Ok, I've Googled and searched here (Google is MUCH better) but haven't come up with anything: I know guys with fully-built C5Z06s who, despite having full interiors, C6Z brakes, a rollbar and heavier mufflers manage to get their cars under 3000lbs with them in it, even with the steel frame. Now, I know the C7 comes with a good deal more stuff inside (airbags, speakers, leather, etc), but I want to know if anyone here knows of anybody who has built a C7 with a focus on cutting the weight down.

 

To make a C7 a track car than swap-in this engine:

http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...03674/10002/-1

Why ? Well, that engine has its own engine controller so the C7 OEM ECM and CCM are just thrown away. Then all OEM equipment can be removed. The anti-lock brake parts can be removed and a race-part master cylinder used. The electronic limited-slip can be replaced with a race part. The exhaust can be replaced without using muffler valves. The air bags can be removed and the power seats can be removed. The infotainment system can be removed. The A/C and climate control system can be removed. Any part on the car can be removed. Excess wiring and electrical modules can be removed. Then while the car only has 505 HP it also has weight reduction
.

 

Or you could just put an aftermarket computer in the current car if you wanted to do the same, never be emission legal, and lose all the hightech of the c7. Putting a ls7 motor in it would be a step backwards.

 

tube chassis + C7 skins.

 

The C5 through C7 have a channel chassis. That's hollow rectangular cross-sections turned tallwise and larger than earlier Corvettes. That's stronger than a tube chassis until the tube chassis adds a roll cage but the channel chassis can add a roll cage also.

A tube chassis is affordably available but that's a stock-car chassis with (something like) a 1967 Chevelle front suspension and a beam axle rear suspension. The wheelbase and track are a little different. The only Corvette parts kept are engine and bodywork. There are also wide stock-car tube chassis available so that's two different race car rules. The wide chassis uses a wide look-alike custom bodywork. The reason that this is done is that most cars don't have a chassis that can be used for a race car. The reason that it is done for a Corvette look-alike is that it's not necessary to buy and gut an OEM car. The race car rules that allow a tube chassis most likely also allow the Corvette OEM chassis but the OEM chassis would be disadvantaged against rules that allow a wider chassis. Tube chassis with independent rear suspensions come from high-end race shops and are not over the counter parts.

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Back to the OEM car, and weight reduction without taking off all the OEM equipment is done with lighter wheels, battery, and cat-back exhaust system. Easily, get rid of the run-flat tires
.

 

Some (extreme) food for thought:

Removals:
Passenger Seat
All trim panels (rear, rear sides, rear upper, door, floor, A- & B-pillars)
Glovebox
Carpet
Amplifier
Subwoofer Assembly
Door & Rear Speakers
Front Top Dash Skin + Speaker Grilles
Tweeter Assemblies
Vanity Mirrors
Top Trim
Mirror Replacement
Engine Dress Trim (Down to Intake Manifold)
Hood Liner
AC System / Condenser / Evap
Driver Area Trim (wheel trim, knee trim, etc)
Center Console incl. Armrest
Center Stack - Radio/HVAC/Electronics


Replacements (replaced with):
Driver Seat (CF or similar)
Wheels (CF or similar)
Tires (non-RF R-comp)
OE Manifolds (LT Catless)
OE Midpipe (Ti X-pipe or similar)
OE Rear Exhaust (Ti Akrapovic or similar)
Lower Exhaust/Belly Shield (Replace w/ plastic or nothing depending on aero)
OE Battery (Race Li Battery)

Feel free to add to this... This is all pretty extreme, but it's a list nonetheless!

 

1LT base is your best bet. Get's you close to 3180lbs. Then you have to do some fun work.

Toss the run flats (-40 lbs)
Headers ( -15 lbs )
Floor matts ( -5lbs )
Washer fluid ( - 10lbs )
Plastic engine cover ( - 2/3 lbs )
After market intake ( - 2 lbs )

That's the less extreme stuff you can do to shave weight. The 2lt option adds allot of weight, and from my research it's more than what Z51 adds on the car. Just so you know, the C7 is still very light and newer cars roll very well with extra LBS due to good aerodynamics. Best example of this is the GTR... Car is a pig however, it moves like it's 3200lbs

 

This is more what I'm looking at

Anything more extreme would be more in line with Jim's Ultraleggera Z06, not a race car build

I may end up having to sell my C5 Z06 if I transfer to California (I have no interest in returning this car to stock), in which case a C7 will be on my short list of replacements. If I can get it over 500hp and around 3000 pounds (curb, no driver), as I have on my C5Z, without failing the visual or tailpipe emissions or taking away from its primary duty as a street car, that's what I would like to do. I like light weight and N/A power, so a CARB-legal blower is not on my list.

I would probably start with a Z51 to get the suspension enhancements, so that's a weight gain, but I would also be looking to swap the exhaust for Akra's titanium pieces once they hit the market. Unfortunately, the seats on these weigh more than mine and manual rails aren't available, so those "gimmes" aren't there, and I'll only do headers/X if somebody makes one that I can EASILY switch for factory manifolds when cert time rolls around, so that's another area where it's not as easy to lose weight. Since the new seats are actually decent, I won't be so motivated to immediately dump them, either. I have no love for runflats, so that's as good as done. How many speakers are in these beasts? Magnets aren't light...

Keep it coming, and if anybody runs across a lightweight street C7 build, let me know

 

A good deal of these are solid as well and in line with the Halltech build I mentioned, minus the passenger seat and AC removal

 

The goal would be to have the car no less friendly to drive on the street than my C5 Z06, so while 50-way power air-conditioned seats aren't a priority, basic AC and stereo are

 

To get to the -400lb mark, you're looking at having to do a lot of the radical parts of that list and spend some serious money. CF wheels, Li batteries, and Ti exhaust components aren't cheap, after all.

-100lb is fairly easy, as is -150lb, but once you get to -200lb, you start hitting diminishing returns really quickly.

 

Yeah, I hear ya

I can see $3500 on the exhaust (before headers/X, of course) and doing the little things to tally up some more, but CF wheels are still over $10k and not feasible. I could probably shave some more weight with two-piece rotors. Can all the performance goodies be ordered on a 1LT? That's all I care about, and starting off below 3250 would make everything else much easier.

I hate California

 

This is the build I was referring to, although if I pursue a C7 build, it would be more like "Ultraleggera C7 Z51, on a 'budget'"

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...-underway.html

 

The Volk TE-37 wheel used to be available for the C6 Z06. That's a wheel both strong and lightweight and even stout-looking. It must be some-kind-of-alloy and high pressure forged.

The only thing similar is going to be a Forgeline monoblock wheel. Well, there are other forged monoblock wheels but they seem exotic in availability.

The BBS RS-GT wheels are reasonable in weight. They look like three-piece wheels but are forged wheels with a bolt-in center. The only sizes are 18 x 9 with 19 x 10.5 .

Next, a stainless-steel muffler with X-pipe should save weight. Or in other words, the cat-back system not just an axle-back system. (In fact headers are becoming available that keep the cats.)

And then the battery. Braille has a 21 pound battery that will be enough battery if heated seats, high-amp stereo, high beam headlights, and other similar things are avoided. (Some say that the Braille battery is just a re-branded Deka power sports battery but it is possible that it has a different chemical formulation.)

Recaro seats can save weight while being great quality but the side air bags will probably be given up

http://www.plantedtechnology.com/cars-wanted/
.

 

I plan to run titanium mufflers on whichever car replaces this one (be it a C6Z06/ZR1 or a C7), so that will be dealt with

Battery options will be researched heavily

Do you know if the wheels you mentioned have a weight savings vs the factory Z51 wheels?

I have done some footwork and the Z51 with Comp Seats and Mag Ride is available with and without NPP in 1LT trim, so my starting base is right there where I want it

I have at least a year before it matters, as I do not have to register in Cali yet

 

yes, the Z51 wheels are not light. you can easily save 8 or 9 lbs per wheel.

if you are saying you don't have a C7 yet, you may be getting a 2015? I think I saw that NPP will be part of Z51......? not sure.

 

I have an exhaust system in the works that is going to save around 15lbs.

If we can get enough people together to do a decklid it could save 30+.

 

Nope, no C7 yet. I have a 3000lb, 500hp C5Z that I will hang on to for a couple years or until I have to comply with CARB, which could be as soon as next year (when my AZ registration expires) if I get the transfer I've been applying for. Right now, I am just seeing which way I will go with a car choice when the time comes so I am not playing games.

Yeah, I just did a bit of my own footwork; it appears that GM hasn't ever really put any lightweight wheels on anything below a Z06. That makes that task easier.

Sweet I know of a couple titanium systems coming to market this year as well, so it looks like those options will be there. Would the decklid be CF?

Also, does anybody know yet what, if any, C7 parts will be made in lighter weights for the Z06? There might be some losses there available right from GM.