Weight Reduction??
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 722
Likes: 2
From: Odessa FL
It is best to start if you burn more calories than you take in 
.
In order to strip off enough weight that makes any difference you would make the car to where it is not enjoyable as a street driver. A couple of hundred pounds might only pick up a tent or so. You would probably spend less money if you bought a used super comp dragster and slap an LS3 on it. With a couple of cheap mods you would have an easy low 8 sec car.
You will destroy your car trying to pick up a 10th of a second by using weight reduction.I have been down that road before and I have always regretted it.
This is just an opinion of someone who has experience driving 250 mph funny cars.
.In order to strip off enough weight that makes any difference you would make the car to where it is not enjoyable as a street driver. A couple of hundred pounds might only pick up a tent or so. You would probably spend less money if you bought a used super comp dragster and slap an LS3 on it. With a couple of cheap mods you would have an easy low 8 sec car.
You will destroy your car trying to pick up a 10th of a second by using weight reduction.I have been down that road before and I have always regretted it.
This is just an opinion of someone who has experience driving 250 mph funny cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,913
Likes: 15
From: El Segundo California
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16
These cars have been designed to be as light as possible. When Dave Hill was heading up the Corvette program, he put out a edict to his engineers working on the new C6. I'm paraphrasing here; If you want to add something to the car you must take away something so the weight stays the same.
The upcoming C7 is rumored to be 200 to 400 pounds lighter than the C6.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 472
Likes: 5
From: Austin Texas
You can replace parts with their racing/lightweight versions (usually very expensive) or take stuff out that isn't necessary.
Lighter replacement parts:
carbon fiber hood/body panels
tires (non-runflat)
wheels
rotors/calipers
exhaust
battery
seats
windows/glass
coilovers
Remove:
radio/speakers
air conditioner
carpet/padding
power steering
You'll easily spend $10k on lightweight parts. That money is usually better spent towards performance upgrades.
Lighter replacement parts:
carbon fiber hood/body panels
tires (non-runflat)
wheels
rotors/calipers
exhaust
battery
seats
windows/glass
coilovers
Remove:
radio/speakers
air conditioner
carpet/padding
power steering
You'll easily spend $10k on lightweight parts. That money is usually better spent towards performance upgrades.
Last edited by LMBTom; Sep 8, 2010 at 05:55 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,024
Likes: 13
From: Loveland CO to Central Coast CA
Are you looking to build a gutted, dedicated track car?
Probably not.
Lots of ways to reduce weight... remove the passenger seat, carpet, insulation, audio & speakers, a/c, front sway bar, you-name-it.
And how much do you want to spend? Replace the drivers seat with a lightweight racing seat; non-runflat tires; lightweight wheels; etc etc etc.
A lot depends on your goal and your budget.
But if you're just looking for an easy way to lose a few pounds, keep in mind that Corvette engineers are well-aware of the performance gains from weight reduction. I'd bet if there's a simple, cost-effective way to save weight, it's already been done by the factory.
For example, why do you think the C6 battery is so small?
More ideas from the C5 forum: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...reduction.html
And, of course, I have to say, there's always Jenny Craig.
Probably not.
Lots of ways to reduce weight... remove the passenger seat, carpet, insulation, audio & speakers, a/c, front sway bar, you-name-it.
And how much do you want to spend? Replace the drivers seat with a lightweight racing seat; non-runflat tires; lightweight wheels; etc etc etc.
A lot depends on your goal and your budget.
But if you're just looking for an easy way to lose a few pounds, keep in mind that Corvette engineers are well-aware of the performance gains from weight reduction. I'd bet if there's a simple, cost-effective way to save weight, it's already been done by the factory.
For example, why do you think the C6 battery is so small?
More ideas from the C5 forum: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...reduction.html
And, of course, I have to say, there's always Jenny Craig.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Are you looking to build a gutted, dedicated track car?
Probably not.
Lots of ways to reduce weight... remove the passenger seat, carpet, insulation, audio & speakers, a/c, front sway bar, you-name-it.
And how much do you want to spend? Replace the drivers seat with a lightweight racing seat; non-runflat tires; lightweight wheels; etc etc etc.
A lot depends on your goal and your budget.
But if you're just looking for an easy way to lose a few pounds, keep in mind that Corvette engineers are well-aware of the performance gains from weight reduction. I'd bet if there's a simple, cost-effective way to save weight, it's already been done by the factory.
For example, why do you think the C6 battery is so small?
More ideas from the C5 forum: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...reduction.html
And, of course, I have to say, there's always Jenny Craig.
Probably not.
Lots of ways to reduce weight... remove the passenger seat, carpet, insulation, audio & speakers, a/c, front sway bar, you-name-it.
And how much do you want to spend? Replace the drivers seat with a lightweight racing seat; non-runflat tires; lightweight wheels; etc etc etc.
A lot depends on your goal and your budget.
But if you're just looking for an easy way to lose a few pounds, keep in mind that Corvette engineers are well-aware of the performance gains from weight reduction. I'd bet if there's a simple, cost-effective way to save weight, it's already been done by the factory.
For example, why do you think the C6 battery is so small?
More ideas from the C5 forum: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...reduction.html
And, of course, I have to say, there's always Jenny Craig.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,913
Likes: 15
From: El Segundo California
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,338
Likes: 2
From: Somewhere Texas
Depending on what you want to do with your car when you get done, the best place to start is unsprung weight. I think the formula is one pound of unsprung weight is equal to 6 pounds of sprung weight. Someone might correct me if that's wrong. You can lose a lot of weight with two piece rotors, lighter wheels, and ditch the runcraps.
TRR
TRR
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The first question to be asked before a reasonable expected answer is:
What is your intended purpose for reducing weight?
Gas mileage?
Road track?
Dragstrip?
Get within the GVW limits, so your girlfriend can ride with you?
What is your intended purpose for reducing weight?
Gas mileage?
Road track?
Dragstrip?
Get within the GVW limits, so your girlfriend can ride with you?
Last edited by HOXXOH; Sep 11, 2010 at 02:57 PM.
