Weight Reduction?

[Dave@EFI]

Aloha all, I am looking into buying myself a GT and I wanted to get some insight on where the best places for weight reduction might be? I've heard that the stereo and wheels are a good place to start. Has anyone replaced or removed the stereo? Is anyone running aftermarket wheels?

Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Aloha, Dave :cheers

 

[BlackICE]

The standard stereo is ligher. I believe the opt wheels will be the lightest you a likely to find. About 8 lbs lighter than the standard wheels.

BlackICE

 

[FlorIdaho Chris]

Swaping out the stock muffler will save a bunch of weight.

That said, probably the best place to look for weight reduction is with the driver. :lol

 

[lthlvpr]

There is no question that replacing the rear muffler will save a net of over 50lbs if you replace it with just pipes. 50lbs right off the tail is a big amount to save without comprising any of your creature comforts (ie stereo).

The problem is that unless you want to do a custom exhaust, the only options are priced in the sratosphere. Not sure why, but they will learn....

 

[barondw]

There is no question that replacing the rear muffler will save a net of over 50lbs if you replace it with just pipes. 50lbs right off the tail is a big amount to save without comprising any of your creature comforts (ie stereo).

The problem is that unless you want to do a custom exhaust, the only options are priced in the sratosphere. Not sure why, but they will learn....

Actually its 60.5 pounds including the bracket.

Dave

 

[Bman33]

Dave! Welcome! I remember you form the corvetteforum (bman)..
I still have my Z but damn after you drive one of these cars its all over.. :biggrin


SW is working on an exhaust system that will save a lot of weight and should not break the bank..

 

[50 BMG]

SW is working on an exhaust system that will save a lot of weight and should not break the bank..

Yep...patiently awaiting their rear exit headers w/deleted cats.

 

[Jason Watt]

The brake discs are VERY heavy endeed, and a system with a disc mounted on an aluminium hat would shave of a lot of unsprung weight...

 

[LEMANSZ]

Are you planning on racing the GT? If not, what difference does a few pounds make? The weight to horsepower ratio is great for the street...why don't you try boosting the power output or something?

 

[SteveA]

Mine is down to 3310.

 

[BlackICE]

Steve, what is the weight before your your modifications and what did you change. I have read many conflicting numbers regarding the weight of the GT.

Is that with a full tank of gas?

BlackICE

 

[B O N Y]

I need to take my own advise and go on a diet.... :cheers

 

[Dave@EFI]

Thanks for the very sound input all. BMan, definitely remember you brutha. Glad to see things are going well! I have been captivated by the GT from day one...wonderful car. I am looking into several options right now. I currently have a 997 GT3 on order from the local Porsche dealership, and I have given chase to a couple of well appointed, low mile GT2's....I figured I should open up my search to the Ford GT as well.

I know how easy it is to make big power in the GT, but losing some excess weight would make the car an all around better performer IMO. I'll keep the board posted, if all goes well!

 

[SteveA]

Steve, what is the weight before your your modifications and what did you change. I have read many conflicting numbers regarding the weight of the GT.

Is that with a full tank of gas?

BlackICE

I made a post a few weeks back in this forum called "Anyone gone to a scale" where I called out what I did. I don't know what it weighed when I started. Maybe someone with light weight rims can scale theirs.
Sense then I removed the amp 12.5lbs and I have been staring at the cats. Not sure I want to lose the warranty but a pulley swap, reflash and missing cats are calling my name. :smash

 

[saber]

Aloha all, I am looking into buying myself a GT and I wanted to get some insight on where the best places for weight reduction might be? I've heard that the stereo and wheels are a good place to start. Has anyone replaced or removed the stereo? Is anyone running aftermarket wheels?

Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Aloha, Dave :cheers

muffler and stock rims. Optional rims are much lighter

 

[Piccola]

There have been several threads re: weight reduction & I'm curious about something... Does it matter where in the car the weight is removed (ie, lighter top end vs rear)? For instance, if at 125 lbs I'm driving and someone 200 lbs was driving, but took 75 lbs off the rear (assuming all other things were equal), would there be a difference in performance between the 2 cars? Also... for those of you who have modified the car, how much weight reduction is really needed to notice a difference? 50 lbs? 100 lbs? 200 lbs?

Thanks,
MJ

 

[SLF360]

There have been several threads re: weight reduction & I'm curious about something... Does it matter where in the car the weight is removed (ie, lighter top end vs rear)? For instance, if at 125 lbs I'm driving and someone 200 lbs was driving, but took 75 lbs off the rear (assuming all other things were equal), would there be a difference in performance between the 2 cars? Also... for those of you who have modified the car, how much weight reduction is really needed to notice a difference? 50 lbs? 100 lbs? 200 lbs?

Thanks,
MJ

1. Re Speed and acceleration perfomance it does not matter where you reduce.
2. Re handling, it is always better to reduce as much as high as possible, this reduces roll in curves if you manage to lower center of gravity, anything over the wheelhubs particularily, and as far front and as far back.
3. Keep an eye on front, back balance of reduction, as it will change oversteer/understeer tendencies. if you take weight away in the back, understeer will result and the back more controllable. Sometimes not desireable.

Also less weight means the car gets stiffer in the springs,as they are setup for the weight the car comes with.

I once setup a car with frontwheel drive so balanced, that depending where I moved the seatposition or lean back with my upperbody I would be able to get oversteer out of it. moving the seat more forward and move up closer to the wheel, the back would not swing out (like in rain and stuff not always a nice tendency).

If you like more oversteer tendency to eliminate understeer in tight corners, e.g. for trackwork or hill climb, consider to have a slight toe in on the back( 1-2degrees), as the car will come back easier once in oversteer mode with more pressure and grip getting on the outside wheel, as the inside lifts up. That way you get a very responsive but controllable feel. The slight rubb on a straight won't be much noticed. But for quartermile events, rubber straight of course...

hope that helps !

stefan

 

[californiacuda]

Thanks for the great info. At absolute top speed, weight has a very small effect. with air friction being the primary resistive force. The weight of the car will change the rolling resistance, but at higher and higher speeds rolling resistance becomes much less significant.

 

[Piccola]

Yeah Stefan, I can see how changing the balance could affect cornering & steerability... I'm playing around w/my car a little & will have to pay attention... Thanks for all the info.

Californiacuda: I understand what you mean re: speed & weight, however, there must be enough of an increase in power & performance to make a difference throughout speed changes. Otherwise there probably wouldn't be so much discussion about it, right? Others have also suggested just bumping up the HP, but the bonus is less overall weight would be less strain on the engine regardless of other mods... For those who have made weight reducton mods, have you found it worth the time & money?

I see stereo, rims, & muffler mentioned a bit, but for the racing enthusiasts, has anyone tried removing the passenger seat (does this come out & go back in easily)? Probably only 10-15 lbs. Also, I know someone who's actually replaced a few steel parts with carbon fiber panels (not on the GT). Are these mods going overboard? Would any of these changes void the warranty? Just some thoughts...

Mary Jo

 

[Bart Carter]

...I removed the amp 12.5lbs ...

That is the weight I have been seeing for the McIntosh amp. But what about the whole McIntosh system? Is the 80 lb. difference between the McIntosh and standard systems real as reported on Edmonds.com?