Weight saving ideas

[Mr Plow]

Hi All

Thinking of putting the car on a diet.

What are the easiest items to replace/remove to lose weight?

I would put radiator at the top to the list (replace with Alloy), what other items have the easiest gains?

[v8sss]

Mr Plow said:

Hi All

Thinking of putting the car on a diet.

What are the easiest items to replace/remove to lose weight?

I would put radiator at the top to the list (replace with Alloy), what other items have the easiest gains?

Passenger seat...always seem to go faster without the verbal restraint sat in it next to me!!

[phillpot]

If any previous owners have fitted "Dynamat" or similar sound deadening that stuff weighs a ton!

[QBee]

Go to any Dunlop TVR Challenge race meeting or Bernie's V8s race meeting this year.
Wander into the pits..
Inspect the Chimaera race cars - they are about 150 kilos lighter.
No carpets, no sound insulation, no roof, race seat (singular), no passenger seat.
Perspex screen, no side windows, no electric window or mirror gear.
And the rest.

Of course, a full safety roll cage has to go in....adding to the weight, but you need not bother with that

[magpies]

go on a diet yourself and only wear Speedos

[bobfather]

Alloy radiator is a sure way of ensuring early coolant system leak. The fixings are too ridged, they transfer chassis twisting onto the radiator, alloy radiators can't withstand flexing

[trev4]

You could come to it from a different prospective and follow QBee by adding a few pounds in the shape of a turbo. You may end up adding weight to keep it on the road

[phillpot]

Bit bored on nightshift last night so gave this a bit of thiought............


Wheels, if you are still on Imola's or Estoril's there are probably much lighter wheels out there?

Brakes, do you already have alloy calipers and disc's are seriously heavy, go carbon ?

Wishbones, are the after market tubular ones lighter?

Front hub carriers, those old Sierra things are massive, are any lighter alternatives available (kit car market)?

Hubs, could four holes be drilled alternate to the stud mounting holes to shed a bit of metal (obviously without compromising the strength of the thing)?


A guy at work is building a "track day" Volvo estate and, amongst other things, spent a fortune on Titanium wheel nuts to save a few grams of rotating weight!

[QBee]

In the case of my car, "rotating weight" is more often defined as the entire rear of the car overtaking the front after an indiscretion on track.

[mk1fan]

If you're wishing to be geeky about things and in no order;

1, Remove redundant wiring - radio, unused sections of the loom.

2, Battery - Red Top or Oddessy batteries are lighter and smaller than regular batteries. Twin battery set up spread weight about better.

3, Replace / trim bolts that are too long. I foind loads of fixings that are two or three times the length they need be.

4, Take the unused crap out of the car.

5, Surrey Roof.

6, Speed holes in panels!

[magpies]

lighter seats - I've put Elise seats in my S

[TwinKam]

bobfather said:

Alloy radiator is a sure way of ensuring early coolant system leak. The fixings are too ridged, they transfer chassis twisting onto the radiator, alloy radiators can't withstand flexing

and they have a larger capacity, negating any weight saving.

[lancepar]

I could weight the complete heating/venting system as PO removed it all from mine, and I mean everything.
So I have all the bits in boxes.

[trev4]

Probably a bit obvious but ditch the spare wheel and carry a can or two of tyre inflation foam.

[BoostedChim]

Quick wins

• remove the carbon canister
• remove one of the horns
• SP12 / Image Wheels
• Smaller or remove some speakers
• Swap main cat for Clive F Y piece

Further Work

• lightweight flywheel
• S10 gearbox tail to loose the remote gear linkage
• Elise seats
• Aluminium brake calipers but watch you don't replace the weight with big discs or use disc and bells
• John Eales alternator bracket, removes the big ali bracket and spring tensioner
• Remove rear anti roll bar, not all cars came with one but personally I prefer the handling with it fitted.

Also, not weight saving but where you can't loose it, it might be better in a different place eg as low as possible and further back to offset.

• Battery in the boot

[anonymous-user]

BoostedChim said:

Quick wins

• remove the carbon canister
• remove one of the horns
• SP12 / Image Wheels
• Smaller or remove some speakers
• Swap main cat for Clive F Y piece

Further Work

• lightweight flywheel
• S10 gearbox tail to loose the remote gear linkage
• Elise seats
• Aluminium brake calipers but watch you don't replace the weight with big discs or use disc and bells
• John Eales alternator bracket, removes the big ali bracket and spring tensioner
• Remove rear anti roll bar, not all cars came with one but personally I prefer the handling with it fitted.

Also, not weight saving but where you can't loose it, it might be better in a different place eg as low as possible and further back to offset.

• Battery in the boot

Alloy bodied Shocks, replace battery with Varley Red Top, thin wall exhaust system, lightweight doors, boot and bonnet? or is that a bit extreme

[Plan B]

CNC milled T6 alloy rear bearing carriers from Anembo Engineering. Decent weight saving and not that expensive when you factor in they come with new wheel bearings already fitted.

[Alpha Omega]

Check that the main battery to starter cable is the correct size
Many people that don't know what they are doing tend to fit oversize cables

[phillpot]

In fact, how about a whole new loom made from modern thinwall cable?


Led lamps = less current = thinner cables!

[Mr Plow]

Hi All

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming......

I've already;

Removed the carbon canister,
Replaced the alternator bracket with a JE special.
Put alloy calipers on and not increased the disk size excessively.
Changed wheel nuts for lighter version.

On the list;
Remove radio/speakers and relevant wiring.
Change the wheels, currently on estorils.
Thought about seats, but struggling to find anything I like.
Change oil filler cap back to standard as opposed to heavy Leven TVR branded version.

Hadn't thought about heater and an easy win remove one of the horns.
I had thought about sorting out bolts by replacing with titanium where possible and for the right length.
Won't take the rear anti roll bar off, I like the way it handles

Every little helps, right?

Edited to say, I've also changed to a smaller battery and moved it to the boot

Edited by Mr Plow on Tuesday 6th June 22:31