How may people have relocated there battery to the front of car to improve handling? Is it worth the trouble? MEL

personally, I can't see where it would make much difference in changing position of 20 pounds.

Shawn S.
Charles City, Iowa
1962 Corvair Monza (Black with Red interior)
1963 Corvair Spyder (Red with Black interior)
Member of ICE (Iowa Corvair Enthusiasts)

beguiled Wrote:
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> personally, I can't see where it would make much
> difference in changing position of 20 pounds.
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But it does! You've got to do it to realize how much....

I thought it might Matt, the battery weighs 30-35 pounds !!! MEL

I'm definately no expert here but from what I have read I would think anything to take some weight off the back and move to the front would be a good thing. Relocate the battery, move the spare to the front, change an early generator to an alternator setup, switch to a mag fan. Thats about 30# for the battery, 15# for the alternator, #25 for the spare, #25 for the spare tire and 3# for the fan. Thats about 95 pounds off the rear...certainly can't hurt at all.

Keeping the battery mounted low (like on the trunk floor) will help also by slightly lowering the center of gravity....

_________________________________________
Ryan Counterman (Moderator)
1965 Corsa Kelmark V8 400 HP (Click for Pics)
1965 Monza Convert 4sp 110 HP (Click for Pics)
1965 Monza Sedan 110/PG
"There is no REPLACEMENT for DISPLACEMENT!"
West Michigan Corvair Club

Has anyone just put a bag of sand in the trunk for handling purposes?

Darren
66 Monza SS Convertible
140HP 4 Speed
Colorado Springs, CO
[www.flickr.com]

Yeah I put 2 80# sacks of concrete mix up there for a week. This was done based on a suggestion from an old timer by what "they" used to do to keep the front end from floating on the interstate.

It just made the car feel slower and the steering heavier. It did help hold it down some but a spoiler would be a far better way to go. Lighter steering while parking and some downforce when you need it at speed. Plus you leave room in the trunk so you can actually use it.

I just weighed my group 27 battery in the 66, it weighs 49lbs. I always carry the spare in the front and anything else that I can keep out of the back. Just adding weight however is counterproductive, Corvairs are too heavy now. Remember too that the early 911 used two batteries in the front and even have a weighted front bumper. That was before the wheelbase lengthening change in 69. The spare tire lived in the front of all 356/911/912 cars anyway.

Regards, Steve

wagon spares were always in the front.

Michael Slotwinski
President
First State Corvair Club

1961 Corvair Lakewood

Join the lakewood/Monza wagon group
[autos.groups.yahoo.com]

I moved my battery and spare tire to the front to test handling effects, WOW what a difference ! I am going to make move permanent. Next project will be to get rid of heavy generator, I wish somebody made a fiberglass EM rear deck,MEL

Here ya go Mel

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Darren
66 Monza SS Convertible
140HP 4 Speed
Colorado Springs, CO
[www.flickr.com]

Maybe I posted this here at some point, maybe not. Here is a quick list of weight distribution from moving weights around. Weights are arbitrary, but give a general idea. As you see there is not a big change.

[www.unm.edu]

----El Jefe

I did it, but I haven't driven the car yet, so I can't comment on the handling.

I mounted an Optima Red-top in the trunk of my '66 Sedan. I made a bracket and hold-downs from steel welded to the trunk floor, and then built a wooden box to hide it and provide mounts for the new electrical power distribution system.

I had a guy brought me his corvair an early for some work. His whole trunk was full of sand. He explained the car was too light in the front. I suggested he remove the sand and deflate the front tires to proper and try that for a while.I then pointed out the sticker with reccommended tire pressures. Which he had never read. Don't know if he ever did.
To help with weight distribution I use one of the new spare tires found in all new cars along with the jack moved to the trunk. You don't need a full size tire for a spare. as previously stated removing approximately a hundred lbs from the rear would be noticeable.
Rich

What is a mini spare with the 4 bolt pattern that fits the Corvair hub?
Crawford Rose

Beats me all I've had for years is late models. Spares all over the junk yards just for picking. Of course that doesn't help you early guys. Must be something out there.
Rich