Weight loss....

[adidasho]

I know this has been brought up before, and I got what I could from searching, but does anyone have any new ideas on the most possible weight loss while keeping it street legal and moderately comfortable? I am removing rear seat, trunk stuff, foglamps and mounting brackets, stuff like that. I want to do racing seats also, and somebody told me to put the battery in the back for better weight distribution. I can lose plenty weight out of the back, I'm wondering if it's possible to lose weight up front so the car won't be so front heavy.

 

[speedy91]

A/C, radio, sounddeading material, center console. How far do you want to go?

 

[TVSHO]

Do you plan to make this a track-only car or will it be your main source of transportation?
If it's your daily driver I would never give up the comforts of A/C and stereo, etc when the kid in the new Stang GT is going to show you his taillights at the next stoplight race whether or not you just gutted 50-100lbs from the car. My $.02.

Tom
'94 ATX

 

[steevil]

If you plan on making this a week-end warrior, there are a few cool tricks.

1, Remove all the sound deadner (rubber and fabric)
2, cut out the hood webbing and trucnk webbing (though I would probabaly not butcher a stock SHO hood)
3, remove the inner bumpers. The front and rear bumper are big heavy chunks of steel and weigh quite a bit. Obviously your safety may be comprimised in the event of an accident. The PVC front and rear fascia might flop around a bit but there would be signifigant weight saving from this mod alone.
4, lightweight FORGED aluminum wheels.

all these mods would still leave the car looking stock and not comprimise your comfort all too much.

 

[adidasho]

It's still going to be a driver, at least for w while longer. I want to totally gut the back, I don't know if I want to do the a/c, from what I read it sound complicated. The other thing I thought of, I was wondering if this was feasible, was I hav ea sunroof, because that was one thing I had to have, and now realize takes weight, I wanted to take the whole sunroof/motor/etc out and put a plexilite panel there so I still have the moonroof but without the weight....is that something ever tried?

 

[X-15 SHO]

NO, don't put the battery in the trunk. That's a big no no. I have a stripped SHOthat is very ientical to Marks old SR71(titaium) and I left the battery up front for traction purposes. If you lighten the trunk then the suspension will have a harder time hunking down and bringing wait off the front and in return gives you better traction on take off and the whole way. If you want to strip your SHO go ahead and do it and YOU WILL NOT GET ATE BY A NEW STANG GT, I spank those left and right and every year. Whoever said that never stripped there SHO and thats a fact because if he did he would no the SHO turns into a beast when it loses weight. Just strip the whole inside to bare metal(door panels, console, all seats except driver, carpet, all insulation, speakers, and everything in the trunk to metal as well).

It seems more people are wanting there SHO stripped and I'll let all know that's the best mod for free and along with the home made ram air, it really pulls. If I can drop .5 in the 1/8 from that no telling how much it'll drop in the 1/4. shrug thumbs_u

<small>[ January 09, 2003, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: X-15 SHO ]</small>

 

[PROPHET]

This stripping thing is good for a strictly track car and i agree its a big bonus.

But for a street car your going to turn a perfectly good street car ,and make it look a piece of junk.

Youll hear rattles from every corner sound like piece of junk.

On the freeway youll hear wistling from everywhere.

It will be real cold inside in the winter and very hot in summer.

The bonus ...people will say thats a fast piece of junk.

 

[speedy91]

X-15 SHO:
NO, don't put the battery in the trunk. That's a big no no.

Actually, relocating the battery to the truck helps out a lot with the handling of the car. It helps balance the front end. I think you will find several people the race their SHO’s on here have already done it. I know I did.

 

[adidasho]

yea, I've heard different opinions about the battery in the trunk...I'm wondering how it would affect my wiring and if I would have to get thicker wires, and also if it would still keep as cool and not overheat.
Weight loss and ram air is the god of modifying, when I did the first poor man's ram air and basic weight loss, and not kidding, everybody always says they can notice the difference but it's usually the power of suggestion, no pun intended, but I scared myself because it was just slightly faster than I was used to.

 

[adidasho]

PROPHET:
This stripping thing is good for a strictly track car and i agree its a big bonus.

But for a street car your going to turn a perfectly good street car ,and make it look a piece of junk.

Youll hear rattles from every corner sound like piece of junk.

On the freeway youll hear wistling from everywhere.

It will be real cold inside in the winter and very hot in summer.

The bonus ...people will say thats a fast piece of junk.

People already say it's a fast piece of junk because it's a Taurus so I've got nothing to lose!!!

 

[PROPHET]

My post wasnt meant to offend ,so hope you werent .
Thats just my opinion

 

[adidasho]

Not offended, just sharing in your satire and sarcastically making fun of the people that make fun of SHOs!! That's the beauty of owning an SHO, you always have to stand up for it and get in huge arguments with Mustang lovers.....

 

[TVSHO]

If you want to strip your SHO go ahead and do it and YOU WILL NOT GET ATE BY A NEW STANG GT, I spank those left and right and every year. Whoever said that never stripped there SHO and thats a fact because if he did he would no the SHO turns into a beast when it loses weight.

