Weight saving dash

[jesfirth]

A photo of my new lightweight dash. The carbon approach was going to be very costly just to be pretty so I just used 2 layers of Matt strand fibreglass to see how light I could get it. The finish has Matt strand exposed rather than smooth so this should avoid reflections on the screen. The original dash was 5.3kg. The new one is 1.2kg. Almost 80% lighter! I have even swapped the steel fixing bolts for alloy as they also weigh 60% less. It's not going to win concourse prizes though.

[macdeb]

Really?

[jesfirth]

Good point well made. I did toy with spray filler and sanding to make it smooth but that would add another kilo which defeats the object

[ChilliWhizz]

Is this part of a car-wide weight reduction campaign or just a lightweight dash fetish?

[jesfirth]

obviously i have a fetish - who doesn't! but for the car its overall weight reduction. I am targetting 950kg dry but not sure it is achievable. the trouble was that the full roll cage added alot of weight. The next on the list is the boot. It already has a lightweight vented bonnet, no interior trim, lightened roof, plastic side windows etc etc. a couple of photos below

Edited by jesfirth on Friday 17th January 18:12

Edited by jesfirth on Friday 17th January 18:14

[Bluebottle]

that diffuser and rear wing look like they extend beyond the plan silhouette of the car, do you not have that restriction in sprint/hill climb then?

[jesfirth]

In the TVR speed champ and the CMSC we can do anything we want within reason. A full on rear wing is not allowed though. We are handicapped on power to weight ratio. Just looked at your profile I love your car, fancy a swap ?

Edited by jesfirth on Friday 17th January 21:05

[panic]

jesfirth said:

obviously i have a fetish - who doesn't! but for the car its overall weight reduction. I am targetting 950kg dry but not sure it is achievable.

It is.

Click on pic to watch...

[V8 GRF]

Do you have to run with the roof on?

If not why not get one of Steve Edwards' hard rear roof sections to replace the collapsible hoop and hood and then remove that when running, that should lose a fair bit of weight. It will fit the Griffith but the rear section won't go in the boot.

Steve's website is HERE

[K4TRV]

V8 GRF said:

Do you have to run with the roof on?

If not why not get one of Steve Edwards' hard rear roof sections to replace the collapsible hoop and hood and then remove that when running, that should lose a fair bit of weight. It will fit the Griffith but the rear section won't go in the boot.

Steve's website is HERE

^^ +1 ^^ If you are really serious in looking to reduce your weight (the car, silly!!), then the roof and more importantely the front end serves little in rigidity, but is seriously heavy?

See here: http://www.neilgarner-motorsport.com/Cars/TVR-Chim...

Neil has carved the front end off and replaced with a one-piece fibre jobby - I "think" he is sub - 900 kgs??? Have a chat, I would recommend?

Start saving Jez

Trev

[FlipFlopGriff]

How much does all the gubbins (frame, motor etc) in the doors weigh and the glass? Maybe a fixed polycarbonate section if its allowable?
The surrey roof weighs about 10kg less than the standard panel if you need to keep the roof section but it ain't cheap - Roger has some prototypes he may do you a deal on if aesthetics aren't an issue.
FFG

[DarkMatter]

V8 GRF said:

Do you have to run with the roof on?

If not why not get one of Steve Edwards' hard rear roof sections to replace the collapsible hoop and hood and then remove that when running, that should lose a fair bit of weight. It will fit the Griffith but the rear section won't go in the boot.

Steve's website is HERE

You don't have to run with the roof on, but I think that it is more aerodynamically efficient. I spoke to Steve Edwards a couple of years ago and he said he would be prepared to make a lightweight (i.e. thin) one piece hard top to fit a Griff - I reckon that would save a few kgs.

[jesfirth]

DarkMatter said:

You don't have to run with the roof on, but I think that it is more aerodynamically efficient. I spoke to Steve Edwards a couple of years ago and he said he would be prepared to make a lightweight (i.e. thin) one piece hard top to fit a Griff - I reckon that would save a few kgs.

I reckon that there is little or no aero difference up to about 70mph. Above that it makes a big difference. Matt in his LS griff was at good wood and "lost" his roof one a run and then had to drive al fresco on the runs after that. I recall that it took about 4 mph off his 150mph top speed,

My roof is split into 2 for ease of use but already has the inner panels removed so it only weighs 7kg. You could probably get a carbon one down to about 3 or 4 kg though.

[jesfirth]

panic said:

It is.

Click on pic to watch...

Trev. Love it especially the screen. Might be a bit damp and chilly on the M25 heading for North Weald though. (-:

[leerdam23]

jesfirth said:

DarkMatter said:

You don't have to run with the roof on, but I think that it is more aerodynamically efficient. I spoke to Steve Edwards a couple of years ago and he said he would be prepared to make a lightweight (i.e. thin) one piece hard top to fit a Griff - I reckon that would save a few kgs.

I reckon that there is little or no aero difference up to about 70mph. Above that it makes a big difference. Matt in his LS griff was at good wood and "lost" his roof one a run and then had to drive al fresco on the runs after that. I recall that it took about 4 mph off his 150mph top speed,

My roof is split into 2 for ease of use but already has the inner panels removed so it only weighs 7kg. You could probably get a carbon one down to about 3 or 4 kg though.

Yep, Drag racing the Griff, I was consistently quicker with the roof on.

[wadsapple]

jesfirth said:

A photo of my new lightweight dash. The carbon approach was going to be very costly just to be pretty so I just used 2 layers of Matt strand fibreglass to see how light I could get it. The finish has Matt strand exposed rather than smooth so this should avoid reflections on the screen. The original dash was 5.3kg. The new one is 1.2kg. Almost 80% lighter! I have even swapped the steel fixing bolts for alloy as they also weigh 60% less. It's not going to win concourse prizes though.

Hi Jes

Not wishing to teach a grand mother about eggs so to speak. When I'm doing stuff in fibre glass and don't want a shiny smooth finish but want it smoother than chopped strand I use fibre glass surface tissue sheet to finish off. It just lays over the last layer and smooth's the surface out considerably See here....

http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/acatalog/CFS_Catalogue__Su...

[jesfirth]

Perry thanks. I will use that on the next non shiny part I make