Let's talk bias and over all weight.

[supernova]

So I'm looking at the scales and come to the conclusion that my car is a fat PIG! I could stand to loose 40lbs myself. The car with me in it is 3592lbs and has a bias of 52% on the nose after I put a F/G front bumper on and added 50lbs to the back. Before making the changes it was 55% on the nose. On paper the 52% looks a lot better so I'm going with it......

How is everyone else's set up?

[John_Heard]

Yes, it's a fat pig, 52% can work just fine though. There's a long list of places you can take weight out of that car.

[supernova]

Ok, send me a list please!

[John_Heard]

Here's a rough list - http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/w ... ction.html

Probably if you're wanting to take it off the front the first thing on the list would be to do the rack & pinion, tubular a-arms, radiator support, etc. etc. etc. Really depends on how serious you want to get on cutting on it. If the money is there, one of the fastest ways would be to do the Smith Racecraft front clip.

[supernova]

The funny thing is it has a front mounted rack, TRZ a-arms, core support is stock though.
I'll look at your link and go from there.

[John_Heard]

I forgot you had already done some of that. It really boils down to getting rid of everything that is non-essential, and minimizing everything that does have to stay.

For example, do you have an alternator? Big radiator? How many brass fittings are on the car? You might be surprised how fast that stuff adds up like the fittings. Find 100 places to get rid of a pound.

[ytnova]

Chris, no reason you loose a 100 pounds on that thing. Like john says, the little things add up. I got mine down to 3400 from over 3500 with me, one bottle and 5 gallons of gas without cutting it up. I replaced all of the brass fittings, removed the 1/2 bolts from the bumper brackets and swapped to 5/16, removed the outer bumper brackets, swaped other non essential bolts to smaller ones, eliminated the upper half of the front body bushings, cut all the bolts to right length, a smaller/lighter alt, removed the x-pipe exhaust and used vibrant mufflers right on the header, swap the steel braided line for the black lightweight stuff, etc. You can also start moving stuff rearward, every little bit helps, I moved the coolant overflow off the core support, moved the trans cooler to the rear, mounted the battery further back, etc. You gotta just start looking.

[Craig W.]

Makes me feel good about getting my car down to 2976 with me in it without cutting it up.

[supernova]

LOL!

It has 3 brass fittings in the whole car all for the brake system. 1 in the front and 2 in the back, SS braided hose all over the car, small alt, BIG ass radiator and 2 fans no over flow, battery in the back, trans cooler in the back, 10 gal fuel cell in the back, 1 10lb nitrous bottle in the back seat (no back seat), Kirky pass seat with harness. all metal, all glass except hood and front bumper.

I think I built a fat ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't feel so bad about running 5.6's with it tipping the scales at 3600+lbs. Just think what it would run if it was at 3000lbs

[Craig W.]

A VW scirocco radiator will save a ton of weight. Mine was 4.5 lbs before adding coolant. Got it off Ebay for cheap.

[John_Heard]

Passenger seat and harness is probably 12-13 lbs. Cut the radiator support up, or replace it with a tube frame. If I remember right the lower section of the support that is double wall is about 7 lbs for the chunk inside the frame rails. If you do the whole thing you might get 12 lbs.

Does it have inner fenders? Ditch those. Lift off hood? Remove the section on the fenders where the hood hinge used to attach, that is 14 lbs. Take the fenders off and trim absolutely everything not necessary, drill holes in the supports by the door, trim the lips down to about 1/8" all excess flanges about 6lbs per side. Once you get so far the gains are a bit tougher.

[71 chevy]

i would buy something already done, and drop 1000-1200lbs in one shot, instead of 200 when it is all said and done

eg

http://www.racingjunk.com/Super-Gas/259 ... P-Q32.html

[Craig W.]

Seems like I got 15-20 lbs of sound deadener, tar paper and carpet padding out of mine. Door crash bars are 15. Exhaust systems are heavy. Get rid of the bumper brackets and use aluminum angle. Cleaning the rubber off the rear of my car once a year usually nets about 5 lbs!

[supernova]

I'm looking at some major changes for winter. With all the stuff you guys have posted gives me lots to look at. I have to remember this is a race car not a street car. I'm looking at F/G front end and doors. Lexan instead of glass. Smaller radiator with no core support.
The fat pig is going on a diet!!!!!!!!!!!!

[71 chevy]

I'm looking at some major changes for winter. With all the stuff you guys have posted gives me lots to look at. I have to remember this is a race car not a street car. I'm looking at F/G front end and doors. Lexan instead of glass. Smaller radiator with no core support.
The fat pig is going on a diet!!!!!!!!!!!!

hehe, if you are planning to spend some money, i already see lots of weight off

fg doors and front end, 200 lbs
fg dash, decklid, and rear bumper, 75 lbs
drag front brakes 50lbs
remove passenger seat and bracket 20lbs
lightweight radiator and fan kit 30 lbs
lexan all around 85lbs

right there is almost 500lbs off the car. so, maybe you can get it to 3000 with driver.

i still say find a tube chassis thats already done that will be 2200-2500 with you in it. oh, and get one that has nothing under the oil pan so you can pull the pan without pulling the motor - nirvana.