Best way to add ballast to my car

Christian1LE · 11-10-2023, 01:11 PM

I've been running some sand bags currently to get the minimum weight I need but I bought a lead ballast to have a more permanent solution. I want to place it low behind the passenger seat, I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas of the best way to do this.

It is a 50 lb lead weight.

ICTsccaCamaro · 11-10-2023, 08:08 PM

What group are you running with that the fat Camaro isn't heavy enough?

DaveC113 · 11-10-2023, 08:25 PM

I'd guess you'd want it as close to in between the front and rear wheels and as low as possible. I'd see if there's any room under the car.

wakespeak · 11-10-2023, 09:48 PM

Agree on center of the car. But, get the car corner weighted with simulated driver weight and be done guessing.

Christian1LE · 11-10-2023, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICTsccaCamaro

What group are you running with that the fat Camaro isn't heavy enough?

I'm running NASA TT3, my car makes 415 to the wheels so I need to be at 3901 to compete(including driver fuel). I can also detune the car with a "flat tune", but I don't want to kill any chance of my warranty working. Most people in NASA will just get a flat tune where they are making ~390HP throughout most of the RPM range. Id rather leave my car stock though for now.

Our cars are honestly not horrible. I struggle to make 3901 and I'm about 220lbs with all my driving gear on. With low fuel and no driver my car is probably about 3580 and the only weight reduction I have is lighter wheels, which removes about 40 lbs over stock. But I also have a 4 point cage that adds another 15 lbs after accounting for a proper driving seat and removing the back seat. I basically took out 85lbs and added 100 lbs.

I was more asking for creative mounting solutions, not location. It's going to go on the floor behind the passenger seat.

N Camarolina · 11-11-2023, 08:42 AM

Well, for "mounting" ideas, let's start with the easiest potential solutions. Keep in mind I don't know the physical shape/size of this 50 lbs of lead.

1) Is the weight flat enough to be slid under the seat? If so, it won't likely be able to move around, so no need to physically mount it

2) How about placing it right behind the seat on the floor? With the seat adjusted to the back of the rails, there's barely any room between the seat and the chassis frame/floor for the back seat area. So the weight won't be able to move once you trap it in place with the seat back. No need to mount it.

arpad_m · 11-11-2023, 08:58 AM

Why not in the trunk, above the rear axle, to help maximize traction as a side effect?

Christian1LE · 11-11-2023, 10:13 AM

Trunk might be an option. It's a 50lb lead weight, not really something I can just place behind or under the passenger seat without securing it properly. I'm most likely going to have someone build a bracket that uses both mounting points of the passenger seat. Have a bar or steel sheet that goes across that I can bolt the 50 lbs to. The reason Id rather not do the trunk is because I want to keep it in the center rotating mass of the car as low as possible, so near the middle of the car and as far to the rear behind the passenger seat seems like the best location.

I was able to get away with about 40lbs of sand bags behind the passenger seat before, I could slide it back and pin the bags behind the seat. This 50lb lead weight is a lot more serious. I don't want to do the same wtih it in case of an accident.

I'm going to go talk to a welding shop to see what they can make for me

Does anyone here have any experience with tapping a screw in the floorboard or something similar. That was the other thing I was thinking about.

RamAir02 · 11-11-2023, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian1LE

Trunk might be an option. It's a 50lb lead weight, not really something I can just place behind or under the passenger seat without securing it properly. I'm most likely going to have someone build a bracket that uses both mounting points of the passenger seat. Have a bar or steel sheet that goes across that I can bolt the 50 lbs to. The reason Id rather not do the trunk is because I want to keep it in the center rotating mass of the car as low as possible, so near the middle of the car and as far to the rear behind the passenger seat seems like the best location.

I was able to get away with about 40lbs of sand bags behind the passenger seat before, I could slide it back and pin the bags behind the seat. This 50lb lead weight is a lot more serious. I don't want to do the same wtih it in case of an accident.

I'm going to go talk to a welding shop to see what they can make for me

Does anyone here have any experience with tapping a screw in the floorboard or something similar. That was the other thing I was thinking about.

What shape is the weight? Do you have a pic?

If your rear seats are removed, I'm thinking you can somehow mount it there, perhaps utilizing either the rear seat belt studs or the clips for the lower rear seat.

Christian1LE · 11-11-2023, 05:04 PM

Seats have to stay in for added weight and I need it to stay in class for scca hill climbs and gridlife next year.

That1guy_tim · 11-14-2023, 10:45 PM

your best and really only option is to build a cage around that brick, angle iron of some sort. and have that bolt through the floor of the car.

