regarding weight distribution.......
for example :
 I had a chance to buy a SVX earlier this summer. Didn't do it, and
  can't afford it right now, but in some ways, as far as weight
  distribution goes, it might have made more sense since the batteries
  would have been counter balanced by the extra weight of the engine...
  plus its raw power... oh well...

There is another significant  factor about weight, and where it is in a
vehicle.
it's called Polar Moment of Inertia.............
barbell weights............have a lot of polar moment of
inertia.............the majority of their mass is concentrated on the end.
In a road vehicle, as you increase polar moment of inertia, that makes it
harder for the vehicle to change direction, as in turn-in and getting into
steady state cornering........for good nimble handling having lots of
weights on the ends isn't a good thing.

I do like SVX engines in vanagons though. particularly in a
syncro.........'just about right' even.  And awesomely rewarding.
I just want to suggest that for adding weight, in general..........it's best
added low in the vehicle, between the wheels, fore-to-aft speaking , in our
vanagon case, not front-biased.
Scott
I hope everyone is doing fine  !
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "M'obeechi" <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:11 AM
Subject: Re: Weight Distribution

So the water in my front headlight is a bigger issue. Well, as long as it
rains on my rear too, I guess I should be okay.

From: "Doug Alcock" <doug.alcock@gmail.com>
To: M'obeechi <obeechi@runbox.com>
Subject: Re: Weight Distribution

>
> Behind the front seats is awful close to the middle --- and since the
vanagon's front to rear wieght distribution is 50/50 --- don't think you
have a huge issue. Cheers,Doug

On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 10:12 PM, M'obeechi <obeechi@runbox.com> wrote:

  One thing that bothers me about the idea of putting three 75 lbs
  batteries behind the front seats, is thats a lot of weight. I saw the
  Platinum Group 31 today at Sears. Lifted it with its nice handle...
  thing was damn heavy... forgot how heavy 75 lbs can be... three of
  course are a 225 lbs... and since people put extra weight at the back
  end to help traction in the winter, I'm doing the reverse, on top of
  the larger gas tank... then again... I'm going to put my two Thules
  back on eventually.. and that should put some extra weight to the
  rear... still... this is going to be about the heaviest Carat out
  there... Solar panel is 28 lbs, and those Commerical Thule Van Racks,
  even though they're Aluminum, they're a bit weighty themselves...

  I had a chance to buy a SVX earlier this summer. Didn't do it, and
  can't afford it right now, but in some ways, as far as weight
  distribution goes, it might have made more sense since the batteries
  would have been counter balanced by the extra weight of the engine...
  plus its raw power... oh well...

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--
http://www.dougalcock.com

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