Need some ideas on weight saving...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County New Jersey
Need some ideas on weight saving...
Over the winter, I want to put my FRC on a "diet". What are some suggestions on saving pounds? Started with order of Z06 exhaust and magnesium wheels...(Note to wife, yes, I promised no mods. Sorry.)
Also, if I shed significant weight on the car, will it change the suspension dynamics, or have an adverse affect on handling overall? Thanks!
Also, if I shed significant weight on the car, will it change the suspension dynamics, or have an adverse affect on handling overall? Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
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From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
If you're like most of us, the best way to save weight would be for YOU to go on Atkins.
South beach, I lost 35lbs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
If you're like most of us, the best way to save weight would be for YOU to go on Atkins.
as for the car, ditch the radio, a/c, carpets, you can get rid of most of the interior panels, they're just for looks. Headers will save a few lbs. I think that BBS makes some of the lightest race wheels you can get and I've heard of a company that makes full titanium suspensions for C5, but it was way out of my price range, so i didn't get their information. Ditch the passenger seat completely and replace the drivers seat with a carbon fiber race seat. How far do you want to take this. Think seat, shifter, steering wheel, wheels, engine and tires. everything else can be replace or removed.
Oh, you could get some of those titanium rotors, but I would really trust them to stop the car if you drive hard.
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Best place to start is exhaust. Some LG headers all the way back to Z06 Tis and you can easily lose close 50lbs overall, while gaining 20+hp and sound! Win/win/win.
Dunno why you'd want magnesium wheels, they are too narrow (same size as stock). I'd get some lightweight wheels like CCWs and run some nasty tires (that IS why you are lightening the car, right? Better performance?). At the very least, stock Z06 wheels are actually quite light.
It gets harder after that. Lightweight seats, CF hood (and other body panels), rip out the interior. These cars are pretty light as it is. All composite body panels, aluminum subframes and suspension pieces, composite leaf springs, etc.
Dope
Dunno why you'd want magnesium wheels, they are too narrow (same size as stock). I'd get some lightweight wheels like CCWs and run some nasty tires (that IS why you are lightening the car, right? Better performance?). At the very least, stock Z06 wheels are actually quite light.
It gets harder after that. Lightweight seats, CF hood (and other body panels), rip out the interior. These cars are pretty light as it is. All composite body panels, aluminum subframes and suspension pieces, composite leaf springs, etc.
Dope
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,333
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From: VA
St. Jude Donor '03-'11
is your objective to lose weight without any look/functionality changes? or lose weight no matter what?
Exhaust changes including headers will probably yield about 40 lbs. You already mentioned wheels. Get rid of runflats... between the wheels and tires, it'll probably be another 25 lbs or so.
I read in a thread somewhere that removing the A/C stuff is something like 80 lbs, which really surprised me. Not sure if that's accurate.
You can probably save some weight by replacing the radio and speakers... the bose units are heavy. Although that'll just be a few pounds.
Carbon fiber hood (from Z-16) will probably save you around 15 lbs.
If you want to spend big money, they make composite rotors.
Saving weight on any rotating part is a double bonus.
You can also get a lightweight flywheel/clutch.
Exhaust changes including headers will probably yield about 40 lbs. You already mentioned wheels. Get rid of runflats... between the wheels and tires, it'll probably be another 25 lbs or so.
I read in a thread somewhere that removing the A/C stuff is something like 80 lbs, which really surprised me. Not sure if that's accurate.
You can probably save some weight by replacing the radio and speakers... the bose units are heavy. Although that'll just be a few pounds.
Carbon fiber hood (from Z-16) will probably save you around 15 lbs.
If you want to spend big money, they make composite rotors.
Saving weight on any rotating part is a double bonus.
You can also get a lightweight flywheel/clutch.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
I saved weight on my Z by replacing the pop up headlights with the C5R units from Specterwerkes, replacing the factory battery with an Optima, and Kooks headers.
Of course, all of this weight was offset by my partition and Nitrous bottle.
Andy
Of course, all of this weight was offset by my partition and Nitrous bottle.
