Weight Reduction - What have you done?

[somedude_001]

I installed a FPS torque converter... it might be a tad heavier but it is quite a bit smaller diameter. and a FPS UDP. that was a HUGE weight savings over stock. I have added much more weight than I have removed.

you guys that are big into having light track cars. why don't you ditch the stock exhaust manifolds and make a ALUM cat back exhaust instead of steel. Same with a light weight intake.

the bumper supports would be a massive weight savings but that is a pretty major safety issue if you ever got in even a minor crash.

 

[ty91sho]

I installed a FPS torque converter... it might be a tad heavier but it is quite a bit smaller diameter. and a FPS UDP. that was a HUGE weight savings over stock. I have added much more weight than I have removed.

you guys that are big into having light track cars. why don't you ditch the stock exhaust manifolds and make a ALUM cat back exhaust instead of steel. Same with a light weight intake.

the bumper supports would be a massive weight savings but that is a pretty major safety issue if you ever got in even a minor crash.

good points

 

[38SHO]

+1 on bumper supports....

even tho they are heavy, its a nessecity if you like your car.....



catless exhaust, side exit, no resonator, 1 small muffler... route it before your rear tire... this can save a lot of weight.... big mufflers are heavy, piping all the way to the rear around the axle and gas tank to the bumper is heavy.... even a single exit, you could then also unbolt a couple stock exhaust hangars that also add weight

a sheetmetal intake would probably be a big weight saver, and right up high on the engine.....



swaybars for drag cars; all the brackets, endlinks, bushings and two bars, especially a 24/26 combo adds up....

what about lowering springs... aren't they slight smaller and maybe less overall weight? or cut springs

mentioned earlier were cobra calipers, they can be used on only bigger rotors, that are heavier.... Racer X was using a 2 piston mustang setup on 10.5's... if those are aluminum calipers that would probably be the lightest overall brake combo for the SHO...

 

[gmorrell]

you guys that are big into having light track cars. why don't you ditch the stock exhaust manifolds and make a ALUM cat back exhaust instead of steel.

Because Aluminum melts at about 1220ºF (alloy dependent) and exhaust gas temperatures run to 1500F or more in high output engines?

Perhaps you were thinking of Titanium, which melts at just over 3000ºF?

Various grades of Stainless steel would make for lighter exhaust manifolds, as one could use thinwalled tubing. 321 or 304 Stainless would be good choices, and there's always Inconel, but this rather exotic alloy is wasted on anything but turbocharger manifolds.

Gary, dashing hopes with real engineering and materials data since the beginning, Morrell

I know, how about an Aluminum tubular front subframe? Discuss.

 

[redwraith94]

...I know, how about an Aluminum tubular front subframe? Discuss...

I like that idea, onlinemetals.com has a bunch of different alloy pipe (even 7075) for not too much money, but not all of the aluminum alloys are weldable, and I have no experience welding aluminum. It would save a lot of weight.

 

[PAracer]

I know, how about an Aluminum tubular front subframe? Discuss.

Not gonna get caught in that trap this time.

Next time I go to that track, I think I'll discharge the fire extinguisher in the paddock. That'd be 5 pound right there. ****! All over the engine and interior.:woohoo:

Food for thought. The GC coil over kit cuts 50 lbs from the suspension. Half can be considered unsprung.

 

[strings1732]

All good ideas, except the tube subframe, it's been discussed but with that much work, why not make the car right wheel drive...


Cobra calipers are light but I think the wilwoods are lighter.

Sway bars for a drag car aren't a bad thing in the front. I've found that without a front bar, wheel hop becomes worse. and the quaife exagerates it. the rear is useless dead weight at that point, but the drive home wouldn't be as fun with all the loops to change highways and what not.


Gary, I love reading your posts... They are intriguing to say the least. lol

 

[gmorrell]

All good ideas, except the tube subframe, it's been discussed but with that much work, why not make the car right wheel drive...
Gary, I love reading your posts... They are intriguing to say the least. lol

Yeah, I was just baiting you guys on the Aluminum tubular subframe thing. Hey, I got one bite!

