my car needs a diet

[I_luv_HP&trq]

i'm not sure where to post this but I thought it would be interesting for us to make a list of things we can do to make our cars lose weight. I can only think of some obvious ones but wanted everyones input. List anything you can think of, no matter the cost or practicality....

Light weight driver/passenger seats
rear seat delete kit
aluminum drive shaft & yoke
tranny aluminum bell housing
" " oil pan
lighter pulleys?
lighter flywheel
lighter wheels/tires
utilizing carbon fiber wherever possible
lighter springs s/s
smaller battery
light aluminum heads and pistons

[jimmy_beaner]

start drilling holes in your frame.... hahaha

remove the trunk lining, sound deadening agents in your trunk and doors..

[Ponycarman]

I duno what car you have or year but it's been a very long time since they used anything but aluminum for bellhousings in cars.

As for an aluminum pan, I'm thinking hte cast aluminumpan onmy 96 Stang can;t be lighter than a stamped steel one. It's a casting, which is always thicker than a stamped sheetmetal part. Dunno if the extra thickness is enough to make up for the difference between the density of AL vs steel.

Steve

[97Stallion]

Quote: Originally Posted by I_luv_HP&trq i'm not sure where to post this but I thought it would be interesting for us to make a list of things we can do to make our cars lose weight. I can only think of some obvious ones but wanted everyones input. List anything you can think of, no matter the cost or practicality.... Light weight driver/passenger seats rear seat delete kit aluminum drive shaft & yoke tranny aluminum bell housing " " oil pan lighter pulleys? lighter flywheel lighter wheels/tires utilizing carbon fiber wherever possible lighter springs s/s smaller battery light aluminum heads and pistons

Most of the stuff you listed is aluminum already. And there is really no way around it to make it lighter. Light aluminum heads this is especially one area you do NOT want to remove material excpet for when you P&P them. Your best bet is to get a tubular K-member and A-Arms with coil over springs. That'll shave bout 70lbs or so. Also, an aluminum driveshaft and flywheel will get you about another 30lbs. So that's about 100lbs right there.

[Ponycarman]

Once you are rolling on the highway th biggest gas hog is aerodynamics not weight. Weight plays more into stop and go city traffic. One thing about an aluminum flywheel, you will have to relearn the clutch since it won;t have the mass the steel wheel does you'll tend to stall it easier.

[tedness]

agreeing w/ rob, the lighter suspension components will do you better. especially if you do a total overhaul. a-arms, k-member, control arms, the coilover conversion, and then the same type of coilover setup up front and lighter arms there could save you an additional 30lbs netting 100lbs off the suspension. as far as aerodynamics, the hood scoop causes some un-needed wind resistance as well as your rake and ride height, depending upon how much air you let flow under your car.

this may sound retarded, but lowering my car 1.5" saw a slight improvement in highway gas mileage because less air was getting trapped under the vehicle.

[NorwegianMustang]

So the Mach 1 chin spoiler can improve the gas milage at some point?

[Dom]

Quote: So the Mach 1 chin spoiler can improve the gas milage at some point?

Not really. It'll flex first. The Shinoda one has a better chance.

[SpectorV]

the only thing i would do would be to go with an aluminum fly and driveshaft. Then chop down the rim's with some lighter versions... rotational mass is the way to go, every 1lb = 10lbs of dead weight. There is little you can remove from the car. You could remove the backseat, its worth 55lbs~ but putting wood back in to cover up the area will probably add nearly 15~ back. The rear spare and jack is nearly 30lbs... until you get over 120 lbs (dead weight) your not even a tenth of a second faster.