turbotalon

Just got our new scale in and tested it on the 75’ project. It gives you total weight, weight at all four points, percentage of left/right and front/rear.

Looks like we shaved almost 500lbs, but a lot heavier on the driver side. Then factor in a driver and the ratio favors the driver side heavily.

Also, weight doesn’t reflect not having the hood on and driveshaft in.

ajrothm

I don't think 3200 is that bad, especially for a vert.

Remember on the driver side you have the battery, brake booster/MC, steering column, steering gear box etc etc... Makes sense that its 100lbs or more heavier on the driver side.


I'm curious what you did to shed 500lbs.... Mine is super porky and I actually added weight to it....

doorgunner

500 lbs.! That's a big weight loss.

turbotalon

Yeah, we came to the same conclusion as well about all of the accessory’s favoring the driver side.

We put a lot of time and money into the car. So the weight loss came from a lot of little areas. We switched to aluminum heads & intake on the sbc 400. We shaved some off from the wilwood calipers and rotors. Replaced the heavier rally steel rims and tires with aluminum chrome plated rims and new tires(lift and install with one hand).

Our heavy turbo 400 was over kill for our HP numbers so we switched to a 4l60e we had left over that was behind our 400hp 96’ callaways SuperNatural impala ss. We had shaved some off replacing the old bulky trans crossmember with a new custom built crossmemeber. Down to removing the spare tire and a different exhaust setup. Removed the a/c system to include compressor and condenser.

We were surprised with almost 500lbs as we kept the vette as close to factory looks as possible. Also, for every part swapped out for a lighter version we did find ourself a adding weight in other areas.

turbotalon

Yeah we are happy with the number, but would of liked and guessed 3,000 or less. However, we didn’t factor that in other areas we ended up adding weight.

For the most part, we can’t do very much more to shave weight that wouldn’t go against the integrity of the build. We wanted to keep it as factory looking as possible. So for now, the car will stay right where it’s at weight wise.

ajrothm

My 71' SB car originally weighed 3340lbs with a 1/2 tank of fuel. That's with AC, PS, T400, and pretty much all original besides removal of the spare tire.

After I rebuilt everything, here is how it went down.

Weight added:
Iron head BBC
HD 2.7" driveshaft, 3" half shafts, flanged axles etc.
5 boxes of Dynamat in the interior
10" sub in a small box, 4 channel amp
3" stainless steel exhaust system
Big electric fuel system and steel mounting plate

Weight removed:
Aluminum intake, water pump and radiator
Much lighter 10" converter
Switch to Vintage Air from factory air...(-50lbs)

Now it weighs 3550lbs with a 1/2 tank. 3730lbs with me in it, 3660lbs with skinnies on the front.

I'd love for it to be 300-400lbs lighter but... The only significant stuff I could do would be aluminum heads, Wilwood brakes, aftermarket aluminum wheels etc... and all of that may only get me 200lbs off for a LOT of money...

Neil B

I'm guessing mine is 3200-3300 with basically a gutted interior. I need to find some scales and verify.

turbotalon

Wow, you got to at least start off at 3340lbs! I can’t believe from 71-75 the weight jumped that much. The 75 bone stock rang in at 3690lbs with no occupants. The weight added sounds like a good weight add though lol. We also went with a electric fuel pump setup. Like you upgraded the sound system a bit lol.

Put on a aftermarket exhaust and the stock radio in these cars are about as useless as **** on a boy.

turbotalon

If I had to guess and we will verify. We will be closer to the 3300 mark than currently 3200 once we get the hood, driveshaft and exhaust pipes back on.

derekderek

so your C3 turns 10.5's with iron GM heads? Which ones and how much work?

Mr D.

Where did you find that 500 LBS?

turbotalon

As in, how did we do it?

Simple. Spent way more money on the car than any sane person would’ve, lol.

The owners put enough money into the car that we could’ve bought up 5-7 mint c3’s.

How we did in every area other than extrerior and interior. Everything not needed such as a/c, spare tire, etc was removed. Then we either swapped parts out for a lighter aftermarket version. Or just went to a full performance part.

Priya

My 70 Torino was 3700 lb. I consider anything under 3700 lbs light. If I remember correctly I heard the new Challenger is 4200-4300 lb -pretty heavy for a "sports" car although I suppose all those modern gadgets add up.

v2racing

The 1975 had a lot of weight added for safety. 5 MPH bumpers front and rear and beams in the doors. The bumper system is very heavy. The hoods are horrifically heavy too. They also added a converter to the exhaust.

I got rid of the bumpers on my 75 Vert. Also aluminum heads, intake, water pump, and radiator, rack and pinion steering, glass rear spring, aftermarket hood, mini starter and tubular a-arms. I also ditched the AC.

Mike

69427

I swapped the battery and alternator over to the right side to reduce the left side weight. I also used a lighter battery and alternator in the process.
Replaced the cast iron steering column support for a lighter stamped steel piece off a later C3.
I pulled out the stock brake booster and m/c and installed a C4 booster and a C5 m/c for additional weight off the left side.

I'm at 2760# with a full factory interior.

turbotalon

Your list intrigued me. That opens the door a bit more to pursing shaving more weight. I’ll definitely be looking into some of those.

ajrothm

Yes.. GM 049 oval ports. Worked by Mark Jones (Vortecpro Performance)

turbotalon

Priya

Seeing as you're asking, I much prefer the factory hood to the L88. I think the factory 73-79 hood is the nicest with the possible exception of the LT1 hood minus the pin striping.

C3 Stroker

L88