×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

(OP)
According to a "Chrysler engineer" US cars of the 30s had rear weight bias of ~ 60%.  With a beam front axle pusing the engine and passengers back I can sort of believe it.

http://www.chryslerheritage.com/sec500_pdf/1934%20Airflow.pdf

Does anybody know for sure?

Dan T

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

Dan, I weighed the rear of my 1930 Ford Std. Coupe at ~1600 lbs. when I was building it in '89.  I did not weigh the entire car but, if the 'book' is correct at an overall wt. of something like 2700 lbs. that looks awfully close to 60%.
I did not weigh the 37 Buick Roadmaster, but just looking at it, I can certainly believe at least 60%.  The front of the straight eight engine is aft of the front wheel centerline and the rear passenger seat is directly above the rear axle.

Rod

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

(OP)
"rear passenger seat is directly above the rear axle"

I think in the interview the "Chrysler engineer" said that too.

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

both of the statements are correct for my dads stock 33 dodge

Luck is a difficult thing to verify and therefore should be tested often. - Me

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

(OP)
RWD, 60% rear weight bias, must handle at least as good as a late model Corvair and probably more like an Acura NSX then, huh?

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

No Tmoose. More like a late model school bus.  
I drove my 37 Roadmaster (Ex Al Jolson) up the coast route to San Francisco a few years back (I've since sold the car) and I can attest to the superior handling characteristics of a school bus v Buick!!! By the time I got to Monterey my shoulders and arms were so sore I had to stop!!! That thing had something like a 180" wheelbase and steering was like 6 turns lock to lock.--- Came back south on the I-5.  She cruised at 70 and 12mpg, no problem other than stopping for fuel every 200 miles. sad

Rod

RE: US auto F/R weight distribution in the 30s

Not only are the seats typically just about over the rear axle, but the radiator cowl is right over the front axle centre line, with the engine set well back behind.

Those early cars may have been primitive in many ways, but they had pretty good weight distribution.  

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources