new lighter c3 shell?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Bang for the buck, as a first step, I would start with unsprung mass. Especially tires / wheels / brake disks - anything that rotates.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Thief River Falls Minnesota
Here's an interesting article on a light C3, might be a little expensive finding one of them though 
http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vem...tes/index.html
http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vem...tes/index.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
I know of a couple of race Vettes with lighweight front/rear body parts on them. You can lose around 30-40lbs I think Ecklers has done some of these parts in the past. Check with some of the suppliers, expect the body line and gaps to not ever be perfect and body may warp in changing temprature conditions, the price you pay for SPEED!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 825
Likes: 40
From: Glasgow, Scotland
Thanks guys for info
really keen to make my 78 vette as light as possible
are the SRIII motorsports chassis any lighter?
the doors on the C3 seem to weigh a ton, any after market ones?
what makes the C3 so heavy?
any thoughts welcome
cheers
dave
really keen to make my 78 vette as light as possible
are the SRIII motorsports chassis any lighter?
the doors on the C3 seem to weigh a ton, any after market ones?
what makes the C3 so heavy?
any thoughts welcome
cheers
dave
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
You need to tell us what your ultimate goal is. Autocrossing, circuit racing, fuel economy,....etc. Then tell us how much, or little, you wish it to weigh. Then tell us how much money you want to spend, and be realistic here!
Cast iron weighs a lot more than aluminum, and most every part on a Corvette that came from the factory in cast iron has an aftermarket equivalent in aluminum. You would save more weight looking here than at the body.
Engine block, heads, inlet manifold, water pump, AC compressor, PS pump, differential, calipers are the obvious ones to start with. Tubular steel headers, plastic rear spring, two piece rotors etc. are other areas to look at. Replacing power windows with lighter wind up windows saves a few kilograms.
If you do all or most of the above, you will lose over a hundred kilograms and the car will perform a lot better. Leave the body work alone, you could spend thousands of dollars to save tens of kilograms. Even replacing your wheels with real magnesium will save a bunch.
Like I said, tell us what you really want and how much you want to spend and we will give you solid advice.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 825
Likes: 40
From: Glasgow, Scotland
My ultimate goal is to make the car as light as possible, not for any particular area in motorsport, lighter means faster
Ive done most on your list, apart from magnesium wheels, window motors, just exploring other areas ive not thought of, but maybe someone has
cheers
dave
Ive done most on your list, apart from magnesium wheels, window motors, just exploring other areas ive not thought of, but maybe someone has
cheers
dave
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,351
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Keep in mind that C3 weights and I think all Corvette weights peeked in 1978/9 and then became lighter as time went by. Emmisions and safety requirements were 2 of the leading causes of weight gain during the 70's. Corvette began to drop in 1980, IIRC thats when the 'batwing' was made from aluminum
A 1970 is hundreds of pounds lighter than your '78.
'70 curb weight: ~3285
'78 curb weight: ~3590
'80 curb weight: ~3490
'12 curb weight: ~3208
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 825
Likes: 40
From: Glasgow, Scotland
Keep in mind that C3 weights and I think all Corvette weights peeked in 1978/9 and then became lighter as time went by. Emmisions and safety requirements were 2 of the leading causes of weight gain during the 70's. Corvette began to drop in 1980, IIRC thats when the 'batwing' was made from aluminum
A 1970 is hundreds of pounds lighter than your '78.
'70 curb weight: ~3285
'78 curb weight: ~3590
'80 curb weight: ~3490
'12 curb weight: ~3208
A 1970 is hundreds of pounds lighter than your '78.
'70 curb weight: ~3285
'78 curb weight: ~3590
'80 curb weight: ~3490
'12 curb weight: ~3208
cheers
dave
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
I'm sure you have seen this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...loss-mods.html
I have to agree with it's not worth the expense to try to lighten the body. Too much money and too much work as well as taking away from the fit and finish. Lighter is faster and handles better but you get to a point where it's cheaper to build horsepower than it is to take weight off. Of course that's after you have reached the point of no return.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...loss-mods.html
I have to agree with it's not worth the expense to try to lighten the body. Too much money and too much work as well as taking away from the fit and finish. Lighter is faster and handles better but you get to a point where it's cheaper to build horsepower than it is to take weight off. Of course that's after you have reached the point of no return.
