Who is a 911 diet expert?

[rdane]

I have a '79 SC that I want to put on a serious weight loss program. Car weighs 2676 with half tank of gas and the spare. It has a set of SSIs, a Danke sport muffler and 2 SRD Ricaros and a light weight Optima battery and 7 & 9" Fuchs.

I want to still have something I can drive on the street without ear plugs but I'll drop the spare tire (both ways).

I have yet to add the YB fiber glass bumpers front and back but that will happen soon. Any idea on what I'll save doing so?

Can you guys detail what you have done and what the actual weight savings have been? I want like to get under 2400. Is that possible? How about under 2300# with a roll bar?

Thanks!

[ttweed]

Go to Jim Calzia's article on the Early S Registry and there is a lot of weight data to contemplate.

Without going to extremes, I think you would be doing very well to get an SC down to 2400 lbs.

TT

[Rob McKibbon]

rdane: Eric McKenna is a weight loss expert from what I've read? He's a crazy eyed Irishman that posts here alot. His computer has a virus right now and he may not be up for awhile, but I'm sure he'll post in? You can search his posts and I'm sure you'll find enough reading to keep ya busy until then.....

Tom: Cool websites links on your homepage. I like your car and the surfing website was awesome! My wife and I love your area, we stayed at the Hyatt there for 10 days once and had just a blast.... no kids, great weather, awesome restaurants, sat in some Ferrari's, golfed and even saw my dream Porshe there once... parked right at the hotel. I jumped out of my rental car and gauked at it for a few minutes and then told my wife we gotta get a picture. Ran up to the room and got my camera and the guy came and left... no pics. It was a white 89 930 Cabriolet Slantnose, I actually prefer slopenose, but hey, it was a beauty! Anyway, great area and hope to return there again soon! Oh yeah, and the fruit, mmm good! The pinapples melted in our mouths, we couldn't believe it! Here you actually chew them hah ha.

[thrown_hammer]

I second Eric Mckenna. He will pollute your mind with crazy thoughts.( I am leaving my rear bumper in gelcoat because I fear the paint will add weight) I fully blame him...

[old_skul]

You should meet the guy. He's like 130lb soaking wet. Skinny little putz, I could take 'im in a heartbeat (Jealousy setting in I guess.)

I've driven Eric's car. Weight loss is a seriously good thing to do. What's the equation? You gain the equivalent of one horsepower for every 12lb of weight you jettison. So if you pull out 200lb worth of air conditioning that doesn't work anyway (this weekend's project), you've gained almost 17 horsepower.

The cost is noise, and creature comforts. Eric's car is *way* loud inside - too loud for long trips IMHO. He's ripped out the carpets, rear seats, etc. and there's not much (some lightweight carpet) between the front and the engine bay.

Wheels are important - Fuchs are the lightest. 6" wheels are 17 lbs without tires, for instance, while aftermarket Cup 2 wheels from Mille Miglia are 24lbs for the 7.5" wheel. That's a huge delta when you think about the total difference:

Fuchs = (16 * 2) + (17 * 2) = 66lb total (7" Fuchs are 17lb ea.)
Mille Miglia = (24 *2 ) + (26 * 2) = 100lb total (9" MM are 26lb ea.)

difference = 44lb ~ 3.6hp equivalent

That's significant when you do the math.

[Embs]

I thrid, fourth and so on Eric McKenna. Aside from being brutally honest, he is the undisputed weight shaving / saving master.

[ttweed]

Originally posted by Rob McKibbon
Tom: Cool websites links on your homepage. I like your car and the surfing website was awesome! My wife and I love your area, we stayed at the Hyatt there for 10 days once and had just a blast....

Thanks, Rob. I've been slacking on updating my website and need to find the time to do it.

Glad you liked San Diego, but as a 4th-generation native, I can tell you it used to be better...

TT

[KTL]

Dane,

You're already halfway there with the bumper stuff. Those stupid rear bumper guards are super heavy.

Air conditioning is a big part of the equation as others said.

The cast iron M calipers are quite heavy. The later aluminum calipers are much lighter. You could use S calipers if you're not all that concerned about track performance.

If you want to make it semi-street, i'd pull the sound padding in the rear deck and seat area. But you'll have to replace it with something lighter. Removing that stuff makes the car really noisy! The rear seats can of course be yanked.

Try a flowmaster/dynomax muffler? THe factory mufflers are pretty heavy. Go to a local shop with a scale and weigh one to be sure.

Put on a fiberglass hood.

Dump the rocker panels.

Eliminate sunroof stuff. It's high above the CG and bad for handling anyway!

Lose the foglights.

Power window stuff is alot of weight. If you were to convert to manual windows you could drop some significant weight. You probably don't have them, but power seats are MUCH heavier than non-power.

Lightweight door panels help. Those armrests and side pockets are kinda bulky. Maybe save you 10-20 lb?

Lose the stereo and speakers.

When picking tires, check the weights of them. Unfortunately some manufacturers don't provide this info.

[k9handler]

Ha Ha....go with Eric!

1-800-Call-Eric and lose 50 lbs your first week!!!

I started the program and I lost 50 lbs...and my new Eric Mckenna carpets are great!

So with the weight loss advice from Eric and the power of a 3.6 from Harald...I will be in a lean mean autobahn killin machine.