That1guy_tim · 11-14-2023, 10:47 PM

Or do what Ben did

Christian1LE · 11-21-2023, 04:27 PM

So here is my final solution 51lbs after accounting for the weight and the base. It mounts using the stock seat bolts.

Weight + base:

Installed:

Vinny1le · 01-04-2024, 08:44 PM

I like that set up and thought about doing something similar.

I currently have a whole ballast set up that replaces the seat entirely and uses all 4 OEM seat points. but I would like to use my seat again for ride-alongs.

Im curious why your car is so heavy for tt3 though.

I run tt4 at 393 avg hp, 3937 minimum weight on 275 Toyo RRs.

11-10-2023, 01:11 PM	#1
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 745	Best way to add ballast to my car I've been running some sand bags currently to get the minimum weight I need but I bought a lead ballast to have a more permanent solution. I want to place it low behind the passenger seat, I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas of the best way to do this. It is a 50 lb lead weight.

11-10-2023, 08:08 PM	#2
ICTsccaCamaro ITCRNRS Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 1,575	What group are you running with that the fat Camaro isn't heavy enough? __________________ 2018 ZL1 1LE Ordered 6/29/17 Built 11/6/17 Delivered 12/7/17, Summit White, PDR, NAV, https://www.youtube.com/c/tylerpotter SOLD: 2014 Summit White 1LE 2SS/RS, Recaros, NPP, NAV, KONI Yellow's SOLD: 2012 Black 2LT/RS, Fully 1LE swapped, Brembo swap

11-10-2023, 08:25 PM	#3
DaveC113 Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Front Range, CO Posts: 1,868	I'd guess you'd want it as close to in between the front and rear wheels and as low as possible. I'd see if there's any room under the car. __________________

11-10-2023, 09:48 PM	#4
wakespeak Drives: 2020 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,335	Agree on center of the car. But, get the car corner weighted with simulated driver weight and be done guessing. __________________ 2020 ZL1 1LE [Moroso SC Expansion Tank, otherwise stock]

11-11-2023, 08:58 AM	#7
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,616 View My Garage	Why not in the trunk, above the rear axle, to help maximize traction as a side effect? __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

11-11-2023, 08:42 AM	#6
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Well, for "mounting" ideas, let's start with the easiest potential solutions. Keep in mind I don't know the physical shape/size of this 50 lbs of lead. 1) Is the weight flat enough to be slid under the seat? If so, it won't likely be able to move around, so no need to physically mount it 2) How about placing it right behind the seat on the floor? With the seat adjusted to the back of the rails, there's barely any room between the seat and the chassis frame/floor for the back seat area. So the weight won't be able to move once you trap it in place with the seat back. No need to mount it.

11-11-2023, 10:13 AM	#8
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 745	Trunk might be an option. It's a 50lb lead weight, not really something I can just place behind or under the passenger seat without securing it properly. I'm most likely going to have someone build a bracket that uses both mounting points of the passenger seat. Have a bar or steel sheet that goes across that I can bolt the 50 lbs to. The reason Id rather not do the trunk is because I want to keep it in the center rotating mass of the car as low as possible, so near the middle of the car and as far to the rear behind the passenger seat seems like the best location. I was able to get away with about 40lbs of sand bags behind the passenger seat before, I could slide it back and pin the bags behind the seat. This 50lb lead weight is a lot more serious. I don't want to do the same wtih it in case of an accident. I'm going to go talk to a welding shop to see what they can make for me Does anyone here have any experience with tapping a screw in the floorboard or something similar. That was the other thing I was thinking about.

11-11-2023, 05:04 PM	#10
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 745	Seats have to stay in for added weight and I need it to stay in class for scca hill climbs and gridlife next year. Attached Images

11-14-2023, 10:45 PM	#11
That1guy_tim Drives: Camaro 1ss Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 495	your best and really only option is to build a cage around that brick, angle iron of some sort. and have that bolt through the floor of the car. __________________ Follow me on IG for build thread! https://www.instagram.com/tracked_1ss/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tracked_1ss FortuneAuto Coilovers! https://shop-fortune-auto.com/produc...ries-coilovers

11-21-2023, 04:27 PM	#13
Christian1LE Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: NC Posts: 745	So here is my final solution 51lbs after accounting for the weight and the base. It mounts using the stock seat bolts. Weight + base: Installed:

01-04-2024, 08:44 PM	#14
Vinny1le Drives: 2022 1ss/1le Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 11	I like that set up and thought about doing something similar. I currently have a whole ballast set up that replaces the seat entirely and uses all 4 OEM seat points. but I would like to use my seat again for ride-alongs. Im curious why your car is so heavy for tt3 though. I run tt4 at 393 avg hp, 3937 minimum weight on 275 Toyo RRs.

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