Pilgrim Sumo Boot Floor

[Ken]

You are right I didn't build the car, and quite frankly was surprised to find that the boot floor was made from such heavy steel plates.

They could have been put in as a precursor for fitting a towbar

[gaxor]

I presume you didnt build your car?
Never heard of bog steel plates in the boot o a Sumo.

You are right I didn't build the car, and quite frankly was surprised to find that the boot floor was made from such heavy steel plates.

[KevinW]

I'm a bit confused at the desire to add weight outside of the wheelbase, I guess if you want your car to handle like a 911 a couple of hundred weight bags of potatoes in the boot will help.

I am wondering if a previous owner did this to provide a level floor in the boot? Crude way to do it tho'. In my old car I cut some ply into 3 sections which the boot carpet laid over to level things up with some underfelt underneath the boards.

[GDCobra]

I'm a bit confused at the desire to add weight outside of the wheelbase, I guess if you want your car to handle like a 911 a couple of hundred weight bags of potatoes in the boot will help.

[KevinW]

I presume you didnt build your car?
Never heard of bog steel plates in the boot o a Sumo.

[JON1D]

If you were looking at weight. I would start with weight distribution. The Pilgrim has the battery up from so relocating to the left rear is the best place to counteract the drivers weight as well.
A battery weight is about 20lbs in weight. You could look at engine weight ali heads if you have steel.
I carry about 25lbs of tools in the boot in a tool case and other items like socket set which is more practical and useful.

You do need to know your weight distribution front to back axle weights and each wheel weight before adding weight which only would reduce performance and increase MPG.

You need to be lightening and reducing weight along the Colin Chapman route with Lotus cars which handle. 

[gaxor]

Hi

Unusual question maybe, is it normal to have the heavy steel plate on the boot floor? As you may have gathered in my previous thread, I am trying to improve the handling, my boot floor is made from 2 15-20kg 1/2inch steel plates I assume to add ballast to the rear of the car, but is this necessary, would higher rated springs and shocks be a better solution?

TIA

Gary