Anyone know why GM didn't put headers on this car from the factory? +20hp, -20lbs, and no ground clearance issues. They are not stupid and they went to great lengths to make power and reduce wieght. There has to be a reason. Great thread by the way. I had not thought about removing the AIR system before, but now I'll do it at the same time as headers so I can get the tune fixed for both at the same time. I also like the fixed projector headlight mod. Another one that reduces wieght while improving performance.

 

Be careful regarding the fixed headlight mod. From all the research I've done, there is no "economical" fixed light out there that fits worth a damn and performs that well, particularly without HID capability. Good luck though!

 

For all of you rotating mass removal junkies...

StopTech will be offering a new Ceramic rotor system in the very near future. Most people would liken them to the Porsche PCCB system. The difference is that our product has superior technology in a number of areas. We're heading into the final stages of testing right now.

We currently have a set on my Engineering Mgr.'s car, and we saved roughly 35lbs. of unsprung weight...that's just on the rotors vs. our standard iron units we use in our big brake kits. In other words, our BBK with iron rotors weighs roughly 35lbs. more than our BBK with the Ceramics!

I'm hoping to have a set on my car within the next month or so. I'll post pics and details at that time. They won't be cheap, but an enormous weight saver for someone with a deep wallet. They'll help with every aspect of performance...braking, handling, acceleration, etc.

Optional funny sidebar story: I was recently at a Porsche shop in Florida where we put a stock 1-piece 911 GT3 rotor on the scale, followed by our aluminum hat with the ceramic rotor (which was even slightly larger in terms of dimensions than the stock GT3 piece). The stock GT3 rotor weighed 26lbs. Our hat / rotor combo weighed 10lbs. Needless to say, that caught the shop owner's attention! Imagine knocking 64 lbs. of rotating mass off of your GT3, without having to worry about the rotors shredding, chipping, etc. on the track like the PCCB units. That's where we're heading.

 

But spending hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars for lightweight items and tearing out comfort items that make the car noisy and uncomfortable doesn't make sense to me. [/QUOTE]

I agree, and in my own case, the weight savings of the parts isn't the (only) reason I'm putting them on or spending $$, it's a side benefit though, and a big one. I want a fully functional Z06 (not interested in tearing anything out) that when I go to the track, is as light as possible. Bigger front brakes for more rotor torque/thermal effenciency, track seats (put in for track days only) because the stock ones are terrible on the track, headers for more power, wider rims for the track (that are lighter)etc. The side benefit of most of these is saving weight though. Things like the battery, etc are weight savings only, but fairly cheap to do.

While I suppose everybody has "their thing", and some would snub their nose at paying attention to keeping the car light, I personally think it's hilarious when somebody rips the Ti exhaust out to put in one that weighs 22 lbs more and makes 2 more hp, slaps on heavier than OEM rims/tires, and 75 lbs of speakers and subs in the rear area Nothing like spending $$ to make it go slower...[/QUOTE]

In my defense I didn't design the car, and GM made it work pretty good right off the assembly line (not nearly as portly as the mustang.) For a street driver like mine it doesn't make sense spending a small fortune on reducing weight. Now if your going to track the car like you say you do, and you want or need to improve performance in certain areas it makes sense to look for a lightweight upgrade whenever possible and financially feasible.

For instance I took the heads/cam headers etc. route rather than the Magnuson blower. I'll be making nearly the same power as the blower and won't have to add 100lbs to the nose.

But that's just my opinion.

 

JRitt,

Will the new super lightweight rotors you speak of be for stock Z06 sized replacement, or for your StopTech big brakes (or both)? Any ideas about rough pricing? Thanks for the news!

Steve T.

 

for those who asked.... the 3" x-pipe has NO cats.
so you must also delete the rear 02's with tuning... and yes after removing the a.i.r, the car will still pass smog as long as you delete the triggers with tuning.....

these are all the same mods i did to my 99ss.... more HP less weight makes for a MUCH better driving stopping, turning car!

so after the new 27lb loss.... im thinking a lighter batt. (-15lbs)
should put me at 3000 even.

thats lighter than a honda S200 with 150 more HP !!!!!!!