944/968 - weight reducing ?

[chris7676]

Just wondering how much weight can be reduced off these cars just by removing unnecessary bits (heavy seats, isulation, etc). (I know it's about 200kg from the E36 M3).

[BHP TDs]

Well I reckon I can get about 10kG off just by going on a diet.


Sorry ...... had to be said.

[iguana]

Can shave 350kg & near 400kg off e36 m3 tho if you are ruthless.

[legaleagleboy]

my 968 racecar is about 1150kg with a full cage (NB not allowed to go any lighter to meet PCGB weight limits) -- further weight can be saved with things like perspex side and rear hatch glass (not allowed for our series though)and removing all the heater gubbins -- so 1100kg is about as low as you can go with a full cage.

-- still quite heavy

[A911DOM]

My track 944 is down to about 980kg without cage, with seats fitted, and without having any fibreglass body panels or plexi glass etc.



(I should point out that the weight may have increased slightly now having had all the rest replaced with proper metal )

Theres a lot of weight in the seats (especially if they're electric ones), most people have stereo equipment / ariels / wiper motors / carpets / sound proofing / electric window motors etc... all of which can be lost in the search of 'lightness'.

Check my thread in the classic forum under 'when your heart rules your head' for pics of progress, and results from my decal frenzy

[chris7676]

I meant without going mental, leaving the heater, dash, most of upholstery too. My focus in on the 3 litre cars - although don't have one at the moment (have the M3 instead for now).

[A911DOM]

chris7676 said:

I meant without going mental, leaving the heater, dash, most of upholstery too. My focus in on the 3 litre cars - although don't have one at the moment (have the M3 instead for now).

Ive left the dash and heater etc intact, and despite having stripped all the speakers etc out of the doors and removed the door card on the passenger side, and half the door card on the drivers side, I still have both the electric windows working from the drivers door incase I want extra ventilation.

You can go as wild or as reserved as you like, the seats will make a big difference, as will stripping out purely unnecessary stuff like the boot bits, spare wheels, stereo, speakers - but leave you with a liveable road car.

Im hoping Im going to get a roll bar (not full cage) at some point fairly soon (an aquaintence has a track 924 and is having one made up so they can use the pattern to throw one together for me too).

You're obviously used to a fair amount of power already, so the 944 should be an interesting toy to 'push hard' round the track.

Have you driven any yet, or is it just the model that appeals for the purpose?

[chris7676]

I have driven 944 S2 on the road.
In fact what i'm intersted in is whether you can reasonably shed more weight off 944 S2 / 968 or E36 M3 as they all are heavy cows.

[GC8]

Stereo, speakers, electric seats, soundproofing panels, glass windows, window regulators, electric hatch release, sunroof motor and mechanism, spare wheel, tool kit, jack, rear seat back, luggage blind, 18kg battery (buy an Odyssey saving 10kgs), glass rear screen, door cards handles and bins, metal bonnet, rising headlamps inc pods and moter/lifting mechanism (fit 937 GTS headlamps), PU-mounted lamps, headlining hard trim: they all add up.

The original front wings dont weigh a deal, but a substantial saving will be made by fitting GRP parts as youll lose the weight of the factory underseal.

Below this and youll need a pared wiring loom and an acid dip.

[GC8]

I forgot the power steering pump and the aicon compressor, if fitted.

980kgs is impressive, even for an early car. My series one car doesnt have a sunroof, does have polycarbonate windows and hatch and has 5.5kg seats: and isnt close to that.

I could lose approaching twenty kilogrammes too.....

[GC8]

A Dansk exhaust will save a considerable amount of weight over an original part too, especially if its old and full of carbon.

[GC8]

980kgs is light for a dipped 944 with GRP panels, that is true.

[MK INDY]

980kgs is very light,my little stripped out Clio 172 trackcar weighs 985kgs.

[big - dave]

980kg....
M.M.M.M.
I wonder...
Thats a very light/anorexic 944.

Its exceptionaly difficult to get any 944/968 variant down to that sort of figure, especially when you say youve still got steel wings etc...
As has been said before, have you actually weighed it, or are you just deducting what youve taken out.????
Any 944/968 under say 1100kgs is lightweight....

[GC8]

I agree: taking 200 kilos out wont give you a 980kg car.