cheap weight reduction...

[Raymond]

i read the post below about the carbon body panels and it got me thinking... in lieu of plastic panels or $ for engine mods, what methods have you found to reduce weight without functional penalties? save the jokes about going on a diet. here are the simple deletions in weight i am using that aren't much of a sacrifice in function:

spare tire (added bottle of slime)
jack
trunk carpet
1/2 windshield wiper fluid
???

any other suggestions in weight reduction? by the way, it's a 1970 T coupe.

[emcon5]

Back seats?

[Bill Douglas]

Loose the blower motor in the engine compartment. removes weight from the behind the back wheels area.

[Raymond]

good suggestions all around. my car has no power anything, no a/c, no sunroof, really nothing extra but a big tach, steering wheel, shifter and gas pedal! because it has so few amenities, it's the reason for this thread. the rear seats is a great suggestion because i don't think there's ever been a butt planted back there since the car's been new.

[Raymond]

oh, and for a true indicator of how much these seemingly 'small' things weigh, carry that spare tire and jack around for an hour. being an ex-bike racer, i am an expert in knowing how important it is to remove or delete extraneous stuff!

[Eric Coffey]

Raymond-

Sounds like you are off to a good start. I too would recommend removing the rear seats. I would also remove the (surprisingly heavy) insulation pad underneath the rear seats, as well as the rear parcel shelf/speaker deck, and it's insulation pad. Other suggestions: Remove all of the factory carpet, and install a Perlon (RS type) carpet set. Replace factory seats with fixed racing buckets (Sparco EVO, Recaro SPG, etc). Replace door panels/handles with lightweight RS panels with pull straps. And on and on.....

[Pillow]

Sweet, I love weight reduction topics!!!

The cruise control has got to go to if you have it.

Stereo if you can, I like a good radio myself so it stayed.

Some people take out the clock.

You could probably remove the window wiper fluid all togther if it is not a daily driver... I do not think I have used it ever in my 911.

Replace the rear bumper with fiberglass one if you have the rubber bump stops kind.

The lexan rear corner windows would be easy too.


good luck and keep us posted,

[Bob Goding]

eliminate one of the batteries--lots of 'lightweight 'batts. available
but it is up the wrong end,I guess.

Bob

[Kurt B]

Pillow: how do I get rid of the cruise control? What exactly did you get rid of when you offed it?

Also...on back seats. What do you mean by "back seats"...the pads are light! Is there some kind of heavy material back there that makes the pattern?
I'd like to keep them back there just in case, but maybe a lighter version (minus the sound deadening or anything else like that) even if it does change the appearance a bit.

What about lightening the window motors? Surely they must have super light electric motors that could be used instead...

[jwetering]

[QUOTE}....I would also remove the (surprisingly heavy) insulation pad underneath the rear seats..[/QUOTE]

I'm curiouis about this too....do you mean the little butt cushions?

Nobody has mentioned A/C (probably because it's a gimmee) and I also removed that little light in between the seats that showed which way to move the heater levers. What's the point of that thing anyway - superfluous weight - it's maddening!

Regarding washer fluid...mine didn't spray whjen I bought the car. When I finally went through the syetem, the washer fluid tank was *filled* with a blue sludge that was at one time fresh alcohol based fluid. Over ten or more years of non-use, the luiquid portion had evaporated and left behind only the detergent solids - I've since flushed it, but haven't actually emptied it, which I am goinfg to do before the season starts!

[Pillow]

Kurt it is amazingly easy once you get at it... Read: potential knuckle scraps

It is held on by 2 screws/bolts (10 or 13mm heads), 2 vacuum lines, and the throttle line. It sits in the front of the engine bay (front is front of car) nestled below the heat blower motor. You will need a shop light or flashlight to see back there.

First get the hot air blower tube out of the way to clear up some room.

Unhook the CC throttle line from the main accelerator shaft. This confused me for a while, but once you figure out how it is connected it comes off easily.