[pbs911]

Here is a list of what I can remember that got my 78SC Targa down to 2325 lbs.

fiberglass hood;
fiberglass F/R CTR bumpers with no nerf bars of bumper shocks;
every nut, bolt and hose of AC removed;
Monaco manual seats;
RS door panels;
no windshield washer system;
back dated heater system;
pre-74 exhaust system;
Delete rear seats;
no spare or tool kit;
cross-drilled rotors;

things that added weight:
Autopower race roll bar;
6 point harnesses;
Fiske FM 10 wheels;
complete domestic carpet and sound pads;
fender mounted and front mounted oil coolers;
86 anti-sway bars;
bigger solid torsion bars.

There are many other things that can be done to drop about another 100 lbs., but I think this leaves the car streetable and without harsh interior noise.

[masraum]

Yep, but it's still not really easy to lose lots of weight on these things, most of my carpet is gone, the sound pad at the rear deck and seat backs is gone, the seat backs, rear seat belts, muffler (none at all) fog lights, door pockets, driver's side sun visor (I just didn't want it) and all of that stuff was only about 75lbs which is not much considering how big a pile it makes in my garage. I think the rocker panels and seat bottoms and the rest of the carpet will be next.

[Rob McKibbon]

bump.... I think Eric's back on line?

[expat]

For those of you who have pulled your carpet (the rear I'm thinking about here) have you noticed how hot the rear seat area gets?

I pulled all my carpet and sound deadening a few weeks back. Then last week I had to pick up the kids from somewhere and my beater was off the road for some work. I hastily replaced the rear seat backs and plopped down the seat pads and off I went to pick up the kids.

After about 10 minutes they were moaning about how hot their backs were getting and that the 'big hump in the middle' was nearly burning their arms!

I reached back and touched the offending areas. Man...it was hot!

Have you guys noticed this? What's gonna happen in summer with all that heat radiating into the passenger area? Mind you, it doesn't really effect me, I drive the roof off most of the time, but the kids aren't too keen on dad's 'butt burner' at the moment!

[Eric Mckenna]

HAHAHHAH!
You fella's are a hoot.. Come on Mark,, ya know I weigh more than 130.
HAHAH! I weigh 165. which is down from the 181 i use to weigh. and that's due to my dieting in an attempt to get the total package of car/driver weight.down to the bare minimum.. It sucks cuz no more beer.( mothers milk!) or snacks.. but I KNOW it will be worth it..
I have reduced the weight ALOT... in the cheap bugger way.. I can't afford the fiberglass bumpers yet.. so once I get those on it should have the car SCARY light for an SC.
IF anyone would like a list of what I have done i'll PM it to them..
my car loooks 100% stock.. but it dosn't drive like it.
and YES with what I have done the car is BLODDY LOUD!.. but hell I LOVE it that way..
I am GLAD ro be back up and going here.. I had the .. ah hell I don't know what it really was some damn computer virus that killed my machine..
I'll run my car over to the local weigh station and let you guys know what it is comming in at ..
I have removed to date a total of 417 lbs from the car.. which is a all manual 78SC which wasn't all that heavy to begin with.
Thanks again guys for making me laugh..
I am glad my sickness is catching on..
cuz it's killing me! hahaa!!
remeber // light is FAST and weight reduction is the CHEAPEST performance upgrade one can do..

Later
Eric

[Eric Mckenna]

Oh yeah the rear buckets DO GET HOT!!!!
but for me and well for the colder weather we have had and the fact I ripped my heater out.. that heat is heaven sent! hahaha!
it's the only heat the cabin gets.. and i am a single guy SO I don't have any little ones to sit back there..
I really don't have an answer for reducing the heat .. only to replace the thick heavy pads..

Eric

[Bones]

Originally posted by masraum
Yep, but it's still not really easy to lose lots of weight on these things, most of my carpet is gone, the sound pad at the rear deck and seat backs is gone, the seat backs, rear seat belts, muffler (none at all) fog lights, door pockets, driver's side sun visor (I just didn't want it) and all of that stuff was only about 75lbs which is not much considering how big a pile it makes in my garage. I think the rocker panels and seat bottoms and the rest of the carpet will be next.

Steve where exactly are the interior sound deadening pads . I've removed the one in the engine bay but that is it so far. Are they really heavy and worth junking?

[Eric Mckenna]

Bones,
there under the rear interior seats. one on the rear deck area and the other is under the rear seats.. I pulled mine out and the two of the with the carpet weight 47 lbs.almost 50 lbs. so TO ME yes they are HEAVY! and needed to go .. let it be known though if you pull them..
the car will be loud.. so if you do NOT LOVE the sound of the flatsix.. I do NOT recommend you pull them out.. to get to them you'll have to pull the rear carpet up in areas and reglue it if you are not going to be replacing it .
Eric

[Randy Webb]

You first have to decide if you are building a race car only, a street car or something in between. If street, I'd put Euro bumpers on and lose the rear seats. Kill the A/C, and any power windows or seats. See f you have alloy banana arms and F suspension cross-piece, substitute if you don't. Sunroof? Things like the door pockets, glove box & visor are inconsequential. I've weighed all that stuff, and it's just a "look" to delete it. You might also think about converting to carbs which are lighter. Also, hollow torsion bars will save a bit. Do NOT put on heavy brake calipers -- you could even back date to Al "S" calipers, or 944T calipers, but the real wt. is the rotors.

[Bill Verburg]

You could get some Ti rotors. They are only ~$600 a pop but very light and incredibly efficient at getting rid of heat. They light up like light bulbs when applied but cool down to be hand touchable in just a few minutes.

[Randy Webb]

Hmmm, are the Ti rotors suitable for a street car? And who sells them. $2,400 is a lot of moola, but Ti ought to give a sig. wt. savings.