Ultima weights

[mt308]

Has anyone had their GTR (on Can Am) weighed?

I think the factory quote a wet weight of 990kgs for the world record car, which has a cast iron block engine (but probably no aircon?)

Wondered what an LS engined car with air con might weigh in at (as this is now a common set up). Am I right the LS engines are a fair bit lighter?

Cheers

Mark

[corvettedave]

I know that a fully dressed LSX( comes with iron block and alloy everything else) only weighs 40 kg more than a fully dressed LS3

[mt308]

Website shows weight as 950kgs, kerb weight of 990kgs (difference I assume is full tank of fuel - single 40 litre tank I guess).

Still interested to know if any road spec Ultimas (i.e. with air con and normal options) have actually been weighed.

Mark

[Corsair613]

I'll certainly be weighing mine once it's finished later this spring. Standby…

Ken

[Racingroj]

Mark
I have an LS7 car and during geometry set up weighed 1015kgs with fluids and only 5 litres of fuel.
Roj

[F.C.]

corvettedave said:

I know that a fully dressed LSX( comes with iron block and alloy everything else) only weighs 40 kg more than a fully dressed LS3

I have an LSX M/S block (iron)+ S/C+I/C 1040kg last time I looked.

[845ste]

mine 1030kg with a/c and L98 and with all liquids, middle gasoline but NOT big brake (they are corvette diameter 320mm).....

[Storer]

Mine was 1120kgs with 3/4 fuel, a/c, big battery, tools and various other bits and bobs in the side pods. Worth mentioning that I added additional bracing, front splitter and removable sidepod floors.

When I get in it goes up a little.......

Ironically the car rides much better with a passenger too. I would say it handles better with that passenger too (on the road) as it is a little less 'skittish'.

My car is not built to be as light as possible but to be comfortable enough to drive to Le Mans.

If I really wanted a 'light' Ultima I would start again from scratch, build a super-light chassis, carbon body and go to the gym and shed 4 stone!!


Paul

[deadscoob]

1050 for me fully fueled and with 360mm disks with 6pots all round.

I reckon it's quite easy to get sub 1000kg without carpet, soundproofing, stereo etc, but I'm not sure trying to save that weight would be hugely noticeable, but it would be noticeably less pleasant to drive on road imo.

[Abbosevolution]

deadscoob said:

1050 for me fully fueled and with 360mm disks with 6pots all round.

I reckon it's quite easy to get sub 1000kg without carpet, soundproofing, stereo etc, but I'm not sure trying to save that weight would be hugely noticeable, but it would be noticeably less pleasant to drive on road imo.

I'm wondering if I'm going to regret going the minimalist route with total focus on car performance - no carpets or stereo - have aircon and have sucumbed to the Edelbroke coil covers that are quite weighty but nothing else !

[deadscoob]

I doubt it, if that's what you want, if you'd gone carpet / extra insulation you'd always wonder what it would have been like more minimalist.
I've done the lightweight thing with Westfields before, this time I wanted something that was good on track but also had a few comforts.

[mt308]

Weights all sound exactly what you'd expect (as has been said with no a/c and no carpets, fully fuelled (presumably 40L rather than 80L) 990kgs sounds right).

Quite a lot of car tests I read for some of the big manufacturers show actual weights being way over the manufacturers quoted figures - seemingly much more than any options could account for (though options lists on the more luxury end of the market I am sure do account for a lot of mass).

Mark

[Graham-P]

I like those coil covers, gives it an 'old skool' look. I've been wondering what to do with my covers that I got from GD, either to repaint them and try to find a gel badge manufacturer to get Ultima on them or to replace them all together........

[Racingroj]

Steve
Can't wait to see yours and especially all the AB bits. I'm having thoughts of actually building one myself again so it will be just what I want. I'm not sure making the changes will be cost effective. What do you think? Any other constructive comments from any one else would be appreciated. Just for the record mine is a GTR, LS7, G50 001-1-J, standard dash and everything else including air-con.

Work Required on my current Ultima for my personal taste!

