Replace front vacuum tank to loose front weight?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
Replace front vacuum tank to loose front weight?
Hi everyone
I want to remove some extra (front) weight on my 1977. (I already lost around 287 lbs in total.)
Can the front crossmember of a 1968-1972 be installed on a 1973-1979 front frame? (Deleting the big vacuum tank and replacing that with a smaller vacuum tank.)
Or do you guys know of other aftermarket products to replace the very heavy vacuun tanl with while keeping the structural strength of the chassis?
Is a front 80-82 style lighter (not the bumper, only the the chassis asm in the front.)?
I want to remove some extra (front) weight on my 1977. (I already lost around 287 lbs in total.)
Can the front crossmember of a 1968-1972 be installed on a 1973-1979 front frame? (Deleting the big vacuum tank and replacing that with a smaller vacuum tank.)
Or do you guys know of other aftermarket products to replace the very heavy vacuun tanl with while keeping the structural strength of the chassis?
Is a front 80-82 style lighter (not the bumper, only the the chassis asm in the front.)?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
But there is one problem: The radiator support is attached to the tank.
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 13
Likes: 13
From: Gilbert, AZ
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
All weight loss is not equal.
Bang for your buck weight loss, that improves performance, is found in unsprung weight.
Lighter brake calipers, A-Arms, Trailing Arms, etc.improve ride and handling quality.
Even better, if that unsprung weight rotates. Lighter wheels & tires spin up with less power or faster.
Mapman
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
Take a look here,
I did mine years back, there are pictures and a discussion of what is needed
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
I have no knowledge as to if the older model pieces will fit,
Neal
I did mine years back, there are pictures and a discussion of what is needed
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
I have no knowledge as to if the older model pieces will fit,
Neal
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,518
From: Virginia
https://www.ebay.com/str/richard454
FWIW, the 80 C3 dropped 250 lbs from the 79 weight. Lots of that was in the body itself, or the rear diff, etc. But the chassis itself was ligher, too, using slightly thinner steel. The front bumper reinforcement has no vacuum at all, just a Folgers can zip-tied behind the nose (which is easy to delete). Dunno if that works with the earlier nose, but perhaps?
Be sure to read @Bee Jay 's weight loss threads. He documented a lot of ways to shave weight in these cars.
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Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
These are the kits to get:
https://www.ebay.com/str/richard454
FWIW, the 80 C3 dropped 250 lbs from the 79 weight. Lots of that was in the body itself, or the rear diff, etc. But the chassis itself was ligher, too, using slightly thinner steel. The front bumper reinforcement has no vacuum at all, just a Folgers can zip-tied behind the nose (which is easy to delete). Dunno if that works with the earlier nose, but perhaps?
Be sure to read @Bee Jay 's weight loss threads. He documented a lot of ways to shave weight in these cars.
https://www.ebay.com/str/richard454
FWIW, the 80 C3 dropped 250 lbs from the 79 weight. Lots of that was in the body itself, or the rear diff, etc. But the chassis itself was ligher, too, using slightly thinner steel. The front bumper reinforcement has no vacuum at all, just a Folgers can zip-tied behind the nose (which is easy to delete). Dunno if that works with the earlier nose, but perhaps?
Be sure to read @Bee Jay 's weight loss threads. He documented a lot of ways to shave weight in these cars.
Hi guys. I get an email alert any time my name is mentioned. So I had to come see what was being said about me.
The HEAVY *** front vacuum tank serves two purposes. 5 mph bumper protection, and a reserve to operate the pop ups when the engine is off. I removed mine, and I just have to remember to turn off the lights before killing the engine. You do have to remove the radiator support brackets once you remove the tank, but I detail that in one of my Threads.
Merry Christmas
I'm hoping Santa brings me an allocation for a Yellow ZR1 HTC with a biggggggg *** wing.
Bee Jay
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 65
From: Belgium
I removed mine, and I just have to remember to turn off the lights before killing the engine. You do have to remove the radiator support brackets once you remove the tank, but I detail that in one of my Threads.
Merry Christmas
I'm hoping Santa brings me an allocation for a Yellow ZR1 HTC with a biggggggg *** wing.
Bee Jay
Merry Christmas
I'm hoping Santa brings me an allocation for a Yellow ZR1 HTC with a biggggggg *** wing.
Bee Jay
I think my tank has a defect, because everytime I turn off my engine, and want to close the lights. I can’t. So it’s because of the tank or a vacuum line.
Did you fabricate a piece yourself to replace the bottom radiator bracket? Or is it ok to leave the bracket out without a replacement?