SHIFTED FORWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 48, 26 February 1935, Page 14

SHIFTED FORWARD.

NEW CAR ENGINES. REDISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT. AMERICAN TREND. In the new automobiles for 1935 there is a pronounced trend toward placement of engines farther forward in the chassis. The engineers term it redistribution of weight. In virtually all chassis layouts of this year this will be effected in varying degrees, says an American expert. The trend began a year ago with "airflow" jobs, and it competed with independent front wheel suspension as a method of improving the "ride." Basic reasons for the departure from former practice have been outlined by Robert N. Janeway, research engineer of the Chrysler Corporation. He points out that it is fundamentally sound because: (1) An improved ride is the result of lowered oscillation frequency '

of the body of the springs. Pitching is reduced and secondary reactions caused by road inequalities are transferred from front to rear. (2) Because the centre of gravity is moved forward there is better directional stability. (3) The bending stress of the body and frame assembly is reduced. Vibration of the frame due to impact is reduced, because the engine Is placed nearer to its support, which is'the front spring set-up. (4) The obvious result is additional body space and better rear seating position. Mr. Janeway explained that the first three reasons come under a general head of redistribution of weight. The fourth is incidental and a by-product of the redistribution. Better directional stability was illustrated by the engineer with an analogy of an arrow in flight.

He pointed out that the heavy end of the arrow guides it true to aim in its course. Weight in the front end "pulls' , the rest of the arrow. In the motor car the engine does the same thing, moving the centre of gravity nearer to the centre of cross-wind pressure, which always is near the front of the car.

In the "airflow" jobs the engine shift toward the front, compared with previous practice, was one foot, and it gave a centre of gravity shift of approximately 7in. An even simpler explanation of the effect of the change may be found in the experience of people who travel a great deal in Pullman sleeping cars. One thing they learn is that a berth located directly over a car axle gives a less comfortable ride, because it is closest to point of contact with the rails, as compared to other berths in the same car.

As it has been diagrammed, Mr. Janeway's explanation shows the position of passengers occupying a rear seat to be well in front of and away from the former placement that put them on top of the axle or slightly behind it. This was what was meant by talk among engineers in recent months that pointed toward a "now deal" for rear seat passengers.