Next, find the two bolts holding the body of the CC unit to the car. Should be fairly easy to do and remove, watch knuckles.

Once the body of the CC is loose unhook the two vacuum lines and one(?) electrical connector. Easy part.

Put some electrical tape on the connector and tuck out of the way. Plug the vacuum lines with large screws or whatever works... I wish I could see better back there to hook the line in a "U" fashion back on itself to elliminate one line and the hose plugs.

Some people claim to have taken the CC stalk off of the steering column, but electronics are not my strong suit so I left it alone for now.

The whole thing should take under a half an hour total, including drinking a beer. If you are more familiar with what you are after it could be much quick too, I was being a slow poke.

Good Luck,

[cstreit]

Wait! THis is a sickness. Look where I ended up... Har har, pics from the racecar... But I'm a fanatic on that one. Currently 1850 pounds without fuel, shooting for 1800# this year...

[widebody911]

My '77 is in the low-mid 2600's, but that's with 1/2 tank of gas, spare, tools, etc onboard. It has 235 RWHP

Deletions:

• a/c
• heater blower
• factory airbox
• rear seat tops
• rocker covers
• lightend flywheel & crank pulley (I know that's not the purpose, but it's there)
• windshield & headlight washer system (that's where the second cooler is now)
• brake backing plates

Additions

• harness bar
• 2 oil coolers
• strut brace

Replacements

• (hevaier) 930 brakes
• (heavier) bigger torsion bars
• (lighter) fiberglass GT2 tail
• (lighter) Recaro SRDs
• (lighter) B*B exhaust
• points vs stock belts (a wash?)

Future plans/maybes

• remove rear seat pads (requires re-carpeting)
• fiberglass bumpers (-50lbs +)
• hollow torsion bars
• RSA door panels
• remove center console
• lose 40lb off my fat a$$

I'm leaving the sound insulation alone - this is a daily driver!

[Jack Olsen]

Chris,

Seriously, I think it's time you give up some of the luxuries, and really devote yourself to cutting weight:

Headlight switch? Your car doesn't have headlights.

Ignition switch? That thing weighs a ton. How about a button? Maybe just two wires to twist -- back in the engine compartment.

And rubber pads on the pedals... and a padded steering wheel?! Heavy glass on those gauges, and interior paint? What is that thing, a Cadillac?



I get a serious case of envy every time I see that car.

[aseem]

cstreit

That cockpit looks too comfy

Seriously, I think you're suffering from p-anorexia

[emcon5]

In the 911R, the (Lexan)windows went up and down with a leather strap with some buttons on it. Just fasten the button that put the window where you want it.

Chris, you could probably lose your blinker/high beam switch too.

Tom

[Eric Coffey]

Kurt B and jwetering:

In addition to the flip-up rear seat backs and "butt cushions", there is an insulation pad underneath the rear carpeting. So, here is a more detailed list of what I would remove from the rear:

Rear flip-up seat backs.
Rear seat pads ("butt cushions").
Rear carpeting.
Rear seat insulation pad (under carpeting).
Rear seatbelts.
Rear parcel shelf/speaker deck.
Rear deck insulation pad (under speaker deck).
Rear side panels.
Rear side panel top trim rails.

Re-cover everything in lightweight RS-type carpeting.

[boyo]

No way man, got to have blinkers and flashers... That's proper racing etiquette, isn't it? (Approach - flash - signal - pass - signal back into his lane.) Works best at speeds over 100mph.

-Boyo

[Kurt B]

God, this could get totally out of control.

Will I swing by to pick up someone in my machine sometime, and when they open the door, it looks like Christ Streit's car inside?

I'll have a 3 lbs plastic white chair you get at Kmart bolted to the floor (using alumimum of course) on the passenger's side?

At least it'll be 2300 lbs I think to myself.

[turbo dave]

Here's a link to someone who approached this scientifically, metodically, and insanely:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/jCalzia.html

Man, oh man do I love his car-