Adding lightness

[djs]

Here a question I just posed to GTJim. My car already has the Accufab exhaust instead of the stock mufller, a change that is supposed to be roughly 40 lbs lighter than stock. So here is my Q:

If one replaced the stock exhaust manifolds with the Ford (or comparable alternative) headers, how much weight savings would it involve?

2ndly, how much lighter would the Stillen brakes (front & back) save, (and do these units make sense for a primarily street driven car)?

Lastly, I've heard of some GT owners retrofitting the stock radio and map pocket in place of the Mac (and I understand this can be an ordeal). What are the possible weight savings there?

Any input greatly appreciated.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Here a question I just posed to GTJim. My car already has the Accufab exhaust instead of the stock mufller, a change that is supposed to be roughly 40 lbs lighter than stock. So here is my Q:

If one replaced the stock exhaust manifolds with the Ford (or comparable alternative) headers, how much weight savings would it involve?

2ndly, how much lighter would the Stillen brakes (front & back) save, (and do these units make sense for a primarily street driven car)?

Lastly, I've heard of some GT owners retrofitting the stock radio and map pocket in place of the Mac (and I understand this can be an ordeal). What are the possible weight savings there?

Any input greatly appreciated.

In regards to you headers vs. stock manifolds question: weight savings aside, you might wanna consider the NOISE factor involved with this swap. Several people have commented that these headers are just too LOUD for street use...and you stated this car was PRIMARILY used on the street.

 

[ViperJoe]

Here a question I just posed to GTJim. My car already has the Accufab exhaust instead of the stock mufller, a change that is supposed to be roughly 40 lbs lighter than stock. So here is my Q:

If one replaced the stock exhaust manifolds with the Ford (or comparable alternative) headers, how much weight savings would it involve?I believe ~70 lb. Coupled with heat reduction and a probable yet modest performance gain, it's a great set-up. Keep the r's below 3500 and the db are well within acceptable limits.

2ndly, how much lighter would the Stillen brakes (front & back) save, (and do these units make sense for a primarily street driven car)? If you're referring to the two piece rotors with Aluminum hats ~ 2 lb. lighter per corner.

Lastly, I've heard of some GT owners retrofitting the stock radio and map pocket in place of the Mac (and I understand this can be an ordeal). What are the possible weight savings there? None, it's purely about improving the look of the interior and gaining some much needed interior storage space. BTW, this is a relatively simple mods; the very first thing I did to my car. Do a search and you'll find a detailed procedure for this mod.
Any input greatly appreciated.

.

 

[skyrex]

In regards to you headers vs. stock manifolds question: weight savings aside, you might wanna consider the NOISE factor involved with this swap. Several people have commented that these headers are just too LOUD for street use...and you stated this car was PRIMARILY used on the street.

+1 First GT I looked at had one of the loud aftermarket exhausts (can't remember which one off the top of my head) and it turned me off from the purchase because it was deafening whether or not you are in or out of the car. Another owner I met who had tried the same system said it took some of the enjoyment out of the car and he went to a more modest one.

It is amazing how loud these things can be....but maybe I am getting to noise sensitive with age. :lol Good luck with your choices.

 

[STUNTS]

forget making it lighter.... just add more ponies....:biggrin:biggrin:biggrin:biggrin

seems easier....:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

[STORMCAT]

A CF hood can save you 10 lbs....:biggrin

 

[BlackICE]

Send me your money and your wallet will be lighter. :biggrin

 

[STUNTS]

Send me your money and your wallet will be lighter. :biggrin

yeah, and we could all use to lose 7% of our body weight..... (just threw a number out) so if the average man is 175lbs.... thats 12.25 lbs lighter...
:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

OK.. I promise..... I'll stop now

 

[BlackICE]

yeah, and we could all use to lose 7% of our body weight..... (just threw a number out) so if the average man is 175lbs.... thats 12.25 lbs lighter...
:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

OK.. I promise..... I'll stop now

Yes, I could stand to lose another 7%. I am working on that down from 185 to 170, on the way to 165! I think around 10% body fat would be a good target for men.

 

[S592R]

Yes, I could stand to lose another 7%. I am working on that down from 185 to 170, on the way to 165! I think around 10% body fat would be a good target for men.

Anyone in the 40 year range 6% is about as low as you should go. If you're 200 lbs and 10% body fat .... have you ever seen 20 lbs of Fat??? :ack:ack Frank .. no need to share photos on this one.

 

[BlackICE]

Anyone in the 40 year range 6% is about as low as you should go. If you're 200 lbs and 10% body fat .... have you ever seen 20 lbs of Fat??? :ack:ack Frank .. no need to share photos on this one.

I will have a extremely hard time getting to 10%, 6% will never happen.

 

[djs]

Send me your money and your wallet will be lighter.
__________________
BlackICE [/I

Wallet lighter? Get in line behind my wife...

 

[kmillen]

I had another customer recently call and ask me for the weights of our brakes compared to stock and I have not yet had a chance to weigh everything yet. Our factory brakes are tucked away in one of the shipping containers right now. As soon as I can dig them up I will weight everything for you and let you know what the difference is.

