Is it worth stripping an MX-5 out if using on track?

[ben10]

Just wondering if anybody knows how much weight can be saved and if it throws the balance of the car off?

I don't have an MX-5 yet but I am just curious as a 5 is on my list of possible track day cars

Thanks

[Evangelion]

I've recently been building an MX-5 track car with a friend and so far we've removed:

Roof
Carpets and mats
Front number plate and plinth (got a stick-on one instead now)
Spare wheel, jack and tools
Stereo
Sun visors
Some metal to make way for the rollcage
Replaced the seats with the Kevlar ones from my RS, both of which weigh less than one of the old ones
Also replaced the alloy wheels with some lighter ones.

We were going to weigh the bits that we took off but in the rush ... completely forgot.
Somebody on here actually did that, but it's getting a bit late and I can't be bothered to look up the thread now.

ETA - the minute I drove the car, I could feel the difference.

Edited by Evangelion on Monday 22 November 00:38

[shirt]

there's a great thread on one of the 5 forums where a us owner has extensively lightened his car. he even weighed everything taken out of the car, with lists & pics of everything he did.

[Scho]

Evangelion said:

I've recently been building an MX-5 track car with a friend and so far we've removed:

Roof
Carpets and mats
Front number plate and plinth (got a stick-on one instead now)
Spare wheel, jack and tools
Stereo
Sun visors
Some metal to make way for the rollcage
Replaced the seats with the Kevlar ones from my RS, both of which weigh less than one of the old ones
Also replaced the alloy wheels with some lighter ones.

We were going to weigh the bits that we took off but in the rush ... completely forgot.
Somebody on here actually did that, but it's getting a bit late and I can't be bothered to look up the thread now.

ETA - the minute I drove the car, I could feel the difference.

Edited by Evangelion on Monday 22 November 00:38

Whip the heaters out you big jess!

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'd say the real answer is "yes and no".

Yes you can take a fair bit of weight out - I'd say if you really went at it and stripped out everything you could and lightened what can't be removed you could probably remove 150-200Kg in total. However, whether it's worth it depends on you. A car like that is no fun to drive on the road at all so if you want to use it at all as a road car or even if you plan to drive it fair distances to/from a track then there are limits to how much you really want to strip out.

Also, while a car will obviously be quicker once 100Kg has been removed from it, are you a good enough driver for it to make a real difference and will lapping Brands 1 second quicker really be worth the hassle and discomfort? They are questions only you can answer

[Thorburn]

150-200kg out of an MX-5 sounds a little optimistic surely? What you taking out, the engine?

[ben10]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, its much appreciated.

Sorry to be a pain in the arse but does anyone have links to any of these thread mentioned? especially the american one with pics and weights.

Thanks again guys

[GravelBen]

There was a bloke on the NZ MX5 forum who reckoned he had his Mk1 track-slag down to 650-700kg. That was pretty extreme though - no heater, lights, interior etc, ditched the soft-top for a single skin hard top, some fibreglass panels etc.

[(steven)]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I'd say the real answer is "yes and no".

Yes you can take a fair bit of weight out - I'd say if you really went at it and stripped out everything you could and lightened what can't be removed you could probably remove 150-200Kg in total. However, whether it's worth it depends on you. A car like that is no fun to drive on the road at all so if you want to use it at all as a road car or even if you plan to drive it fair distances to/from a track then there are limits to how much you really want to strip out.

Also, while a car will obviously be quicker once 100Kg has been removed from it, are you a good enough driver for it to make a real difference and will lapping Brands 1 second quicker really be worth the hassle and discomfort? They are questions only you can answer

This ^^

Plus, if your going to strip the interior you need to be going all the way with your track car build, new suspension is a must as it will ride strangely with the weight removed.

A lot of people think that by stripping the interior out of a car they have made a track car, when really all they have is a road car with no interior.

It can be a worthy mod as others have mentioned but it's not the first change I would make. (Which is why my Mx-5 track car still has it's interior)

[anonymous-user]

Thorburn said:

150-200kg out of an MX-5 sounds a little optimistic surely? What you taking out, the engine?

I was thinking the same thing...

[5paul5]

Not really a great deal to strip on a 5. I have done a bit to mine for the track, air con, carpets, tie down brackets etc and lighter seats. Have to say the weight saving is not much but as i use the car mainly for the track every little helps.

[furtive]

Unless you are going racing, pretty pointless stripping out an MX5 for trackdays. If you want to go faster, buy a faster car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

How much you save depends on how heavy it is to begin with.

Seats are heavy - replace.
A lot Wheels are heavy - replace.
Air-con is heavy - remove.
Remove the hood.
All carpets & sound insulation - remove.
Battery is heavy - replace with lightweight racing jobbie.
Get rid of any additional bracing (makes little difference on track).
Remove airbags.
Remove crash protection behind bumpers and in doors.
Lose heater & controls.
Fit lighter suspension.
Fit Mk2 rad to Mk1 (it's lighter).
Remove headlights if you can get away with it.
Tie-down hooks are heavy - fit something lighter.
Remove cat.
There are various things you can remove under the bonnet.
Fit smaller fuel tank.
Replace various panels with plastic/CF whatever.
Replace brakes with alloy hubs.
Fit thinner ARBs or just remove.

I'm sure there is other stuff you can do - that's just off the top of my head.

[hornetrider]

Thought this was talked about recently, some useful info:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[5paul5]

Furtive said "if you want to go faster buy a faster car " bit of a pointless comment as you can say that about any car. The point here is to make your present car slightly faster not simply change it !

[Salgar]

As someone above said, unless you're already a superb driver, I'd go with getting some training and leave the car how it is. This can be proved by giving your car to a good driver and watching the difference.

I did this at a walshy carlimits day and he took my car round the track at 58s while I did a 1:12.

That said, it doesn't mean I'm not going to make my car better, and you should too, but I wouldn't count on gaining 10s just by changing your seats. I prefer a heater and a stereo and some new tyres and suspension to removing everything under the sun.

[ben10]

Thanks everyone, I think that unless you have a lardy car or one that is being trailered (sp?) then as has been said, probably best to leave it and enjoy it - Maybe a new drivers seat though

[furtive]

5paul5 said:

Furtive said "if you want to go faster buy a faster car " bit of a pointless comment as you can say that about any car. The point here is to make your present car slightly faster not simply change it !

It won't make it much faster and will make it much less usable. So I stand my my comment.

[5paul5]

In a 5 on the track every bit helps, certainly made mine more usable, who needs aircon carpets etc on a trackcar ?

[furtive]

I do if I drive to and from the track in it...

If you want a stripped out track-only car you would be better off buying a cheap Westfield (and I'm taking very much from experience having owned and tracked both)