lightning the chassis?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: 2011,2012 ECS CC 10.50 CHAMP Massapequa NY
lightning the chassis?
Has anybody tried to lighten the chassis after a roll cage has been added? Could this be done by drilling a bunch of holes in it with a large hole saw? Lets hear some thoughts on this.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: 2011,2012 ECS CC 10.50 CHAMP Massapequa NY
Thanks, just looking for ideas. I think the frame is pretty strong except where the rear kick ups attach to the main frame. With a cage installed it strengthens that area quite a bit.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,212
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From: Westminster Maryland
In the early 60's there were some Pontiac 'Swiss Cheese' 421 cars from several well known racers. I had the fun of seeing them run a few times. They seemed to be a slightly different shape each time they came back to the pits from a 'hard' run!
Regards,
Alan
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
from your other thread sounds like with using a solid rear axle its never going to be anything but a drag car. That big front crossmember all those big heavy coil springs iron calibers at all four wheels need to go. Your not going to have any corning loads put into the front end anymore use a lighter crossmember front suspension componenets. I'm sure your going to get rid of all the pop up headlight stuff. the cowl hood is heavy you can get a paper thin one, probably could lighten the bodies fiberglass in places, if its just a drag car not idled in traffic a small light radiator with less water capacity would do the job for a few seconds to a few minutes.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Jan 4, 2009 at 01:05 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Sorrento Italy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: 2011,2012 ECS CC 10.50 CHAMP Massapequa NY
from your other thread sounds like with using a solid rear axle its never going to be anything but a drag car. That big front crossmember all those big heavy coil springs iron calibers at all four wheels need to go. Your not going to have any corning loads put into the front end anymore use a lighter crossmember front suspension componenets. I'm sure your going to get rid of all the pop up headlight stuff. the cowl hood is heavy you can get a paper thin one, probably could lighten the bodies fiberglass in places, if its just a drag car not idled in traffic a small light radiator with less water capacity would do the job for a few seconds to a few minutes.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 4
From: 2011,2012 ECS CC 10.50 CHAMP Massapequa NY
From the corvette history website it said an 80 weighs 3206 shipped. Could that be possible? If thats correct with 150 just from the steel defences and other stuff I should get done to 2900 to 3000 lbs no problem.
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Sorrento Italy
I'm sure they're far more then 80lbs (in a '77).
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: North Easton Mass
The vacuum tank for the headlights is part of the front crash structure on newer models. You will have to rig up another tank if you ditch the crash structure or just make sure the engine is running when you open or close the lights. Not a big deal either way. Switching to an aluminum engine like a LS1 will save at least another couple of hundred pounds.
Rick B.
Rick B.