Recommendation sought for Weight Scales and Acceleration Timers
#1
Recommendation sought for Weight Scales and Acceleration Timers
I'm looking for recommendations on two items:
First hand recommendations most especially appreciated, but random observations are often beneficial too
- Scales to purchase and use at home for weighing the car. I don't (think) I need anything beyond just the weight of the car. Price is a factor.
- A device to accurately record acceleration times (0-60MPH). Any features beyond that would be gravy. Price is also a factor here. If it can somehow easily collect RPMs and other data (whether directly or from the SharkTuner), that would be nice, but not necessary.
First hand recommendations most especially appreciated, but random observations are often beneficial too
#3
When you say money is a factor, do you have a desired range for either the scale or acceleration timer?
I have been looking for corner scales for some time, but haven't pulled the trigger on a set just yet. http://racingjunk.com seems to have a fairly consistent supply of used scales in the classified section at varying prices, but if you are truly just trying to get an overall weight and not corner weights you can just go to any number of locations and get the car weighed, likely for free or a couple bucks, truck weigh stations, salvage yards/metal recyclers, city dump...
I have been looking for corner scales for some time, but haven't pulled the trigger on a set just yet. http://racingjunk.com seems to have a fairly consistent supply of used scales in the classified section at varying prices, but if you are truly just trying to get an overall weight and not corner weights you can just go to any number of locations and get the car weighed, likely for free or a couple bucks, truck weigh stations, salvage yards/metal recyclers, city dump...
#4
I definitely want new. Under $1k for the scales and under $300 for the timer. If it's a 20% difference in price to get scales that can handle my "medium" sized truck (~9k lbs), I'd pay the difference.
The closest CAT scale to me is 45 minutes away. I'm pretty sure that the landfill would let me use the scales, but that's 30 minutes away. My objective is to be able to weigh the car and then immediately go out and do some acceleration runs at that weight. Adding an hour round trip to that process is something that I would like to avoid, even if it costs me some money up front.
The closest CAT scale to me is 45 minutes away. I'm pretty sure that the landfill would let me use the scales, but that's 30 minutes away. My objective is to be able to weigh the car and then immediately go out and do some acceleration runs at that weight. Adding an hour round trip to that process is something that I would like to avoid, even if it costs me some money up front.
#5
#6
#7
Awesome. I'll consider that recommendation enough
Somewhat related to this other thread that I started: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...cle-speed.html
I think that I'll go with a Garmin GLO GPS and Torque Pro for those times when I want to track acceleration. It will do double duty for getting precise speed measurements to calculate the RPM to speed ratio for gears and match that up to SharkTuner logs.
Somewhat related to this other thread that I started: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...cle-speed.html
I think that I'll go with a Garmin GLO GPS and Torque Pro for those times when I want to track acceleration. It will do double duty for getting precise speed measurements to calculate the RPM to speed ratio for gears and match that up to SharkTuner logs.
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#8
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Mostly in my workshop located in Sweden.
#9
I ended up getting the wireless version that does 7,000 lbs: https://www.proformparts.com/product...pads-hard-case
They cost me $797.99 through an eBay seller. So far all I've had a chance to do is unpack them, put batteries in and stand on them. They are very easy to use. No cables or anything. Standard AA batteries. They come with the batteries and have curved slots cut out in the foam of the case for spares. The case is sturdy, wheeled and well padded.
The scales seem like they are well made and have some nice features. Including being designed to drive right onto without having to use ramps or jacks.
I also received the Garmin Glo GPS and it's pretty nice. Very compact, fast, and accurate. I also got the anti-slip dash pad for it so I can just lay it on the dash when I am using it.
For apps, I ended up getting both PerfExpert and PerfectPower. They each have their pluses and minuses, but each seem to do a reasonable job of estimating power. Supposedly, their results are similar to a dyno. What matters to me is being able to reliably compare runs against each other as I make incremental improvements to the car (new injectors, high flow fuel pump, turbo charger, shark tuning, etc). They both take into account atmospheric conditions, vehicle weight, and other things.
I also use Torque Pro, which can display some on-going numbers on performance as you drive.
It's been too wet here since I got the scales to take the car out for a drive, but once the pavement is dry and there is no chance of getting rained on, I'll take it out and see how things measure up.
They cost me $797.99 through an eBay seller. So far all I've had a chance to do is unpack them, put batteries in and stand on them. They are very easy to use. No cables or anything. Standard AA batteries. They come with the batteries and have curved slots cut out in the foam of the case for spares. The case is sturdy, wheeled and well padded.
The scales seem like they are well made and have some nice features. Including being designed to drive right onto without having to use ramps or jacks.
I also received the Garmin Glo GPS and it's pretty nice. Very compact, fast, and accurate. I also got the anti-slip dash pad for it so I can just lay it on the dash when I am using it.
For apps, I ended up getting both PerfExpert and PerfectPower. They each have their pluses and minuses, but each seem to do a reasonable job of estimating power. Supposedly, their results are similar to a dyno. What matters to me is being able to reliably compare runs against each other as I make incremental improvements to the car (new injectors, high flow fuel pump, turbo charger, shark tuning, etc). They both take into account atmospheric conditions, vehicle weight, and other things.
I also use Torque Pro, which can display some on-going numbers on performance as you drive.
It's been too wet here since I got the scales to take the car out for a drive, but once the pavement is dry and there is no chance of getting rained on, I'll take it out and see how things measure up.
#10
Weighed the car today. 1987 928 S4 manual transmission with LSD. Half tank of fuel and plenty of sound deadening material installed. It came in at 3,510 lbs. I then weight it with me and my passenger so that I could put those numbers into the dyno app.
I took the car out on the road for a short drive and did two runs with the "PerfExpert" app. I'm impressed with its ease of use and output. It's worth taking a look at.
I took the car out on the road for a short drive and did two runs with the "PerfExpert" app. I'm impressed with its ease of use and output. It's worth taking a look at.
#11
Almost forgot to mention, with respect to driving onto the scales...my garage floor is coated with polyaspartic, and the tires couldn't get enough traction to push all four wheels up onto the scales at the same time. With a one foot run and a slight bump, though, they went right up with no problem. As easy as I was hoping that it would be.
#13
Following up on this. The phone apps aren't really working for me. I've been using PerfExpert, and it was pretty decent last year before the turbo installation. But now, the results are all over the place. It's inconsistent at best. I've tried it with my high speed GPS and the phone's built in GPS. I think that the problem might be the acceleration is outside of its ability to keep up? Maybe a better/faster phone would handle it better? I really don't know.
What I have found that is interesting is "Virtual Dyno": https://barnhill.bitbucket.io/
Depending on where you click the link from (your phone or a desktop computer) it will either take you to the mobile app or the desktop app. I've been using the desktop app to open up the SharkTuner logs and it's been pretty consistent. It's fun to play with, at least.
The corner balancing scales, on the other hand, have been awesome. I really like them a lot. I can drive right onto them or off of them, and see the weight updated real time from the wireless console. That makes it easy to check it with me on the car, and with shifting things around. If you need some scales, I've been very happy with them.
What I have found that is interesting is "Virtual Dyno": https://barnhill.bitbucket.io/
Depending on where you click the link from (your phone or a desktop computer) it will either take you to the mobile app or the desktop app. I've been using the desktop app to open up the SharkTuner logs and it's been pretty consistent. It's fun to play with, at least.
The corner balancing scales, on the other hand, have been awesome. I really like them a lot. I can drive right onto them or off of them, and see the weight updated real time from the wireless console. That makes it easy to check it with me on the car, and with shifting things around. If you need some scales, I've been very happy with them.