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 Post subject: Weighed the Valiant...
PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:37 am 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Drove the Valiant to the scales today....as a comparison, I've also listed my 68 Barracuda which is the 'same' car except different engine/trans, etc.

It's interesting that both cars have approximately the same weight distribution (54/46).

It's not as easy to explain why the cuda is heavier on the back axle. Both cars have 8-3/4" rear ends and 10" brakes. The cuda has lighter wheels by a little.

As for the front axle, the cuda has an aluminum headed 499" big block and 727 trans as compared to the iron 225 / 904. The cuda also has a much bigger radiator, heavier carb, etc. But it has manual steering and the Valiant has power steering.

One thing is for sure - the Valiant has a Miracle Suspension. I call it that because on the highway, at 75MPH, it drives straight and very smoothly. If you turn the wheel to the Left a little, it goes to the left a little. Same for the Right. If you push the brake pedal, the car slows down. That is the Miracle - anyone who has read any magazine or watched any TV show in the past 15 years knows that these cars came with near-death suspension and brakes and the only solution is to have the boys at Gas Monkey weld a new frame under the car.


Attachments:
Weight Valiant lr.jpg
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cuda lr.jpg
cuda lr.jpg [ 221.16 KiB | Viewed 7506 times ]
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:10 pm 
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Supercharged

Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 11:50 pm
Posts: 6291
Location: So California
Car Model: 64 Plymouth Valiant
How much does it cost to weigh your car anyway?

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64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:41 pm 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
$11 at that place, anyway. If you go to Bartlett, you can use the scales there for free after hours if you peek in the window and catch the reflection off the glass.


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:23 pm 
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Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2002 11:08 am
Posts: 16453
Location: Blacksburg, VA
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Thanks for the data. About what I would expect. Not sure if you are joking about the suspension. The brakes were definitely scary, but every A-body I've had really steered and drove nicely, assuming front/rear end parts were in good shape. I have never liked the power steering, though, and those handle/steer noticeably worse than manual. My favorite is the 20:1 manual box.

Cheers,
Lou

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PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:53 pm 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Yes, I'm kidding...the car drives wonderfully....even with the big meats in back and 50 year old front end.


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:09 am 
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Location: Blacksburg, VA
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OK, thought so but was not sure. Deadpan... People cannot believe how well my cars handle on a roadcourse or autoX.
Cheers,
Lou

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:42 am 
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Supercharged
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Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:03 pm
Posts: 8977
Location: IRWIN PA
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More glass Makes the back of the ' Cuda Heavier.

Also More 'Schtuff for the fold down rear seat.. That's all heavier.

Greg

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:55 am 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Good point...but this is a notchback.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:16 am 
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Supercharged
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Are those the 111" wb Vs th 108" for your valiant?

Greg

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:37 am 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
No. Dodge used the 111" WB and Plymouth used the 108" WB. At least in 1968.

I really can't think of a good reason the cuda weighs more in back. As much as I hate to say it, even though it is the same scale, maybe the scale is off between the two measurements. I'm always distrustful of scales...


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 4:54 am 
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You will have some weight from the bigger engine and trans that sits on the rear tires. All of that weight is not far forward of the center of mass. Not sure if that will be enough to explain it, but some of it will.

Lou

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PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 7:14 am 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
Yeah, I kinda figured that too...but if the bigger engine/trans weighed 300 lbs more, I don't see how over 100 lbs of that could end up over the back axle. The cuda does have the factory AC box under the dash so that definitely adds a little weight to the car, too. Then, the exhaust is heavier and for sure some of that is over the rear end.


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:46 am 
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Yep, 50-70 from the engine+trans, 10-15 from the AC and the rest from exhaust.

Lou

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PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:10 pm 
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Turbo Slant 6

Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 4:29 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Houston
Car Model: 68 Valiant
I think that AC box adds a couple hundred pounds lol


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:36 pm 
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Turbo EFI
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Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:55 am
Posts: 1387
Location: Brightwood, VA
Car Model: 1965 Plymouth Belvedere I
GregCon wrote:
The cuda does have the factory AC box under the dash so that definitely adds a little weight to the car, too.


Believe it or not, as far as heater boxes go, A/C adds 5-10 pounds at the most. A/C cores are aluminum, and not usually very big. I took all of the A/C stuff from a 73 Road Runner I had (back in the day) and was disappointed that the heater box lost 4 pounds. Of course, the compressor weighs a ton.
I agree that since most of the engine/trans is between the axles, the weight would be felt on both axles.

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