C4 Weight Reduction and Speed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 0
From: Sarcasm. Just one of the many services I offer.
C4 Weight Reduction and Speed
I often see posts where people have said their vette was faster than cars with simliar/more horsepower. Is this because of the lighter weight of the vette? How much of a factor is the vette's lighter weight as far as reaching speeds faster, and are their any practical methods of further weigh reduction on a stock vette?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
For cars in our Vette's weight range a 100lb loss is equal to a 10chp gain or about 1mph in Trap speed increase and 0.1sec drop in ET.
The equation for calculating trap speed from chp & launch weight is:
MPH = (HP / weight)**1/3 * 234
The equation for calculating trap speed from chp & launch weight is:
MPH = (HP / weight)**1/3 * 234
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 0
From: Sarcasm. Just one of the many services I offer.
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
would it also help if you had as little gas in your tank as possible when racing? say a gallon of gas weighs 8 pounds, so running 12.5 gallons less than full would reduce the weigh of the car by 100lbs
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
Indeed, I arrive at the strip with about 1/4-1/3 tank of fuel (~80-100lbs) and no spare nor jack (~40-50lbs).
Actually water is 8lb/gal; gasoline is 6.6lb/gal (according to the NHRA rule book).
My launch weight last Sat. was 3350lbs with 1/4 tank of fuel and myself (155-160lbs); so my Vette weighs ~3,190lbs w/o me inside. Compare that with my '86 IROC-Z that launches (with 1/4 tank of fuel) at close to 3,700lbs.
The IROC-Z builds ~255chp and the Vette ~295chp in good weather. This difference along with the large weight difference accounts for nearly 1sec difference in ET.
You can also install lighter wheels to reduce weight without losing any of the ameneties or handling characteristics. You can install "skinnies" up front to further reduce weight and rolling resistance and remove the front sway bar.
Lowering the car will also help a little as it slightly reduces frontal area (which includes the visible rubber).
Of course softer rear tires, though won't increase trap speed, can help in reducing ET which depends strongly on how hard you can launch.
Actually water is 8lb/gal; gasoline is 6.6lb/gal (according to the NHRA rule book).
My launch weight last Sat. was 3350lbs with 1/4 tank of fuel and myself (155-160lbs); so my Vette weighs ~3,190lbs w/o me inside. Compare that with my '86 IROC-Z that launches (with 1/4 tank of fuel) at close to 3,700lbs.
The IROC-Z builds ~255chp and the Vette ~295chp in good weather. This difference along with the large weight difference accounts for nearly 1sec difference in ET.
You can also install lighter wheels to reduce weight without losing any of the ameneties or handling characteristics. You can install "skinnies" up front to further reduce weight and rolling resistance and remove the front sway bar.
Lowering the car will also help a little as it slightly reduces frontal area (which includes the visible rubber).
Of course softer rear tires, though won't increase trap speed, can help in reducing ET which depends strongly on how hard you can launch.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (Jeffvette)
The easiest weight reduction mods are as follows,
Get rid of the spare tire, the spare tire carrier and jack.
Get rid of mufflers and go with muffler elims.
Those two probably take off a good 100-200lbs. :cheers:
Get rid of the spare tire, the spare tire carrier and jack.
Get rid of mufflers and go with muffler elims.
Those two probably take off a good 100-200lbs. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,186
Likes: 1,741
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
Well the ultimate weight-loss comes from removing accessories in the interior and then changing the hood to carbon fiber.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (vader86)
My race setup includes:
1. 1/3 Tank of gas
2. No Spare Tire & Jack
3. Weld rims all around.
4. Skinny Tires up front.
I am at about 3270 lbs with me in the car.
Vic
1. 1/3 Tank of gas
2. No Spare Tire & Jack
3. Weld rims all around.
4. Skinny Tires up front.
I am at about 3270 lbs with me in the car.
Vic
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (vader86)
Well the ultimate weight-loss comes from removing accessories in the interior and then changing the hood to carbon fiber.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
I don't ever race with less than half a tank, if I do, I sometimes bog off the line.
My race weight last year with stock wheels and 3/4 tank was 3434, this year I have the Weld wheels, and now a Corsa which weighs 7 lbs less(whoa!), no spare or jack, no front swaybar and I took all the crap I was carrying in the hatch.
My race weight last year with stock wheels and 3/4 tank was 3434, this year I have the Weld wheels, and now a Corsa which weighs 7 lbs less(whoa!), no spare or jack, no front swaybar and I took all the crap I was carrying in the hatch.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (ir0nmaiden420)
Oh, the 3434 was with me in it(200 lbs).
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Re: C4 Weight Reduction and Speed (vader86)
Well the ultimate weight-loss comes from removing accessories in the interior and then changing the hood to carbon fiber.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
But going to CF hood costs about $1700, and that doesnt include painting.
Or losing weight from your gut.
Doesn't really take away from driveability either.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: glens falls ny
Some of the underhood stuff can go as well i reduced 50lbs so far with my 84 corvette by replacing the serpentine belt with a 70.5 in. belt and deleting the smog pump and ac compressor and condenssor. I also have gotten rid of my mufflers with a cheap pair of deletes from corvette central and i have true duel with no converter but my state is a little less strict on emissions. As far as the spare the jack and the spares plastic holder i have pulled all of the brackets and all right out!