Gary M.

 

[zak]

I wonder how much weight would be saved by swapping out the adjustable tilt steering column for a standard, non tilt column.

Garu, just to bust your chops I am going to see if there are any patents out yet on the high temp. aluminum alloys our shop has been working . . . . . zak

 

[NJSHO]

you guys that are big into having light track cars. why don't you ditch the stock exhaust manifolds and make a ALUM cat back exhaust instead of steel. Same with a light weight intake.

Way too much trouble. See how many performance exhaust manifolds we have to choose from now.

 

[NovaSS]

I removed the entire car and stuck the driveline in a smaller one

 

[gmorrell]

Garu, just to bust your chops I am going to see if there are any patents out yet on the high temp. aluminum alloys our shop has been working . . . . . zak

High temp Aluminum - Bah! I want Transparent Aluminum.

 

[Speedy_91_SHO]

Shoaz, I wondered how people were holding the rear windows up. Thanks for filling me in. I could not, however, do that to the fronts, drag racing needs windows shut, and driving to the track on a 110 degree day with no open windows and no a/c would be unbearable.

crank windows anyone?
Never taken out the whole dash myself, but I would say it would be pretty heavy. I wouldnt think it would be too hard to mount up the cluster to the firewall.

 

[ManySHOs]

This may have been mentioned already. I just replaced 1 (3 more to go!) strut/spring assembly with one of Gary's coilovers + SHOsource top plates/mounts. The bathroom scale said ~ 28 lbs for my old koni/eibach and ~18 lbs for the coilover setup. So, I guess I'm shaving ~ 40 lbs from the car total with all 4 coilovers installed.

Going back out to do the driver's side now.

Ian

 

[ty91sho]

This may have been mentioned already. I just replaced 1 (3 more to go!) strut/spring assembly with one of Gary's coilovers + SHOsource top plates/mounts. The bathroom scale said ~ 28 lbs for my old koni/eibach and ~18 lbs for the coilover setup. So, I guess I'm shaving ~ 40 lbs from the car total with all 4 coilovers installed.

Going back out to do the driver's side now.

Ian

nice you best post some pics with them in the car!

 

[strings1732]

Crank windows don't do much for weight savings. it's marginal maybe a lb or two per window. It's better to just get rid of the windows and go to full lexan. then you can gut the door and lose even more weight.

Coilovers have been mentioned and it is true they save ~40 lbs from the car. I've been looking into as free as possible here(by that I mean Free.50 or less, lol.)

I did however spend 9.72 yesterday on hood pins. Lightweight hoods FTW!

 

[thecrew2999]

I removed the entire car and stuck the driveline in a smaller one

would love to see the car in person

 

[somedude_001]

Because Aluminum melts at about 1220ºF (alloy dependent) and exhaust gas temperatures run to 1500F or more in high output engines?

Perhaps you were thinking of Titanium, which melts at just over 3000ºF?

Various grades of Stainless steel would make for lighter exhaust manifolds, as one could use thinwalled tubing. 321 or 304 Stainless would be good choices, and there's always Inconel, but this rather exotic alloy is wasted on anything but turbocharger manifolds.

Gary, dashing hopes with real engineering and materials data since the beginning, Morrell

I know, how about an Aluminum tubular front subframe? Discuss.

I blurred 2 separate thoughts together there. I meant making the catback out of alum and the Y-pipe and manifolds custom (long tubes ) I had a 1/8" alum exhaust gasket on my turbo SHO that 1slickred89 made for me when i visited him last year. it lasted from Toledo OH to Buffalo NY then to Pitsburg PA. I melted it going up a long steep hill at full boost after beating the **** out of my car. The gasket was before my turbo after the front and rear banks merge. if it will last that long there on a car making some substantial power then it will be fine on a NA car a few feet further down in the exhaust stream.

 

[somedude_001]

Way too much trouble. See how many performance exhaust manifolds we have to choose from now.

oh my god then might actually have to grab some pipe and a welder. :angelnot:

these cars should have came with a factory welder.

 

[HoustinoJillian]

i've started running again... and eating better...