This is topic weight reduction in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by cobraman_1994 (Member # 467) on :
 
what can be done to the car for weight reduction? im talking major weight reduction. thanks

[ September 26, 2003, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: cobraman_1994 ]
 
Posted by ON N2O (Member # 2067) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by cobraman_1994:
what can be done to the car for weight reduction? im talking major weight reduction. thanks

cut the top off [Razz]
 
Posted by cobraman_1994 (Member # 467) on :
 
well it is a t top, so it came with some cut up from the factory [patriot]
 
Posted by ON N2O (Member # 2067) on :
 
all that tar shit. take out the actually bumpers those things are heavy...tubular k member and control arms are worth alot.... fiberglass rear hatch with lexan window would probably lose you about 500 pounds altogether
 
Posted by 66 AC COBRA of CA PERFORMANCE (Member # 904) on :
 
by ditching the power steering for manual, k member with a arms and coil overs, dnd claim 150 pounds off the front, no power steering is also less drag on the motor

fiberglass hood, all the sound deadening, light wheels, driveshaft, reducing rotating weight is much better that reducing fixed weight

aluminum cylinders heads save like 40 pounds and obvious performance gains, front swaybar,
 
Posted by cobraman_1994 (Member # 467) on :
 
well i got the aluminum heads, i have to get the aje k member. but im going to leep the power steering.
now what about the windows? like the back hatch and quarter panels?
the back seats are coming out for the weight reasons and i just really hate driving 4 people around [Big Grin]
 
Posted by The Nick (Member # 2244) on :
 
How much do the seats really save you on weight? When I went to the track last time, I contemplated taking out the rear and passenger seat, but I figured the weight saving wouldn't be worth the pain in my ass. Was I correct?
 
Posted by 88gt (Member # 579) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Nick:
How much do the seats really save you on weight? When I went to the track last time, I contemplated taking out the rear and passenger seat, but I figured the weight saving wouldn't be worth the pain in my ass. Was I correct?

In a fox, the rear seats are only like 12lbs. The passenger seat is worth aboout 42-45.
 
Posted by season'd 88 (Member # 169) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Nick:
How much do the seats really save you on weight? When I went to the track last time, I contemplated taking out the rear and passenger seat, but I figured the weight saving wouldn't be worth the pain in my ass. Was I correct?

I took my back seat out as a part of the rollbar install and was suprised how light that stuff was. Cant be more than 30 lbs. seat belts, mtg. brackets and all. I doubt it would be worth the pain in your ass.
 
Posted by MR GO FAST (Member # 2088) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by cobraman_1994:
what can be done to the car for weight reduction? im talking major weight reduction. thanks

PM Team Solo....he is the king of weight reduction
 
Posted by BOUNTY HUNTER VERT (Member # 2754) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MR GO FAST:
quote:
Originally posted by cobraman_1994:
what can be done to the car for weight reduction? im talking major weight reduction. thanks

PM Team Solo....he is the king of weight reduction
Me and solo got the3 weight reduction thing down pretty good what is your weight goal and ill tell you what can be plasma cut out.
 
Posted by mustanggt5091 (Member # 444) on :
 
Pull the dog bone on the rear end, all the insullation in the car, A/C removal, heater core removal, everything mentioned above, remove all smog equipment, you can remove the front and rear bumpers or if the car is on the street then trade them for some 85 gt aluminum bumpers( 2.5mph bumpers insted of 5 or 10 mph)! [patriot] , and the front sway bar!
 
Posted by Team SOLO (Member # 722) on :
 
My gt was heavy at 2660 and my new car is a tipping the scale at 2300 [Smile]
 
Posted by cobraman_1994 (Member # 467) on :
 
well, im going to auto cross this car, so my hp-weight ratio is important. id like the car to be as light as possible yet still a semi street car. i know the rear seat doesnt really matter, but i have to take it out for the cage and it will be a pain in the ass to get it back in. my hp will only be around 340rwhp. i figure that im losing weight, so my car should too [Big Grin]
my goal is around 2900-3100 lbs with out driver.
its a 86 GT t top
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
I have removed and installed the rear seats, brackets, and seat belts many times in my fox and it's not difficult at all. It doesn't save a lot of weight either I just liked saying,"Sorry I only have one seat" to people wanting rides. Right now I have everything back in but left the trunk stripped to the metal.
 
Posted by cobraman_1994 (Member # 467) on :
 
the only reason that the seat will be a pain to put back in is because of the 8pt roll bar.
do you have any pics of your trunk stripped to the metal? wanted to do the same thing. thanks for the help fellas! [patriot]
 
Posted by Team SOLO (Member # 722) on :
 
i'll get you a 'real pic' of a trunk stripped down to the metal..and including the metal [Smile]

here is the underneath pic of where the spare tire well used to be.

 -

There is also a lot of unneeded metal in the trunk that is in the process of getting cut out too. In fact, i have never seen the need for a metal trunk lid...gone...fiberglass here we come [Wink]
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by cobraman_1994:
the only reason that the seat will be a pain to put back in is because of the 8pt roll bar.
do you have any pics of your trunk stripped to the metal? wanted to do the same thing. thanks for the help fellas! [patriot]

I just recently got my digital camera so I have none on my computer. I just have regular pics but I have no scanner.
 
Posted by Blue Oval (Member # 2548) on :
 
you could also remove the heater box assembly the unit is quite large.also stereo,allum. drive shaft [Smile]
 
Posted by sac 5.0 (Member # 2980) on :
 
hay team solo if you dont mind can you post some more pics of your car and dont you have a cage also what is that looks like an x under the spare tire. did you weld the piece of metal where the spare tire went or did you use rivots any more pics would be cool
 
Posted by Team SOLO (Member # 722) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by sac 5.0:
hay team solo if you dont mind can you post some more pics of your car and dont you have a cage also what is that looks like an x under the spare tire. did you weld the piece of metal where the spare tire went or did you use rivots any more pics would be cool

more pics of the ride can be seen here:

http://www.californiafords.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=012404;p=3

those small diameter bars are for the parachute mount

rivots were used to put that piece of 'steel' in. that is being removed and aluminum is going in its place.
 
Posted by sac 5.0 (Member # 2980) on :
 
car looks great what kind of cage is that
 
Posted by Team SOLO (Member # 722) on :
 
the cage is not 'branded' so to speak. it was put in when norm owned the car. it is actually way above spec. it is a 1 3/4 mild steel cage. it will be coming out before next cert so that i can put in an all chromemoly setup.
 




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