JT's and other weight distribution
 

Hello all I am thinking about the weight of these old trucks. I drive mine so it has some of the nice things so I know it will be heavier than others. This includes a heavy rear cover and AC...
I was reading in the handling thread and Rob mentioned in September of 2012 JT had a total weight of 3850 with a rear weight of 1400 pounds. That puts the rear at 36%, probably normal for a truck. then in January of 2013 it had a weight balance of 57% front and 43% rear.
The new weight was not mentioned but wanted to pick Rob's brain on this as that is a big weight shift and or loss.

What has everybody else done? And where do you weigh.
Mine seems heavy but like I said my cover is a couple hundred pounds but looks and functions great. I know my wheels and tires are heavy too. Mine is 4250 total with 1750 over the rear. That is with me plus a few things inside. That is right at 41% rear.
My 5.3 is mounted on custom mounts to get it as far back and down as possible. It was basically built in place...
Thanks all
Dave

Re: JT's and other weight distribution
 

1% is 38.5 pounds on JT. Moving the battery would get 30 or so off the extreme front and onto the rear. An aluminum water pump could account for 1/4% off the nose. Not sure what all he did but every little bit helps

Re: JT's and other weight distribution
 

That's true, I know they swapped motors to a 5.3 so they lost some there and probably all their suspension changes lost some. I figured if they lost 250 pounds off the front they would need to move another 150 from the front to the rear.
I don't know what you gain (or loose) rather with an aluminum radiator. I assume a swap to the rack and pinion steering lost some weight in front too.

Re: JT's and other weight distribution
 

The rack dropped 40 or 50 lbs I bet. The radiator would probably be a wash unless you had a 4 row already. The aluminum ones hold a lot more water than a standard two row.

Re: JT's and other weight distribution
 

I'll have to see if I can find my sheets from getting mine weighed at a RideTech booth. I went from 3700+ lbs. and a 60/40 weight bias with the old small block to 3590lbs and a better weight bias with the LS1. Battery relocation is on the list to move more weight to the rear.

Re: JT's and other weight distribution
 

Dont forget that the further you move things back the more effect it has due to leverage. Moving something 4 feet back from the center will be exponentially more effective than 2 feet. Also the fuel cell relocation and amount of fuel have an effect. Moving it from hi and behind the seat to lo and as far out back as possible with a full tank would be huge, and who is to say how much fuel is in thereat any given time effecting that ratio. There are also air tanks and compressors on the passenger side frame under the bed.