Ballast

[bobs66440]

Can anyone give me some ideas what to use for ballast and where to mount it? I have to add about 15lbs. We used to have lead weights when I was racing karts, but I don't even remember where we got it or where to get it now...though I see it's available at Jeg's or Summit but super expensive.

[Robbie.Arthur]

Melt down a whole bunch of old wheel weights from a tire store where to mount it is up to you, but I would imagine somewhere low and closer to the front of the car

[steve everard]

Thin sheet of lead canbe bought from contractor supply store, usually used for roofing, can be cut with sheet metal cutters easily and made into any shape, its about $80 for a 2 ft square piece , I put it under seat works great, no melting no fumes,

[Wren]

If you need it soon, try a plumbing supply store. I think it is usually sold in 5 pound bricks. Otherwise, buy some off of EBay. That was the cheapest way that we found.


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[mikehinkle]

Diving supply shop. I found one the next town over from me.

[DanW]

Easier to find than lead, steel plate 1/2" thick 4x12" weighs 6.8 lbs. Bolt it to the floor under your knees.

[bobs66440]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into it.

[2Dogs]

Lead shot from Walmart, in the gun section. Used for reloading shotgun shells.

[provamo]

eat more!

[bobs66440]

eat more!

And to make it worse, I'm dieting now, ha ha. I decided to use lead shot. I'm going to fabricate a metal container that's easy to add and subtract weight.

[provamo]

i am serious: why not drop the shot into the fuel cell?

[Eric Little]

I went through this with my FF. The cheapest (by far) option was to get the used tire balance weights from your local tire shop (as mentioned above in this thread). I ended up with a bucket of about 30 pounds and they charged me something like $15. Shot in my area would have been over $100 and I found it really distasteful to spend that much money just to go slower.

I like your idea of putting them in a container (what I did as well). Melting them down is a pain and probably not worth it if you are trying to get the typical 10 - 20 pounds of ballast.

Eric

[Dave Harmison]

I understand Flint will shortly have some lead pipe available.


I know, bad taste. People are suffering but couldn't help myself.

[pacratt]

i am serious: why not drop the shot into the fuel cell?

I suggest using something solid.
Lots of small stuff could end up all over the car... and for the love of God, DON'T DROP SHOT DOWN INTO YOUR FUEL CELL !!

Steel weighs approximately 0.2904 lbs. per cubic inch.
You'll need quite a bit to reach 15#.

Lead is still the best bet at .4097 lbs. per cubic inch.
Check THIS out... http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Soft-Lea...s+lead+weights

[provamo]

I suggest using something solid.
Lots of small stuff could end up all over the car... and for the love of God, DON'T DROP SHOT DOWN INTO YOUR FUEL CELL !!

Steel weighs approximately 0.2904 lbs. per cubic inch.
You'll need quite a bit to reach 15#.

Lead is still the best bet at .4097 lbs. per cubic inch.
Check THIS out... http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Soft-Lea...s+lead+weights

LOL i thought it read FIVE pounds not 15!

anyway it used to work for Ken Tyrrell

[captaineddie1975]

What about using round bar bell weights (gym) available at Walmarts etc.? I needed some and bolted them to the floor. If I needed less weight I just took one or two out.

[Ed Womer]

Like someone mentioned Scuba Diving stores will have lead weights as well as plumbing supply also and if you want thin sheets buy a lead shower pan liner and you can cut into squares etc. and bolt it to the floor or the side of the frame.

Since my dad had a plumbing business and we replaced water lines in HBG PA we would get the lead pipe that in the old days was used to connect the steel or brass pipe to the water main and we would melt it down and pour it into old bread pans to make pieces that would weigh about 20lbs each and I used them to ballast the car so I do the alignment by myself. Of course I also made pieces that fit between the frame for my car that I bolted down.

WARNING!!! if you decide to attempt to melt your own lead and make custom size pieces make sure you wear protective clothes and a full face shield because if melting old pipe and it contains any water or stuff inside of it and you put it in a pot the water will quickly boil and blow lead everywhere. I know I found out the hard way and had lead everywhere.

Ed

[bobs66440]

Just an update. I fabricated a container for lead shot from some scrap exhaust pipe I had. It hold 20lbs full, so I can adjust the weight as needed and it will get securely bolted to the bottom of the seat framework. It's not pretty, but it works. Total cost was $36 for the shot. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[provamo]

i was gonna recommend depleted uranium. but never mind

[bobs66440]

Eh, I just ran out anyway