C8 weight saving measures?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 438
Likes: 82
C8 weight saving measures?
Out here in CA, dropping pounds on my car made the biggest difference in driving feel. Granted it's a c5, but what kind of possible weight savings do you guys think will be possible with C8 without spending a small fortune? Will clear top provide much savings over painted? Will any of the seat choices or other options be particular lighter than the others? Wheel choice? Guessing thinspokes willl be lighter. Ten pounds here, twenty pounds there really adds up, but maybe chevy has already maximized savings. Yall with c7s would probably have some insight about this, I was just curious
Last edited by RueBurgundy; Aug 7, 2019 at 11:23 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 388
Likes: 41
C7 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I dropped a 100 lbs from my C7 Z51. Some of the same weight saving items won't apply to the C8 eg. carbon DSS driveshaft. I would look at the exhaust first and wait until the titanium crowd comes out with a system. Then maybe a light weight balancer, wheels, and the brakes in CCB, which may be offered later by GM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,088
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From: Metro Detroit Michigan
I dropped a 100 lbs from my C7 Z51. Some of the same weight saving items won't apply to the C8 eg. carbon DSS driveshaft. I would look at the exhaust first and wait until the titanium crowd comes out with a system. Then maybe a light weight balancer, wheels, and the brakes in CCB, which may be offered later by GM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 1,778
From: North Texas
Out here in CA, dropping pounds on my car made the biggest difference in driving feel. Granted it's a c5, but what kind of possible weight savings do you guys think will be possible with C8 without spending a small fortune? Will clear top provide much savings over painted? Will any of the seat choices or other options be particular lighter than the others? Wheel choice? Guessing thinspokes willl be lighter. Ten pounds here, twenty pounds there really adds up, but maybe chevy has already maximized savings. Yall with c7s would probably have some insight about this, I was just curious
"Thin" wheel spokes don't mean they are lighter. Being thin, they are likely solid. Often the larger spokes are hollow. You would need to weigh the wheels to figure out which is lightest. Much more benefit in losing unsprung weight than sprung weight in terms of handling.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 183
Likes: 121
From: San Antonio Texas
Out here in CA, dropping pounds on my car made the biggest difference in driving feel. Granted it's a c5, but what kind of possible weight savings do you guys think will be possible with C8 without spending a small fortune? Will clear top provide much savings over painted? Will any of the seat choices or other options be particular lighter than the others? Wheel choice? Guessing thinspokes willl be lighter. Ten pounds here, twenty pounds there really adds up, but maybe chevy has already maximized savings. Yall with c7s would probably have some insight about this, I was just curious
Layoff the cheeseburgers for a start....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: North Dallas 40 TX
A good suggestion. The amount of weight I could lose from changing my diet and exercise regimen would probably cost more than $10k likely much more for the Corvette. For me, little to nothing and I would be healthier and it would make getting in an out easier. It may also cause me to attract women, which may be bad for my marriage. 😱😢 So losing the weight could be much more costly. Maybe I will just go for making more power.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 54
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From: Royal Oak MI
I've got it set in my head that I'll do fixed Recaro buckets, There's some plastic trim bits in the trunk that could be lost. You could probably drop some weight out of the carpets, and maybe find some sound deadening in the door panels to strip out. Aftermarket wheels will probably save some weight, as well as non-run flat tires. The rear glass is a lot smaller, so less to be gained in going lexan. LG offers solid motor mounts for C7 that are lighter. I'm sure you'll be able to find two piece rotors shortly after launch. Carbon fiber body panels will probably be available in a year or so.
I'm excited to hear what people come up with as far as light-weighting goes. I've got an '82 911 that I'm trying to get down to the 1000 kg range, so I'm hooked on light-weighting.
I'm excited to hear what people come up with as far as light-weighting goes. I've got an '82 911 that I'm trying to get down to the 1000 kg range, so I'm hooked on light-weighting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 8,434
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From: Texas
Lightweight wheels and tires will make the largest difference for certain. For the money spent.
I noticed in the photos it still uses a lead acid battery, there's an easy 40 pounds you can save right there for about $350.
Might be cheaper to just buy a Lotus instead honestly.
I noticed in the photos it still uses a lead acid battery, there's an easy 40 pounds you can save right there for about $350.
Might be cheaper to just buy a Lotus instead honestly.
Last edited by Suns_PSD; Aug 7, 2019 at 03:21 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
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If you start hot-rodding a new C8 Corvette, the biggest weight-saving you'll experience is in your wallet... calculate the weight of 300-400 US MInt certified copies of that famous president Benny the Frank, and that will give you a ballpark
Le Mans Master
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From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2019
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A lot of high end cars are going with forged wheels (w/o runflats) and a can of fix-a-flat in the trunk. The saying goes that every pound of unsprung weight is worth 10 normal pounds in acceleration, braking and handling. On my current car I saved about 10 lb per wheel over the stock cast 19" wheels. Does that mean it feels like a 400 lb difference? Maybe, maybe not, but there is a noticeable difference. Forged wheel designs look great and you can get a degree of concavity not available in cast.
Last edited by Kellhound; Aug 7, 2019 at 04:52 PM.