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Old 12-20-2006
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John Greist John Greist is offline
Testing Mid-Corner Speed / Advanced Member (500+ Posts)
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Age: 84
Posts: 608
Re: Do we need to trash our existing track notes? [New Mazda Motor]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosso
As an engineering geek, I would think we would be most interested in the difference in weight and its distribution between the old and new motors. The lusty twin-cam motor might be top heavy relative to the old Dodge? More weight will change the polar roll rates. Same weight overall but located higher up will raise the center-of-mass and change the pitch axis and the roll rates. I would expect the powers that be will tune the RPM characteristics of the chosen motor to mate most harmoniously with the gear ratios in the existing gearboxes.
The Dodge engines did what you're describing - heavier and higher center of gravity - when they replaced the Fords. Changes to springs/shocks, brakes and other things I don't remember made for great handling school cars and somewhat lumbering RTs.

We'll have fun racing the new car whatever its engine and configuration.
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