[enkeivette]

Originally Posted by 94cobra69ss396

Not sure. What engine and what trans? What are the goals for the truck?

Your truck your engine, goal is to fly high. Haha.

[94cobra69ss396]

Alright, 95 Explorer with OHV 4.0 and 4R55E. The first thing I would do is build the cage and the front and rear suspension. Now for me that means leaf springs in the back because I still want to be able to have a back seat for my girls. Then I'd build the rear bumper with a tire mount and a gas can. Then I'd weigh the truck to see what it weighed at each corner with the engine and trans in the stock position. Once I had that I would pull the engine and trans so I could figure how far back I needed to move it to get 50/50 - 45/55 weight distribution. Now I'm just guessing that somewhere around that would be ideal, I have no experience to go off of.

[94cobra69ss396]

I posted up a new thread on DR an hour ago to see what they have to say about weight distribution. So far 9 people have viewed it but no responses. Hopefully some of the racers will reply.

[94cobra69ss396]

Alright, one reply but he just talked around my questions and didn't answer them.

[enkeivette]

Oh you have the V6? I sort of assumed it was the 8. I would want the 5L, so I could build a 347 when cash allowed.

I would think you would want the motor as far back as possible, like a sand rail. I think it would even be cool to mount it behind the rear axle, like where the spare tire cage is on trucks, and use a Mendeola transaxle just like in a sand rail. But that would be a serious cash sucking project.

Keep that front end as light as possible. Land with the nose up, that's better than nose down.

[enkeivette]

There was a Ranger on DR a few years ago that ran a V8 and set it back so that most of it was in the cab. I really want to find that post so I can see pics of how he did his front frame.

[94cobra69ss396]

So the first guy that told you change the springs was the first to answer. He said 75/25 front/rear but is the one who just talked around my questions. Then second person to answer is a guy that invited me out to the races to ride in his truck that I helped him figure out what was wrong with it the day before the race. I know he knows what he's talking about.

He said that you want to be around 50/50 to 49/51. He said that his truck is currently 51/49 and that two of his buddy's trucks are 50/50. He going to be installing a larger, heavier fuel cell and when he does he is shooting for 49/51. His truck is a Ranger with a 302 and I believe a C4 and he mounted the engine in the stock position.

So it looks like what I said before is correct. So once you have the truck set up the way you want weigh it and then set the engine where it will be 50/50 to 49/51.

[enkeivette]

A truck with a V8 in the stock location is almost 50/50?

[enkeivette]

75/25, that's retarded.

[94cobra69ss396]

Originally Posted by enkeivette

A truck with a V8 in the stock location is almost 50/50?

He has as much mounted behind the rear axle as possible. Here's his truck. Also, it's 51/49 right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCOsmJEkX-Q