chrisp

I'm looking for a low cost supplier for lead ballast.

Any tips you have (both where to get it and how to configure it for the car)would be appreciated.

I'm looking for about 100 lbs. going into a 911.

Thanks.

J richard

Dive shops

993944S2

Local gym equipment club. Free weight plates?

Mike Buck

Lead is much more dense = smaller volume for ballast.

I have 3 "bricks" of lead that are 26lbs a piece and no larger than regular building brick. Less than half the volume of a typical 25lb gym weight. Work like a charm. I bought them 2nd hand, so no real help on the exact source. PO said he got them cut by a metal supplier in Baltimore. My lead bricks have holes drilled in them through the center. Secured to chassis with large 3/8's bolts, nuts and washers.

Huge supply of DU plate right near my office would be a better source of ballast, but it is "off limits" to me lol

ltc

You can purchase lead in almost any form (flexible sheets, ingots, machined bars, discs, etc) from Mc Master Carr. (.pdf of catalog page attached below)
I purchase from them for my son's kart lead ballast....(2 26# bars and 1 16# bar).
Excellent customer service.
When mounting, please remember to use large fender washers and double nut or safety wire the bolts.

ltc

Mike,
I believe you have the same lead bricks I used on the back of my son's kart seat, available from McMaster Carr:
4×2×8. . . . . . . . . .26 1⁄4#. . . . . . . . 9033K11. . . . 63.56

bruinbro

You could just buy these wheels instead...





Bro

Mike Buck

Similar, but not the same. My buddy got these made by a supplier in Baltimore. Think his cost was like $40 per maybe, but this was a few years ago. I got em for $10 per!

He went to a different ballast system when it began to get out of hand with all the bricks. Uses custom cut giant steel plates now

chrisp

I've perused McMaster (always go there first) and it's about $250 worth of lead.

Diving weights are around $1.80 a pound and the biggest I can find are 5 pounders. That's over 20 pieces for what I need which isn't practical and still around $200.

I'm contemplating melting down use tire weights, pouring it into cookie sheets and then they be the perfect size and maleability to contour it to the floor pan.

JasonAndreas

Check the Thomas Register for someone local otherwise the shipping charges will kill you.

MarkM

I've heard of people using sheets of roofing lead. They can be cut to lay in the passenger footwell and under the seat. Since they are sheets, you can adjust the weight within a a few pounds. Low CG and can be covered by carpet witout being too obvious.

Not sure of cost, but should be able to source locally at any good builder's store.

ltc

Surprisngly, McMaster shipped the lead to me (~70 lbs, 3 bars) UPS GND for $16.00, which I didn't think was too bad a price.

DrJupeman

I have extra ballast if you're interested... (180 lbs worth)

chrisp

DrJupeMan please email me at chrispetron@yahoo.com if you could. Thanks.

DrJupeman

Email sent!