my upgrades and weight reduction!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
my upgrades and weight reduction!
I have replaced the copper radiator, water pump, and upper and lower pulleys all with aluminum parts, plus deleted the fan shroud and factory clutch fan and added 2 12 inch electric fans.
I lost a grand total of 26lbs!
After all this the I am eliminating the air conditioning box on the firewall for an aftermarket box and that will reduce even more weight.
Later I will list the weight difference of the parts and part numbers of what I bought and pics so stay tuned.
I lost a grand total of 26lbs!
After all this the I am eliminating the air conditioning box on the firewall for an aftermarket box and that will reduce even more weight.
Later I will list the weight difference of the parts and part numbers of what I bought and pics so stay tuned.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
For more inspriation, search threads started by Beejay, he has several detailing big reductions.
My easy tip for losing 50+ #s is get a Braille battery. Everything else starts to get fairly pricey or time intensive. I've got my '70 down to a little over 3100#.
Good luck with your diet!
My easy tip for losing 50+ #s is get a Braille battery. Everything else starts to get fairly pricey or time intensive. I've got my '70 down to a little over 3100#.
Good luck with your diet!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 140
From: Kanuckistan
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Removing most of the front bumper or the doors' reinforcements are questionable moves, cars of that ages are deathtraps enough already.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
For more inspriation, search threads started by Beejay, he has several detailing big reductions.
My easy tip for losing 50+ #s is get a Braille battery. Everything else starts to get fairly pricey or time intensive. I've got my '70 down to a little over 3100#.
Good luck with your diet!
My easy tip for losing 50+ #s is get a Braille battery. Everything else starts to get fairly pricey or time intensive. I've got my '70 down to a little over 3100#.
Good luck with your diet!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I have replaced the copper radiator, water pump, and upper and lower pulleys all with aluminum parts, plus deleted the fan shroud and factory clutch fan and added 2 12 inch electric fans.
I lost a grand total of 26lbs!
After all this the I am eliminating the air conditioning box on the firewall for an aftermarket box and that will reduce even more weight.
Later I will list the weight difference of the parts and part numbers of what I bought and pics so stay tuned.
I lost a grand total of 26lbs!
After all this the I am eliminating the air conditioning box on the firewall for an aftermarket box and that will reduce even more weight.
Later I will list the weight difference of the parts and part numbers of what I bought and pics so stay tuned.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Im just doing upgrades and taking note on the total improvements that I gain, Im not putting the car on a diet but noticed that 26lbs will be gone on the front end from changing out factory parts with aftermarket.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I do a lot of track days and autocrosses. The results are determined by a clock, not some seat of the pants feel. Less weight means faster acceleration (in every direction). Physics doesn't lie.
OBTW, I'm 6'3", 195#. Never been fat a day in my life, and I expect the same from my Corvette.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
The guide I usd to determine if something was too heavy was to toss it up and if it came down it weighed too much.....in the NHRA classes the race cars had a weight factor as to cubic inches divided into pounds....I even used aluminum and titanium nuts and bolts.....you would be surprised how much your bucket of bolts weighs
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
And then take them out and see if you like the positive difference?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
And just think. I could have left the carpet, compartment doors, dash, beauty rings and center caps, and luggage rack. I could loose the rocker panels, gas cap lid and trim, stingray badges and flag emblems too. Nothing but the essentials of making the car go. It's what bikers call "choppers". I could make the trip to the Black Hills so much faster. 
Next year I will take out the passenger seat and leave the old lady behind too. It should make for a real pleasant time.
Next year I will take out the passenger seat and leave the old lady behind too. It should make for a real pleasant time.
Last edited by builder; Oct 20, 2011 at 03:16 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
People poo-poo trivial little weight savings of 5-10 lbs., even 50-60 lbs., and although spending 500 bucks to save 5 lbs. may not turn out to be very cost effective, small weight savings here and there will add up. Do 20 things that save 5 lbs., and bang! there's 100 lbs. 100 lbs.!!!! My Mom was a bookkeeper, and she used to say "Take care of the cents, and the dollars will take care of themselves." Well, when it comes to weight on your car, "Take care of the ounces, and the pounds will take care of themselves."
A bonus is when you replace something with a lighter, better item. Take TimH, for instance. He may not have cared that his aluminum radiator weighed less, he just wanted it to cool better. But it does weigh less, and that's just a little bonus for him. Aluminum heads, aluminum intake, headers----they make more power, AND they weigh less----bonus!!!!!
Here's one alot of folks don't even think about. That big cast iron master cylinder. Ever heft one of those next to a modern aluminum and plastic one? Big difference. Also, getting rid of the entire air conditioning system? I would be surprised if you couldn't drop 100 lbs. right there. (I'm keeping mine anyway.)
Scott
A bonus is when you replace something with a lighter, better item. Take TimH, for instance. He may not have cared that his aluminum radiator weighed less, he just wanted it to cool better. But it does weigh less, and that's just a little bonus for him. Aluminum heads, aluminum intake, headers----they make more power, AND they weigh less----bonus!!!!!
Here's one alot of folks don't even think about. That big cast iron master cylinder. Ever heft one of those next to a modern aluminum and plastic one? Big difference. Also, getting rid of the entire air conditioning system? I would be surprised if you couldn't drop 100 lbs. right there. (I'm keeping mine anyway.)
Scott
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
If we are "poo-poo"ing it, it is probably because we are just hoping to drive ours on another sunny day.
No harm meant by my poo-poo.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
I just finally replaced my intake. The original was 43Lbs. The new one = 15 Lbs. I also replaced the ram horn exhaust manifolds. Replaced with long tube headers, about another 45Lbs. Just those two I almost cut 100 Lbs. I also have aluminum brackets and underdrive pullys. Now I need to lower the front end. She's starting to lift.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
I never even thought about my new exhaust and eliminating the cast manifolds!
I will total up all cost and see what it cost, but when I work on a car I have no budget, if you have to worry about money and an old car please sell old car and start saving macaroni coupons for dinner!
Anyways and you all understand Im going to buy new parts whether heavy or lighter, but the labor, cost, fitment and parts numbers are priceless.
Also just got my new core support from "Rik's Corvettes" and thats where I get every part I can.
More later.
I will total up all cost and see what it cost, but when I work on a car I have no budget, if you have to worry about money and an old car please sell old car and start saving macaroni coupons for dinner!
Anyways and you all understand Im going to buy new parts whether heavy or lighter, but the labor, cost, fitment and parts numbers are priceless.
Also just got my new core support from "Rik's Corvettes" and thats where I get every part I can.
More later.