Fwd chassis versus RWD Et

Dick Butler · 12-29-2014, 01:53 PM

When it comes to advantages or disadvantages, how much does it appear using a FWD conversion is better than older RWD chassis. I have heard some report as much as .15 improvement when they place drive train in FWD from their older RWD cars.... Any input?

Ed Wright · 12-29-2014, 04:42 PM

Kinda depends. As for GM cars, if you don't need to be under 2900/3000 lbs it would be hard to beat a '93/'02 Camaro/Firebird at that weight. 101" wheel base, with the engine set back. Half the engine is under the windshield & dash. Pete Peery told me that my driveshaft is like 8" shorter than his little GT car. You can run smaller tires with more air. When it gets hot, and my friends with the "jellybean" fwd GT cars start spinning & talking about the track going away, my car can't tell the difference. Likely not as easy a car to work on, however.
The reason you see so many running GT classes with carbs, ain't because they came from the factory with fuel injection. :-)

Jeff Niceswanger · 12-29-2014, 05:47 PM

This is another one of those questions that depends on who you ask. Jimmy Boburka had a VERY nice, well beat to death F-Body Camaro. He built a really nice Cobalt and did exactly as you mentioned . Everything he could use he did. Motor, Trans, 3rd member, ...everything. Of course the headers had to be changed. He then headed to a track that he new like the back of his hand. He told us it was 7 to 8 faster.

But ,I've had one good friend swear that it is not nearly that much.. And they also have had both platforms.

Sean Cour · 12-29-2014, 05:54 PM

Five to seven

Ed Wright · 12-29-2014, 06:11 PM

Hard to think where it would come from, if we are talking about a 4th gen. Especially when the track goes away.

Jeff Niceswanger · 12-29-2014, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Cour

Five to seven

You should know !

Ed Wright · 12-29-2014, 06:37 PM

Gotta wonder where it is. A 3rd gen, I could understand.

12-29-2014, 01:53 PM	#1
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Fwd chassis versus RWD Et When it comes to advantages or disadvantages, how much does it appear using a FWD conversion is better than older RWD chassis. I have heard some report as much as .15 improvement when they place drive train in FWD from their older RWD cars.... Any input?

12-29-2014, 04:42 PM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Fwd chassis versus RWD Et Kinda depends. As for GM cars, if you don't need to be under 2900/3000 lbs it would be hard to beat a '93/'02 Camaro/Firebird at that weight. 101" wheel base, with the engine set back. Half the engine is under the windshield & dash. Pete Peery told me that my driveshaft is like 8" shorter than his little GT car. You can run smaller tires with more air. When it gets hot, and my friends with the "jellybean" fwd GT cars start spinning & talking about the track going away, my car can't tell the difference. Likely not as easy a car to work on, however. The reason you see so many running GT classes with carbs, ain't because they came from the factory with fuel injection. :-) __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-29-2014, 05:47 PM	#3
Jeff Niceswanger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 893 Likes: 681 Liked 1,028 Times in 368 Posts	Re: Fwd chassis versus RWD Et This is another one of those questions that depends on who you ask. Jimmy Boburka had a VERY nice, well beat to death F-Body Camaro. He built a really nice Cobalt and did exactly as you mentioned . Everything he could use he did. Motor, Trans, 3rd member, ...everything. Of course the headers had to be changed. He then headed to a track that he new like the back of his hand. He told us it was 7 to 8 faster. But ,I've had one good friend swear that it is not nearly that much.. And they also have had both platforms. __________________ Jeff Niceswanger 3740 SS

12-29-2014, 05:54 PM	#4
Sean Cour Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 458 Likes: 170 Liked 124 Times in 39 Posts	Re: Fwd chassis versus RWD Et Five to seven __________________ Sean Cour T6066 ladle

12-29-2014, 06:11 PM	#5
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Fwd chassis versus RWD Et Hard to think where it would come from, if we are talking about a 4th gen. Especially when the track goes away. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-29-2014, 06:37 PM	#7
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Fwd chassis versus RWD Et Gotta wonder where it is. A 3rd gen, I could understand. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA