to mod your car slowly.  If all you want is a peppy car that handles well, then that's a different story.  Open up your wallet and have fun.