Panel behind radiator to protect the battery
New connectors for the front and rear lights
Mini relays for indicators
Check voltage to dip beam & fit relay if necessary (page 68 of Ultima Forum - Dip Beam Headlights)
Fit indicator stalks
40mm longer steering column
Shrink wrap wiring?
Fit clam warning lights
Replace A/C compressor or sort the clutch
Billet pedals
Remote oil filter
Nimbus heat shield between oil pipes and the exhaust headers
Sabelt 6 point harnesses
New steering wheel - Momo (Sorry this is a wedding anniversary present fro the ever-loving crewe chief)
DEI gold heat reflecting sheets?
Fit heavier springs (for track only)
New road brake pads - Pagid RS29?
New dashboard - Dash 2 Pro
Leather interior and recover dashboard
Spare set of wheels with track day tyres
Heavy duty drive shafts
New electric mirrors - Steve Smith
Anti Roll Bars
Rear diffuser - Steve Smith
Brake vent kit and front clam redesign - Steve Smith
New cover and position for rear view camera - Steve Smith
Fuel system redesign - Auto Bionics
New oil breather tank - Auto Bionics
Central locking - Auto Bionics
Exhaust system - Auto Bionics
Gearbox oil cooler kit
Engine bay cooler kit - Auto Bionics
Heater and A/C controls - Auto Bionics
Turbo gearbox with centre shift - Auto Bionics
Sequential gear shift - SQS Racing

Some photos, sorry mine wouldn't upload so these are the photos from the previous owner who had a car turntable!

[deadscoob]

It'd be easier to do that all when building, but it's probably still cheaper for you to do it the way you have.

Recovering the dash with the screen in wont be fun, I think central locking once built will be a bit if a pain, but the rest should all be fine.

[renmure]

Racingroj said:

Some photos, sorry mine wouldn't upload so these are the photos from the previous owner who had a car turntable!

Blimey Roj, with all them things wrong with it I should be grateful that you bought it before I did!!!

[Racingroj]

Jim
Don't get me wrong there is nothing at all wrong with the car. That list is partly me being OCD and personal preferences. Couldn't be happier with the build quality I just want to take it to the next level and add more comfort and usability. Any suggestions?
Roj

[stringvest1971]

Abbosevolution said:

deadscoob said:

1050 for me fully fueled and with 360mm disks with 6pots all round.

I reckon it's quite easy to get sub 1000kg without carpet, soundproofing, stereo etc, but I'm not sure trying to save that weight would be hugely noticeable, but it would be noticeably less pleasant to drive on road imo.

I'm wondering if I'm going to regret going the minimalist route with total focus on car performance - no carpets or stereo - have aircon and have sucumbed to the Edelbroke coil covers that are quite weighty but nothing else !

Looks great!

[Ult-Jim]

Racingroj said:

Jim
Don't get me wrong there is nothing at all wrong with the car. That list is partly me being OCD and personal preferences. Couldn't be happier with the build quality I just want to take it to the next level and add more comfort and usability. Any suggestions?
Roj

You state anti roll bars in your post above - what is your thinking behind this? Ok I see stiffer springs listed as well. Check them out before adding a roll bar. Consider talking to some damper suspension gurus / pro drivers and they may test your understanding of the science behind how the car should be driven fast & how the suspension set up should assist that.
Gearbox oil kit - what are you running back there? What is the intended use of the car?
Remind me what is the engine bay cooler kit consist of?
Heavy duty drive shafts. Are they Factory spec, ain't they heavy duty enough?
Billet Peddles - check out Autobionics research & tests on their facebook page I believe on some non factory spec billet peddles that have been seen around.
Fitting clam warning lights -I would add that as a priority item. Got fed up looking like a Paranoid schizophrenia checking & double checking & walking around the car checking again every time! Completed on my finished car as an add-on recently with sounding alarms also. Must have upgrade! May help your insurance premiums also.
New oil breather tank - have a chat with the factory on the concept & thinking behind how their system works, it more than just a tank I believe.
Front clam redesign - Again have a chat with the Factory, I could listen to Ted for hours on his stories on the development of the car, especially the body shape design & aerodynamic thinking.
Central locking install on a finished car. I have no idea how to install that, but I am useless with a spanner anyway. Love the Autobionics products though.

I went through the same wish list (for me it was too much forum reading!), but after chatting to various people & using the car for road trips & on track, considering my amateur driving abilities & spanner skills I have whittled my own upgrade list down. For me it has been in the garage too much & will hammer it hard this summer on an European tour & track day.

One of the reasons why we all love these cars (my Caterham is the same) they are never finished, we all get upgradetitus some how & in someway

Ult-jim

[Ult-Jim]

Whoops sorry guys for pushing off topic. But remember the basic principle behind the car, keeping it simple, means its light weight for performance.