ninjacoco

My car is awesome to drive when it has at least half a tank of gas in it.

Not so much beneath then.

It doesn't have a glass hatch and is on pretty worn suspension, so the rear end likes to snap around when there isn't a lot of gas in the tank. Oof!

The suspension is--as Judge Phil called it--"comfy." And bouncy. It does well enough as long as you don't try to do a lot of quick autocross-style transitions (then it just flops all over, haha). Oh, and it's fine until it's low on gas. Grr.

So, a question for you running stripped-out 944s in crapcan series that tend to frown on keeping a glass hatch back there--help? Did you fix the handling somehow? Or is it just better to keep bringing people in as soon as the gas starts getting low? Bleugh.

The previous owner of my first 944 stuck a big 45-lb weight in the tire hole to even out the weight distribution when it ran out of gas, but that seems a tad silly.

Dave W.

I strongly recommend removing just the right rear shock. This won't fix the problem but it's an appropriate mod for a Lemons car.

Try to avoid lowering the rear end via the eccentric adjuster on the trailing arm to compensate for the lack of weight. Cars that handle too well might get penalized. Have fun!

ninjacoco

It's not cheatin' if it doesn't cost $$$, right? Right.

Its rump is pretty high. I'll have to look into this adjuster. It's an '84 car, if that helps any.

Butters944

Here's info on the spring plate eccentric adjustment, it might get you .5 - .75" lower. I run mine as low as it'll go.

https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...tric-bolt.html

harveyf

I weighed a hatch recently. 80 pounds! And that weight is up high. It's not a surprise that removing it changes the handling.

V2Rocket

There was some error in your measurement my friend.
I weighed both of my 944 hatches and they are 52 lbs, complete with hinges and rubber spoiler.

Without that weight up there the back end is very skittish. Even driving with the sunroof open at highway speeds makes the tail wiggly because air can't get to the spoiler anymore.

If you can't run a glass hatch I'd build a rudimentary "window" out of maybe some aluminum spars and thick painter's plastic to at least aid aerodynamics somewhat, and full the spare tire well with weights or something. Find a place that sells turf lawns and buy a bag of the rubber pellets...

theamsoilguy

Move the battery to the rear of the car.

laneskelton

We ran a 944 in 5 LeMons races without a rear hatch and really didn't feel any of the negative effects that you are talking about. Our car was lowered in the rear as far down as possible and we has Bilstein dampers and turbo sway bars.

speedjw

You don't add weight to a racecar!

Put the car on some scales and corner balance it... Or at the very least level it. Lots of good reading on suspension setups over on the 944spec forums.

The hatch (in lexan) is legal in both lemons and chump, and it does help down long straights.

ninjacoco

Yeah--I think the ride height and floppiness is our biggest problem. It's tall. Floppy and tall.

odonnell

What about installing a ghetto rear spoiler? Like some sheet metal welded above the tail lights to supplement down force.

mel_t_vin

As suggested, I'd lower the rear end and run it 0.5"-1.0" lower than the front end [measured at suspension points or fender lips] to improve driving dynamics.

Also, if you have any rules flexibility with sway bars, I'd consider running a stiffer front bar or softer rear bar.

Voith

Use two medium strength cargo belts one for each damper and secure them with strong zip ties. It will stiffen the torsion response and lower the car and you can adjust it in 5 minutes.

Express adjustable suspension.

V2Rocket

thats actually not a terrible idea.
and they could work as limit straps too helping you stay flatter.