Andy
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Originally Posted by NJblackrose92
Dope, thanks for the info...didn't realize the CCW's were lighter than the mags! Definitely wanted to tweak performance for some fun road racing next year.
Lightweight flywheel and underdrive lightweight crank pulley can be worth a few lbs (And a few hp at the wheels too).
Dope
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47,647
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From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
This is my list of weight savings. I think its fairly impressive
Titanium exhaust: ....................... 18 lbs
Full Kooks headers: ...................... 23 lbs
(high flow cats, xpipe, etc.)
Red top battery: ........................ 4 lbs
Total: 45 lbs
I'm going to replace my stock runflats with GS-D3 non-runflats or supercar tires once the stocks go bald. That's a difference of 24 pounds for all 4 tires. I'm also thinking of getting a carbon fiber hood someday if I get enough chips on the stock one. That's 10.6 lbs That would bring my total weight savings to 79.6 lbs!!!!
If you are truly, TRULY crazy, you could get a set of titanium rotors and pads. Not only do they stop your vette better but the weight savings is 33 lbs for a grand total of 112 lbs. That's almost like not having me on board at all!!!
Titanium exhaust: ....................... 18 lbs
Full Kooks headers: ...................... 23 lbs
(high flow cats, xpipe, etc.)
Red top battery: ........................ 4 lbs
Total: 45 lbs
I'm going to replace my stock runflats with GS-D3 non-runflats or supercar tires once the stocks go bald. That's a difference of 24 pounds for all 4 tires. I'm also thinking of getting a carbon fiber hood someday if I get enough chips on the stock one. That's 10.6 lbs That would bring my total weight savings to 79.6 lbs!!!!
If you are truly, TRULY crazy, you could get a set of titanium rotors and pads. Not only do they stop your vette better but the weight savings is 33 lbs for a grand total of 112 lbs. That's almost like not having me on board at all!!!
Last edited by alex1217; Nov 23, 2004 at 03:02 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47,647
Likes: 1
From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by Villian C5
ccw's are as light as mag wheels? or even as light as stock Z06? I don't know about that.
Anyone have any real numbers for CCW's like the 505 or 500?
Anyone have any real numbers for CCW's like the 505 or 500?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
You'd really want some Jongbloed wheels with the mag centers.
Check this out: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=physics
I've posted information about the weight of wheels, tires, rotors, calipers, drivetrain components, headers, mufflers, accessories, batteries, glass and seats. Lots of info, and I update it occasionally.
Check this out: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=physics
I've posted information about the weight of wheels, tires, rotors, calipers, drivetrain components, headers, mufflers, accessories, batteries, glass and seats. Lots of info, and I update it occasionally.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 47,647
Likes: 1
From: Queens, New York Life begins at 183 mph....
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by leaftye
You'd really want some Jongbloed wheels with the mag centers.
Check this out: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=physics
I've posted information about the weight of wheels, tires, rotors, calipers, drivetrain components, headers, mufflers, accessories, batteries, glass and seats. Lots of info, and I update it occasionally.
Check this out: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=physics
I've posted information about the weight of wheels, tires, rotors, calipers, drivetrain components, headers, mufflers, accessories, batteries, glass and seats. Lots of info, and I update it occasionally.
I think the thread in which you got the weight of the 2001+ Y2ks is incorrect. The fronts are 19 from other threads I've read where the Y2ks were weighed on a machine scale. If they were 16, they would be much lighter in the front than the Mag wheels but heavier in the back.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
I can't really take much credit. As you can see, I get my information from other people. All the credit goes to them for doing the research.
I'm with you too about those Y2K wheels. Many of the figures are shady. Check out the spring rates, they're all over the place. I posted the original sources so anyone could go back to the thread and make their own opinions. Some people I trust, like David Farmer, John Shields, Subdriver, Hardbar and a few others, but there are many other sources that aren't as solid.
I'm with you too about those Y2K wheels. Many of the figures are shady. Check out the spring rates, they're all over the place. I posted the original sources so anyone could go back to the thread and make their own opinions. Some people I trust, like David Farmer, John Shields, Subdriver, Hardbar and a few others, but there are many other sources that aren't as solid.
