Having been reading the thread on comparison of weight between classics and bugeyes, i thought to myself - i'm spending lots trying to improve BHP and torque figures but why dont i just shed some weight.

Question is - what do you get rid of?

I never use my air con. If i'm hot i let the window down to hear those lovely flat four sounds. Surely that weighs a bit?

What else can i get rid of?

 

Lift the carpets and remove all the sound deadening pads, underfelt and other stuff. Then if you're bothered put the carpets back. You'll be surprised what that lot weighs.

Speakers and electric window motors are heavy, dump the speakers and go for windy up windows.

 

go on a diet, this is what adam m has done - saves taking weight off the car!

 

Hey i'm a skinny git already!!!

 

i have removed-
the air con,
spare wheel,jack and brace (replaced with tyre weld and an AA card ),
rear toeing eyes,
lots of sound deadening
and lots of other stuff that i can't remember.

 

I make sure I have trimmed off all the ends of the plastic tie grips.
Also never carry too much loose change in your pockets (I put it in the glove box).
(or is this a serious thread ? )
Stan

 

Lol Stan

Serious. mmmm - it was for a while but its kinda gone wrong.

What about if i remove all my windows to reduce wind resistance?

doesnt the engine weigh quite a bit??

 

So being slightly serious, I should consider removing my tool kits, gallon of oil, oil filter, assorted jubilee clips and Samco hoses, octane booster (in case I can't find Optimax), spare bulbs, front belt (for the engine !) etc ........
Or go on a diet.
or all of the above.
I bet most people carry a load of stuff "in case something happens". Admit it !!!!!!
Stan

 

Funny you should say that. For some reason, i have 3 bottles of OB and 1 litre of oil in the glove compartment

 

Remove the alternator - You'll save weight AND increase HP - you'll need to charge the battery every night though but hey.

 

Get some stop flat tyre repair stuff and remove the spare tyre, you can also get one that is in a presurised can that fixes holes in tyres up to about 10mm.

Sorry I see already mentioned

[Edited by submannz - 4/28/2003 12:37:48 AM]

 

Start with the important stuff first: remove unsprung weight, ie lighter wheels and tyres and wheel nuts and brake discs. Then move on to the car itself: spare wheel and jack as mentioned, junk the panel and the trim, remove rear seats, junk floor mats if you have any, junk radio, A/C weighs around 15kg i guess, ABS about 7-8 kg, airbags about 3kg each, take out ashtray etc

 

Carbon fibre bonnet, scoop, boot lid, spolier, AP's, magnesium alloys etc etc.

 

if you get rid of all your sound deadening, underseal, and sealants you could save circa 30kg of weight.

I've built a few rally cars and it unbelievable how much weight is in that stuff!!

Jono

 

How much extra "go" are you likely to see from 30kg though (in whatever terms, 1/4 mile, 0-60 etc.)? If I'm honest, I can't really tell the difference between the car having just me or me and a passenger and if I'm nice I'd put them at about 60/70Kg

 

how much noisier is it with the sound deadening removed?

I've taken the spare wheel and jack out, and the boot carpet. I want to leave my carpet in (cos it does look naff without it in the cabin, I think) but take the sound deadening out... bearing in mind I'm going full decat when the warenty's run it's course (roll on august) I don't want it to be tooooo loud.

Couldn't bring myself to remove the sounds so I bought some very lightweight front's.

 

Every little help.

If you manage to get rid of lots of little bits at that sort of weight it all adds up, its amazing how much difference it makes.

Removing aircon would probably save much less weight than the underseal.

In response to the noise one. in a word Very!! You dont realise how well it works till you've been in a similar cars with and without it.

Reductions in weight helps with acceleration and braking.

Jono