 

[S592R]

There is a very well know list for a diet on the Lotus Elise/Exige on the internet. It is amazing how much you can pull out of that little car with a bit of effort. I wonder how much one could (if they where so inclined) take out in extra weight? Off the car that is guys ..... :lol

 

[richardhead]

Exhaust Component Weights

Here a question I just posed to GTJim. My car already has the Accufab exhaust instead of the stock mufller, a change that is supposed to be roughly 40 lbs lighter than stock. So here is my Q:

If one replaced the stock exhaust manifolds with the Ford (or comparable alternative) headers, how much weight savings would it involve?

2ndly, how much lighter would the Stillen brakes (front & back) save, (and do these units make sense for a primarily street driven car)?

Lastly, I've heard of some GT owners retrofitting the stock radio and map pocket in place of the Mac (and I understand this can be an ordeal). What are the possible weight savings there?

Any input greatly appreciated.

Go to http://www.fordgtsupercar.com/2964/2985.html and scroll down.

 

[t32b]

Let me add my 2 cents. I'm hardly the GT expert that you all are, but I play a physicist on TV (well not really, but have a dang bit of training in this regard).
Seems to me that:
1. You want to remove the easy to lighten stuff in the corpus of the car (that is the heavy muffler) and replace it with some nice and pretty pipes, and whatever else you could do that has a good price/performance return - 'cause you're saving up your bucks for #3 (below);
2. Add power - p/t/w/t - whatever. More expertise here than I could ever comment on;
3. Lower unsprung weight. You get a double bonus here - better ride and handling (OK, at least handling) and reduced weight. This is harder to do, but surely more rewarding than pulling out the radio. Look for the weight of wheels, tires (even a nice shave helps), brakes, disks, springs (marginal in that they are the interface between sprung and unsprung).
Anyway, that's my uninformed opinion.
I was going to lead with a variant of the old physicist and farmer joke, "Assume a spherical GT", but I didn't

 

[fjpikul]

t32, I think we need to place you in the same thread as IndyGT and MAD in NC.

 

[CraigR in NC]

A lightweight battery is an inexpensive way to drop some weight as well. The Odyssey 680 weighs around 15lbs - not sure what the stock one weighs - but that's probably good for atleast a 15lb to 20lb reduction over stock.

 

[cobrar1339]

Here are some links about weight savings and Power to weight.

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7448&highlight=power+weight+ratio

Lots of parts weights collected.


one more

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9669&highlight=power+weight

I think you will be quite interested how fantastic the PTW can be in a GT without dumping the radio or AC. You will have to read the thread to see how what was required to get to these numbers. and BTW it had 724 RWHP not 700. And I hear he is putting a little massage to it right now, so figure north of 775 would be my guess.

Here is a preview.............


So how do PTW ratios stack up among super cars?

Ultimate Areo 2.33
CCX 3.24
Ed Sims Whipple GT 4.09 Assumed 700 rwhp, 4.15 with 8 gals fuel
McLaren F1 4.33
GT with Pulley / Tune 611 Rwhp 4.89
Enzo 5.0
Carrera GT 5.39
Stock GT based on a real 600 hp ( not rated 550) 5.66
08 Viper 5.75
Stock Ford GT 6.18 based on a known under rated 550hp
C6 Z06 6.33
Lambo 6.41
GT3 RS 7.74

Note: For Ed to match the CCX he would need to to make 889rhwp. A stout 1236 rwhp will match the Ultimate Aero.

Hope you have box to record G's as those tires should pull in excess of 1.3 when warmed up.

 

[t32b]

...and honorable mention

And please don't forget the Ultima GTR. I'm planning on swinging by the factory next month in preparation for placing an order. Unless one of you wise people can talk me out of it (no, I'm not trading the GT).
So, about 2,200 lbs dry. LS7 with 650 HP (my likely choice).
That's about 3.4 ptw - if I've got my math right.

Here are some links about weight savings and Power to weight.

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7448&highlight=power+weight+ratio

Lots of parts weights collected.


one more

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9669&highlight=power+weight

I think you will be quite interested how fantastic the PTW can be in a GT without dumping the radio or AC. You will have to read the thread to see how what was required to get to these numbers. and BTW it had 724 RWHP not 700. And I hear he is putting a little massage to it right now, so figure north of 775 would be my guess.

Here is a preview.............


So how do PTW ratios stack up among super cars?

Ultimate Areo 2.33
CCX 3.24
Ed Sims Whipple GT 4.09 Assumed 700 rwhp, 4.15 with 8 gals fuel
McLaren F1 4.33
GT with Pulley / Tune 611 Rwhp 4.89
Enzo 5.0
Carrera GT 5.39
Stock GT based on a real 600 hp ( not rated 550) 5.66
08 Viper 5.75
Stock Ford GT 6.18 based on a known under rated 550hp
C6 Z06 6.33
Lambo 6.41
GT3 RS 7.74

Note: For Ed to match the CCX he would need to to make 889rhwp. A stout 1236 rwhp will match the Ultimate Aero.

Hope you have box to record G's as those tires should pull in excess of 1.3 when warmed up.