The point I was making was...I've seen stock GT's run in the high 13's w/ a skilled driver and drag radials. If you can get into the 13's by reducing weight and adding a few mods, by all means give it a shot. I know reducing weight is like adding hp BUT I've read posts here where guys are thinking of removing the antenna mast to save weight. Give me a break. An empty coke can on your floorboard weighs more. I'll keep my power leather seats, premium sound, heavy amps and all and ice cold A/C over a couple 10ths anyday.

Tom
'94 ATX

 

[jthomas68]

X-15 SHO:
NO, don't put the battery in the trunk. That's a big no no. I have a stripped SHOthat is very ientical to Marks old SR71(titaium) and I left the battery up front for traction purposes. If you lighten the trunk then the suspension will have a harder time hunking down and bringing wait off the front and in return gives you better traction on take off and the whole way. If you want to strip your SHO go ahead and do it and YOU WILL NOT GET ATE BY A NEW STANG GT, I spank those left and right and every year. Whoever said that never stripped there SHO and thats a fact because if he did he would no the SHO turns into a beast when it loses weight. Just strip the whole inside to bare metal(door panels, console, all seats except driver, carpet, all insulation, speakers, and everything in the trunk to metal as well).

It seems more people are wanting there SHO stripped and I'll let all know that's the best mod for free and along with the home made ram air, it really pulls. If I can drop .5 in the 1/8 from that no telling how much it'll drop in the 1/4. shrug thumbs_u

This is one of my pet peves.You don`t have ram air,you`ve made a cold air system,which still you won`t "feel" anything pull harder.True ram air systems don`t result in any improvemant of power until speeds of over 100mph,it`s mechanical science.

 

[cRaZySHO.]

TVSHO:

If you want to strip your SHO go ahead and do it and YOU WILL NOT GET ATE BY A NEW STANG GT, I spank those left and right and every year. Whoever said that never stripped there SHO and thats a fact because if he did he would no the SHO turns into a beast when it loses weight.

The point I was making was...I've seen stock GT's run in the high 13's w/ a skilled driver and drag radials. If you can get into the 13's by reducing weight and adding a few mods, by all means give it a shot. I know reducing weight is like adding hp BUT I've read posts here where guys are thinking of removing the antenna mast to save weight. Give me a break. An empty coke can on your floorboard weighs more. I'll keep my power leather seats, premium sound, heavy amps and all and ice cold A/C over a couple 10ths anyday.

Tom
'94 ATX

{

[Talking in a voice as close to Prophets as possible]But you drive an ATX!!![sarcastic voice fades out]

 

[noSHO]

jthomas68:
Originally posted by X-15 SHO:
This is one of my pet peves.You don`t have ram air,you`ve made a cold air system,which still you won`t "feel" anything pull harder.True ram air systems don`t result in any improvemant of power until speeds of over 100mph,it`s mechanical science.

Thank you! Sometimes I just get tired of explaining that. People don't get it anyway.

 

[thebigjimsho]

Now if you guys had a Tornado in your intake.... boink

 

[X-15 SHO]

JT, so the T/A Ram Air really isn't a ram air? Cold air is just that the air going in is colder and the term "ram air" is when like the air is rammed in and yes mine does that and can explain to a .4 drop in the 1/8. I have two 2.5" ram air things that have a higher velocity then every one that puts the big 4-5" dryer hose. My air is coming from right in front of the car with the air going in and not in the fender with it working to suck the air in.

TVSHO, give me a set of slicks and some axles that wont snap and I'll be in the high 13's too. We were'nt talking about a car with slick compared to one w/out. You line up a new GT w/out slicks and stock and I'll suck his head lights in. I do it everytime at the track and they don't understand and ask what kind of shot do I have.

<small>[ January 10, 2003, 02:17 AM: Message edited by: X-15 SHO ]</small>

 

[jthomas68]

X-15 SHO:
JT, so the T/A Ram Air really isn't a ram air? Cold air is just that the air going in is colder and the term "ram air" is when like the air is rammed in and yes mine does that and can explain to a .4 drop in the 1/8. I have two 2.5" ram air things that have a higher velocity then every one that puts the big 4-5" dryer hose. My air is coming from right in front of the car with the air going in and not in the fender with it working to suck the air in.

Sorry,but you`re making me laugh.I`ll go on with this for the amusement of noSHO Ram air is not achieved by just having tubes running to an air intake.The tubing sizes,angles,and placement are engineered perfectly to achieve a "ram" effect,which still won`t see gains until over 100mph(a proven fact amongst manufacturers and proffesional tuners alike.It`s the accepted knowlwedge.)Do you NOT have raim air,you have cold air which was achieved by running 2 tubes bought at a hardware store with the ends pointed at your air filter.It is entirely not possible to make a true ram air design with a trip to Home Depot,and without a degree in mechanics,science,etc..
A .4 improvement on such a short track with a manual transmission can be easily explained by track and condition variations.

<small>[ January 10, 2003, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: jthomas68 ]</small>

 

[TVSHO]

[Talking in a voice as close to Prophets as possible]But you drive an ATX!!![sarcastic voice fades out]

CrazySHO88...yea but I also drive a brand new car w/ rwd, 280hp, and a 6sp trans that accelerates, brakes and handles better than 99.8% of all SHO's on the road! And I wouldn't pull the rear seats, carpet, etc so save weight on that car either!

Tom
'94 ATX!

<small>[ January 10, 2003, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: TVSHO ]</small>