400SE weight?

[Lesliehedley]

Has anyone had their 400SE corner weighted? The reason I ask is that I am trying to work out the spring rate for the front based on TVR's quoted weight and it doesn't work. The springs are too soft and become coil bound. I tried measuring the corner weight of the front offside wheel using one of the PACE mechanical corner weighting devices and it measured 850 pounds which seems awfully heavy. I know these devices should really only be used to compare one side to the other but can they be that far out? I measured one rear corner at 725 pounds which gives a total weight for the car of 3150 pounds as opposed to TVR's claim of 2530. Have TVR been exaggerating their weight figures as well as their bhp figures?

[grahamw48]

That I really can't imagine...unless the chassis is made of lead.

Even the engine is a lightweight for its size.

Nah, can't be right.

[Roger McLittriss]

1100Kg wouldn't be far off... about 2400lbs then.

[jmorgan]

The fibre glass is quite thick. Manual has 1050kg, doesn't mention fuel tank full or empty but guessing empty. So 2.2lbs to the kilo its 2310lbs? Add fuel weight.




Sneaky buggers "forget" the oil and water as well for good figures?

[JR]

Yes TVR were optimistic about the weight and your measured 1.4 tonnes sounds correct, although slightly heavy. The thickness of fibreglass is very variable and extras such as fuel can add a fair bit. 1250 to 1300 would be average IIRC. 1050 is dreamland - even the Griffs weigh more than that. Rear springs are about 140lbs/in so front 190lb/in I would guess. (The main thing is that TVR's performance figures and grin factor are spot on.)

[JR]

As a footnote it's not just TVRs or cars. Some Japanese performance bikes have very low quoted weights at the moment. I am reliably informed by someone who has done it professionally that if you strip the bike down, brain all of the fluids and polish the parts then they still weigh more than the quoted weights, such is life.

[pwd95]

The bonnet, boot & doors of a wedge feel far heavier than their counterparts on a Griff. I think there is quite a big differance in reality.

[Waynester]

pwd95 said:

The bonnet, boot & doors of a wedge feel far heavier than their counterparts on a Griff. I think there is quite a big differance in reality.

Wedges with their pop up lamps must be heavier than conventional lights, & wedge doors have strengthening bars. Rear spoiler too, all adds up.

The doors on my old Chimarea were very light in comparison to the wedges.

I think i would rather be in a Wedge in a side impact though!

[andyy]

I had my 400se weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel got a reading of 1260 Kg
I also had my Griff weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel - 1050 Kg
Cheers Andy

[pwd95]

andyy said:

I had my 400se weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel got a reading of 1260 Kg
I also had my Griff weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel - 1050 Kg
Cheers Andy

That's a lot of weight. You can feel it too if you drive them back to back.

[grahamw48]

andyy said:

I had my 400se weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel got a reading of 1260 Kg
I also had my Griff weighed - no driver and half a tank of fuel - 1050 Kg
Cheers Andy

Well the most popular 'published' figure for the 400SE seems to be 1150 kgs... so seems fair enough, and a lot different than 3,000lbs.

[firefox1712]

Find a local sand and gravel operator or refuse tip (less glamourous!) - they'll weigh the car for you on their weighbridge.

JJ

[adam quantrill]

... or a grain merchant's. But they don't like it if you "spill any seed" on the weighbridge ;^)