Lightweight Replacement Parts
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Instructor
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Lightweight Replacement Parts
Does anyone have any info. about available lighter-than stock parts that could save enough weight to bring that could save enough weight to bring about an increase in 1/4 mile performance? That is, lt. wt. hood. rear hatch glass(plexi), etc. Thanks, Jack
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I know they make a carbon fiber hood that saves considerable weight. I don't know if anyone makes a p/glass rear window or if people have just made their own.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Texas
Wow, $2500 for a carbon fiber hood... 
Wonder how it looks painted. I had heard that paint on carbon fiber has a "weave" look to it unless the carbon fiber is laid a certain way.
It was an interesting point they brought up on the website. With the carbon fiber hood and the Lexan glass rear window, you save over 100lbs. How significant is that? I have seen a thumb rule that every 100lbs gains 1/10th of second on the 1/4 mile. I dont drag race, so that is meaningless to me. What about stopping distance and cornering? I know it may be hard to quantify something like that but would it even be noticeable (like installing a Camber Brace...
couldnt help it).
Wonder how it looks painted. I had heard that paint on carbon fiber has a "weave" look to it unless the carbon fiber is laid a certain way.
It was an interesting point they brought up on the website. With the carbon fiber hood and the Lexan glass rear window, you save over 100lbs. How significant is that? I have seen a thumb rule that every 100lbs gains 1/10th of second on the 1/4 mile. I dont drag race, so that is meaningless to me. What about stopping distance and cornering? I know it may be hard to quantify something like that but would it even be noticeable (like installing a Camber Brace...
couldnt help it).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by bigjack
Does anyone have any info. about available lighter-than stock parts that could save enough weight to bring that could save enough weight to bring about an increase in 1/4 mile performance? That is, lt. wt. hood. rear hatch glass(plexi), etc. Thanks, Jack
I don't know what model C4 you have ie L98, LT1/4 or LT5, but my LT headers and bullet cats were much lighter than the factory pieces they replaced. Taken as a whole it's probably at least 15 to 20lbs off of the front.
I saw a thread about a GP Lexan rear windows a while back, try running a search you may get lucky.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by Performance nut
With the carbon fiber hood and the Lexan glass rear window, you save over 100lbs. How significant is that? I have seen a thumb rule that every 100lbs gains 1/10th of second on the 1/4 mile.
Originally Posted by Hotred94
All things being so-so, 100 lbs equals about one tenth of a second of a quarter mile.
Any other thumb rules out there for when you put your vette on a diet? I eventually will be working on the body and have been curious about weight reduction for non-drag racing purposes (autocross and road racing, but hey I drive it too).
Does the weight reduction have to be significant to really notice all the other benefits?
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Sun city CA
Originally Posted by bigjack
Does anyone have any info. about available lighter-than stock parts that could save enough weight to bring that could save enough weight to bring about an increase in 1/4 mile performance? That is, lt. wt. hood. rear hatch glass(plexi), etc. Thanks, Jack
Seats ! Lightweight seats are out there...
Wheels... find some Dymags...other lightweight wheels out there for a price...
Headlights, titantuim exhaust, the list goes on and on... how much money do you want to spend ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by Bigvmaxx
A while back I talked to person that makes the C4 hoods... She said she had a 56 lb fiberglass hood that will take the rigors of the street... I don't know what a stock hood weighs, but they are heavy !
Seats ! Lightweight seats are out there...
Wheels... find some Dymags...other lightweight wheels out there for a price...
Headlights, titantuim exhaust, the list goes on and on... how much money do you want to spend ?
Seats ! Lightweight seats are out there...
Wheels... find some Dymags...other lightweight wheels out there for a price...
Headlights, titantuim exhaust, the list goes on and on... how much money do you want to spend ?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 16,282
Likes: 104
From: Sun city CA
Originally Posted by Performance nut
Titanium exhaust? Can those even be custom made? I havent seen too many places that are tooled to fabricate exhausts with titanium who do custom orders. Even if you could, the cost would be prohibitive compared to the weight savings.
