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I have a set of each. I should weigh them sometime.
Please weigh them! 8lbs savings over the earlier pre 80 Aluminum wheels seems like a ton...especially 8lbs of aluminum which would be quite a lot of mass missing from the 80-82 wheels.
Another idea is to ask the aftermarket vendors that sell the aluminum 80-82 and pre 80 wheels if there is a difference? Maybe Alan 71 would know as well?
I do know that my 17 inch SLP aluminum wheels are about 5 lbs lighter than the OEM 78 15 inch aluminum rims but there is clearly less aluminum mass on the SLP 17's............
Last edited by jb78L-82; May 10, 2018 at 08:58 PM.
The Hemmings article can’t be correct. I have weighed-the steel corvette wheels and the aluminum wheel. About 8lb.difference. An additional 8lbs less would place this in the light weight “drag” only category; around 10lb.s!
The Hemmings article can’t be correct. I have weighed-the steel corvette wheels and the aluminum wheel. About 8lb.difference. An additional 8lbs less would place this in the light weight “drag” only category; around 10lb.s!
I agree. I think they are getting confused with the fact that YJ8 and N90 wheels are 8 plus pounds lighter than steel Rallye wheels, which is a known fact. But there cannot be that much difference between YJ8 and N90 wheels....I doubt if there is more than a few ounces difference.
There are a few other things in the later Vettes that are lighter. The glass is thinner, the interior parts like the center dash and console are plastic instead of metal, I believe the seats are lighter and the 82's have a fiberglass rear spring.
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by v2racing
There are a few other things in the later Vettes that are lighter. The glass is thinner, the interior parts like the center dash and console are plastic instead of metal, I believe the seats are lighter and the 82's have a fiberglass rear spring.
Mike
Correct!
I've got my stock '69 seats stored away in the basement and am presently using some out of a '79. They're about 15# lighter (each!) than the stock '69 seats.
The 80-82's did have the first application of the composite rear spring BUT ONLY the base suspension cars. The gymkhana suspension/Sport suspension continued with the the 7 leaf steel spring with the Sport suspension.
I just replaced my stock 78 seats last Fall with a pair of 1980 Clam seats that I bought, completely refurbished them with new 100% leather covers with 4 inch bolsters, new foams, and painted my light doeskin color with the the exact correct colored spray paint as well as repainted the seat tracks.
The 80-82 clam shell seats are MUCH lighter than my stock 78 seats AND are so much more comfortable with great support for driving briskly...no more holding the steering wheel and leaning on the door to brace myself. Love the clamshell seats!
I have been on a long road to weight reduction myself and as much as I would love to drop the 30lbs of steal I just can't bring myself to replace the factory 69 seats. As a convertible with separate headrest seats they are the centerpiece of the interior. Reupholstered them myself and they are indeed heavy.
If I had a coupe would change them out in a heartbeat
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; May 13, 2018 at 11:55 AM.
My 72 vette weighted 3180 with an almost full tank of gas,. I was pleasantly surprised after hearing so many times that C3's are 3500+ cars. I had expected my car to be about 3250.
The Dart SHP block added 25 pounds over the stock block if I recall correctly. The rear tire and Jack are removed from the car. Engine has Aluminum heads & intake, Aluminum radiator, du seal fans, Vintage Air front runner serpentine belt system with AC compressor and L88 hood. The AC condenser is removed. Full Vette Brake Products suspension with the fiber glass springs. Car has power brakes and power steering.
The car still has the original seats, rally wheels, stock brake calipers, factory burglar alarm & TH400 transmission.
Eventually, I would like to do more weight reduction. Wheels, calipers, battery & seats at the top of the list. I think there is at least 100 pounds of easy weight reduction. I think it might be possible to get just under 3000 pounds but that would result carbon fiber drive shaft, Aluminum half shafts, alum differential, different cross brace, alum master brake cylinder, ,4L60e transmission steel column bracket and probably more...
Last edited by 99 Black Bird TA; May 13, 2018 at 08:33 PM.
Once you get that assembly out of the car and it's in your hands you'll be standing there shaking your head wondering what the heck was Duntov and crew thinking at the time, installing something like this in a Corvette.
I can only think that this must have been an incredibly cheap component taken from an early 60s impala or something.
I wanted to clear up some confusion about the clamshell seats and weights. The early seats have steel frames, and are heavy, we know this. The clamshell (clam shell?) seats are much lighter. Whether on purpose or by accident, there have been some inconsistent comments on the clamshell seats in this thread.
Clamshell seats are in 1978 Pace Car edition cars, and all 1979 cars, and all 1980-1982 cars. Did they get lighter in 1980 when the Corvette dropped 250 lbs? I have sets from both, and weighed them. Here are the results:
Clamshell seat from 1979 (passenger side): 29.5 lbs
Clamshell seat from 1980 (passenger side): 28.2 lbs
I'd say that's within the margin of error, considering the seat from the 79 has been restuffed, recovered, and has the back carpet patch, while the 80 seats are likely original but missing the carpet. I can't guarantee that either seat is original to the car it came from, though, so perhaps the mystery continues.
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by brian76
What did you replace it with?
Brian76, I replaced my cast iron bracket with the later ('75 and later models, according to MCMLXIX) stamped steel bracket. If you have a '76 you are spared the fun of this exercise.
Please weigh them! 8lbs savings over the earlier pre 80 Aluminum wheels seems like a ton...especially 8lbs of aluminum which would be quite a lot of mass missing from the 80-82 wheels.
...
I have the N90 wheels off the car. I weighed two of them. With the heavy center caps, trim weights, and Goodyear Eagle GT II tires (255/60-R15), they each weighed 48.8 lbs.
I'll ask the garage to weigh them again when they have the tires off.
Does anyone have a comparable set of YJ8s to compare them to?
Last edited by Bikespace; May 28, 2018 at 11:22 PM.
Reason: Added tire size
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by Bikespace
I have the N90 wheels off the car. I weighed two of them. With the heavy center caps, trim weights, and Goodyear Eagle GT II tires, they each weighed 48.8 lbs.
I'll ask the garage to weigh them again when they have the tires off.
Does anyone have a comparable set of YJ8s to compare them to?
I got a bunch of the YJ8 wheels lying around. I'll try to remember to weigh one tomorrow.
I have the N90 wheels off the car. I weighed two of them. With the heavy center caps, trim weights, and Goodyear Eagle GT II tires (255/60-R15), they each weighed 48.8 lbs.
I'll ask the garage to weigh them again when they have the tires off.
Does anyone have a comparable set of YJ8s to compare them to?
I just weighted my 78 Aluminum YJ8 wheel with a 255/60/15 BFG Radial TA mounted and the tire/rim combo is 49lbs, as I suspected. I was very doubtful that the N90 wheels were lighter and the two rims weigh exactly the same.....another myth debunked!
Last edited by jb78L-82; May 29, 2018 at 09:48 AM.
