Need to lose front end weight! How much can I take off?

[colenot]

Hi there

I am looking to lose as much front end weight as I can, since the back end of mine is completely stripped, and it has upset the weight distribution! Power slides have never been so easy!

I have a fibreglasss bonnet, but am trying to figure out how much of the whole bonnet mechanism I can remove, without upsetting any structural elements! Any pointers on this or other ways to remove weight (removing the engine not an option!), gratefully received!

Thanks

[ouch]

Hi there

I am looking to lose as much front end weight as I can, since the back end of mine is completely stripped, and it has upset the weight distribution! Power slides have never been so easy!

I have a fibreglasss bonnet, but am trying to figure out how much of the whole bonnet mechanism I can remove, without upsetting any structural elements! Any pointers on this or other ways to remove weight (removing the engine not an option!), gratefully received!

Thanks

you had to get that in frist about the engine. before anyone on here said it. well thought

[johnono]

fiberglass wings

non pas steering rack

move battery to the boot

sounds lke uԚ´re tracking it so remove 2 of your lamps

no fogs or lamp washers

carpet, center console, lower mid console (basically just the dash left)

perspex windows (side only if u feel brave)

steelies instead of alloys


.....you could just as well gut the whole car, but i dunno how far u want to go fella

[john325tewerin]

Alloy wishbones make a noticable difference to the feel of the steering but are tres expensive.

[Simon]

ABS fitted? Remove it and get rid of the pump, it's very heavy!!! 4.5kg to be exact!

[fuzzy]

how would you remove the abs pump? how would the brake pipes be connected up afterwards?

[Brianmoooore]

how would you remove the abs pump? how would the brake pipes be connected up afterwards?

Put them back like thet are on a non ABS car. Probably need to cut the odd pipe and form a new end on it. Simple to do with a hand held flare tool.

[calder]

or join the pipes together with Goodrige hose or similar and a T/Y piece for the front brakes - am about to do the same sometime soon to get rid of the abs pump

Also remove the front bonnet hinge assembly complete, weighs a kilo or 2, easy to install front bonnet pins, comes in handy to work on the engine as the whole bonnet lifts off when you remove the bonnet.
In the engine bay- remove the plastic bits from behind the lights, remove the fan shroud, get under the car take off the rubber padding from inside the transmission tunnel and the lower bulkhead, ditch some of the heat shields - not all otehrwise the car will get too hot inside.
Interior - ditch it all, get rid of the carpet - probaly wieghs 10kgs+, its over 1" thick in the footwells, get all the sound proofing cake material out another 10kgs+

[JazzMan]

Good selection of brake pipe joiner type bits here inc. a 4 way:

http://www.nfauto.co.uk/cbs_products_new.htm - no online sales but stuff arrives next day

Or http://www.frost.co.uk/

[Demlotcrew]

fiberglass wings

non pas steering rack

move battery to the boot

sounds lke uԚ´re tracking it so remove 2 of your lamps

no fogs or lamp washers

carpet, center console, lower mid console (basically just the dash left)

perspex windows (side only if u feel brave)

steelies instead of alloys


.....you could just as well gut the whole car, but i dunno how far u want to go fella

steelies instead of alloys?

Andrew

[Chaos]

steelies instead of alloys

steelies r heavier than alloys m8

[320Touring]

steelies instead of alloys

steelies r heavier than alloys m8

true but could you not have narrower tyres on em so lower weight overall for wheel and tyre?

moreover is it not the case that only certain alloys are lighter than steelies-eg split rims/mags etc??