Weight saving on new age motors
 

Anyone done weight saving mods that are simple enough? Just interested to see what others have done...

Also, anyone used/found titanium parts/bolt kits for scoobs and are the reasonable on costs?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...eef--Onion.jpg

Sorry.

Couldn't help myself...!!

Isn't titanium a very precious, hence very, very expensive metal..?

lol Who ate all the pies? My fault was KFC and pizza hut over the weekend...

It sure is...titanium bolts and nuts are mint but then cost a mint...just wonder if anyone has replaced bits like this...

Try loosing your spare wheel and jack, replace with a can of tyre weld and an RAC card :D
Good 20kg's there, every little helps.

Funny enough, just done that, but now worried this tyre weld stuff could cause issues with getting the tyre repaired (as per other topic) - still waiting to decide which way to go ref spare wheel.

yep i just did that dont think it would have fitted on my new big APs

Hmm, never thought of that ref the spare as I also have large APs...sweeeet.

Replacing both front seats with bucket seats will save quite a few kgs, OEM ones are pretty heavy! Could also remove:
Rear electric window motors and mechs
Rear wash wipe motor and mech (only on some cars, though you need to plug the rear screen!)
Rear door speakers

Then fancy parts like carbon props, l/w flywheel, l/w crank pulley etc.
New set of alloys may be lighter than your current items.

I think Spec C screens fr and rr are also thinner than UK spec, a few kgs there.

Anyone else have more ideas?! :)

Cheers for the ideas...I'm at the stage of more costly mods then, ie carbon prop...ouch.

I dont have rear wash wipe but I do have a rear screen heater...can that be removed? Anyone know the weight saved from one of these units on a newage?

PS Anyone know what the nuts and bolts are as standard on a new age? They look about M6 size? I'm ref strut top mount bolts, various engine bolts etc.

Rear heated screen. Why not run with no back window. ;)

Be careful on replacing the wheels. Some of the Subaru wheels, both 17" and some 16" are already lighte than some of the alloys I see people replacing them with. Check first. If you want to pay money to add weight you have to be seriously into bling. :)

I thought the scoob had a heater unit instead of heater wires in the glass!!?...then again am I'm thinking of my old Rover...:wonder:

One thing i keep finding, take a load of stuff apart, & when I put if back together, I have a few nuts n bolts leftover. I reckon if i keep doing this i'll get my bugeye down to 1100kgs! ;) :)

Pictures of a scoob running down the road with 3 wheels and spoiler hanging off spring to mind...:eek:

A completely out there, left field, suggestion would be to replace the handbrake mechanism and rear brakes with VAG style ones. WHere the handbrake works through the rear pads and doesn't have a separate cast iron drum and shoes.

Quite how you'd do that, erm.. I dunno. But I do know that My Skoda's PCD is 5x100, same as a classic. Newer age cars, both VAG and Subaru differ by a few mms. ISTR 112 vs 114.3...

J.

Def get the impression weight loss isn't easy once past a few simple mods (already done)...seems buying Type RA etc is the only method really, but then, wouldn't want their gearing.

:confused: Hi no-one seems to of mentioned the removal of the A/C.Few kilos saved there:thumb:

The double din oem head unit weighs a fair bit..!

Agree there, no idea why its such a heavy lump since it does no more than an aftermarket unit - which I've already done, single Din Alpine...;)

space saver wheel
 

Have a full size wheel in the boot , My alloy wheels are lighter than the thin space saver!!!!!

Steve

Change the front seats for some carbon items (oem seats are approx 25kg, new recaro is 6kg)
Remove the rear seats, bench, firewall and parcel shelf replace with carbon panels if you wish
Remove all seatbelts/inertia reels and just add some harness's
Change wheels for some lighter alloy or forged items
Swap OEM Brembos for some APs

Well these are my weight saving to date lol :D

looking at similar route for mine.

If your going to lighten the car, just buy a jdm spec c 16 inch which is the lightest of all the new age cars :D

Tony

That sounds some decent weight saving...wonder what you motor weighs now?

Not much lighter once my fatass is plonked in it i bet lol :D

remove the following to save a few kg's....

Dash
air con
rear seats
carpet's
roof lining
boot lining
rear spoiler
door card's
central locking motors
window motors
alarm + immob
tracker?

more extreme measures would be to replace the bumper support on the front with a piece of box section or flat bar if your handy at welding, you can save 8kg's on that alone. If it has them remove the spot lights.

I would also bet that somewhere make fibreglass panels for scoob's with the use in rally etc. thats your next step!

also if you have a 6sp box, maybe thinking about swaping it for a 5sp sti recon box? save a bit there too.

get busy with the holesaw on the interior metal work! ;)

If this is a track car then get on with it, but on the road you will see little or no benefit IMHO. FWIW, you can get lightweight batteries (have a look in Group Buys right now), there are two (IIRC) carbon canisters (1 under bonnet, 1 behind rear bumper) which are something to do with condensing petrol vapours, but they weigh a tonne each and the car can run without them (I think). GRP spoilers weigh some, so either go commando and ditch the almost zero effect ch@v wing or find a carbon replica. OZ Superlegerra alloys are very light, but as stated above, find out if the difference compared to OEM is worth it. The back seats are easy to remove if you don't carry passengers often.

A word of warning though, declare every change to your insurers. A driving instructor colleague of mine had a major claim denied as he had altered his vehicle from OE spec without notifying them, and all he had done was remove the rear head restraints to make rear visibility easier. They weren't even a factor in the accident, but they had their excuse and saved themselves several thousand pounds.

Cheers for the canister info...will investigate. Doesn't the canister catch the fuel vapour and recirc back to the tank?
Already cool ref insurance as I'm middle aged bloke so got LV to cover...mods is almost what you like, they dont want to know...I've even asked them a few times ref bigger mods, but still same reply :thumb:

Indeed. Removing seats with side airbags in them could be an issue (also at Mot time I would have thought).

Or, get a seven stone lass to drive your car and don't use it yourself. :D

Edit - might be lucky to find a seven stone lass in Blighty thesedays ! :lol1:

Cool. But make sure you get written confirmation from them, even if they say they're not too bothered at the mo.

Removing the charcoal canisters is illegal as its an emissions compliance item....and will loose you about 8% fuel economy...

Breifly they catch fuel vapour from the tank in activated charcoal and as you drive a valve is opened by the ems that allows air to be sucked through the charcoal so the vapour is sucked into the engine and burnt instead of being released to atmosphere.

Simon