911SC weight loss- need some advice

[JoeF]

I am trying to lighten up the SC some more. I have a few questions.

I cant seem to loosen up the clamp and strap thing that holds the windshield washer resivoir on. How can I remove it?

I am not geting the fiberglass rear bumper anytime soon, is it worth it to remove those rubber bumper things for any kind of weight loss?

After removing the after market air conditioning unit, I have a large opening behind that wood foot rest on the passenger side that opens into the smugler box area. Is this an unsafe condition? Should I make an attempt to close off this opening?

Is it safe to remove the smuggler box cover for weight loss?

Can I lose the spare for weight loss or is having the spare in place that much safer in a front end impact?

Can I lose all the duct hose and heat fan stuff in the engine compartment or will I want any of it in place?

This car rarely if ever goes on the street.
Thanks, JoeF

[Jeff Alton]

Joe, If you remove the rear bumper pads you will save 15lbs I actually weighed them! However, you will be left with a few holes in the rear of the bumper. I filled mine and then painted the bumper and it looks good.
You can remove the smugglers box cover, but I don't think it weighs too much. If you want to loose all the ducting in the engine area you should back date it to the 74 and earlier style- do a search on this site, there might even be an article on it in the tech section. Do you have a sunroof? If so, loose the motor and associated stuff to get some weight out of the roof area. I personally would not be too worried about the hole left by removing the ac in the smugglers box area, the factory install just had a plastic piece there with a snall flap.

Jeff

[pbs911]

[QUOTE]
[B]I am trying to lighten up the SC some more. I have a few questions.

I cant seem to loosen up the clamp and strap thing that holds the windshield washer resivoir on. How can I remove it?

If I remember correctly it bolts to the body. You can just Dremel, or grind, the head of the bolt off. I was surprised wehn I found I was carrying about 10lbs of water around.

After removing the after market air conditioning unit, I have a large opening behind that wood foot rest on the passenger side that opens into the smugler box area. Is this an unsafe condition? Should I make an attempt to close off this opening?

I would plug it up to prevent water intrusion at the least .

Is it safe to remove the smuggler box cover for weight loss?

Sure but it really doesn't weigh much. The rear of the car should really be the focual point for weight loss.

Can I lose the spare for weight loss or is having the spare in place that much safer in a front end impact?

I did. Some say it provides crash protection.

Can I lose all the duct hose and heat fan stuff in the engine compartment or will I want any of it in place?

I would back date the heater to the pre-74 style. If you don't want to go to the hassel just remove all the hoses and heater motor. Be sure to block off each opening where a heater connection was made (i.e. on the r & l side of the rear engine tin, and at the fan housing.

[Jack Olsen]

Keep in mind, the areas where you'll benefit the most from weight loss are behind the jack pad mounting point, and above the door handles. In other words, weight removed from the rear and the roof (like the rear bumper and sunroof stuff) will help a lot more than taking anything out in the front, where you'll be compounding the car's pre-existing problem with weight distribution.

[JoeF]

Thanks for the advice guys. I just got the rear bumper things off,
They are pretty heavy! As far as the windshield resivoir is concerned, I was trying to loosen the clamp like device that hold the straps together on the bottom of the resivoir tank. Where does it mount to the body?
What is the procedure to remove it? Should I not bother since it is mounted so far up front?
Thanks again.

[Bill Verburg]

While not as important as extreme rear weight removal, extreme front wt. removel will noticably lower the polar moment of the car. ie. it will turn better and have a better response to whoo-de-dos. To retain the washer function plumb to a smaller reservoir as on this Cupcar.

[turbo6bar]

I like this thread. I've been mulling all the options for my 78SC. Engine mods only help me in one category. Losing weight helps me in all categories.

1) I really like the RUF rear bumper. I'm not crazy about the RUF front bumper. If I replace the rear bumper with the RUF fiberglass bit, the bumper bellows will be gone from the rear, but not on the front. Is there such a piece that would replace the front bellows, so I could get the clean look? I think having the bumper bellows on the front would look cheesy.

2) Another weight reduction idea is stolen from the '70 911S lightweight in another thread. Take out the rear deck speakers and replace the rear deck or cover the speaker holes. Maybe something trick light like a fiberglass panel covered in black leather/vinyl, or just go with lightweight carpet with sound deadener beneath.

3) The 911R tailights on Jack's car are another good part for reducing weight. I wish there was a cheaper option, though.

I figure the mods reducing weight from the bumper, taillights and rear deck are going to make the biggest gains. I can really feel a difference in the car with and without a passenger, so it's worth a try.

Jurgen

[ronb]

Who is a decent source for those Ruf fiberglass bumpers which replace the bellows SC ones? And how much weight actually is saved? (Certainly it looks better).

[Jeff Alton]

Jack, how much lighter are the 911r tail lights?

Jeff

[turbo6bar]

Ron, you can do a search here and find many threads on the RUF bumpers, but as I recall, removal of the stock bumpers + big black bumperettes + bumper shocks will save about 75lbs. Plus, since this weight is removed from either end of the car, handling is doubly improved.

If I bought a RUF bumper, I would go to MA Shaw. MA Shaw seems to have the best reputation for high quality parts. I do agree the RUF bumpers looks really sharp. I have a white SC, and I don't think the front bumper looks quite right on a white car.

Jurgen

[Randy Webb]

taking 10 lbs off the front of a 2,700 lb car isn't going to affect the polar moment of inertia appreciably. The stock rear tail lights weigh about 10 lbs. Kill the re ar bumper shocks also, and strip the havy pads behind the rear seats. Put Al bananas on if not there now. Read the article on Jim Calzia's car and see the 911s web site for his accurate wt. tables.

[Bill Verburg]

Randy, Don't pooh pooh something that you have not done! It does make a noticeable difference!! BTDT

[Randy Webb]

OK, Bill. But like most scientists (or engineers) I can do it in my head or on paper or in a computer. Take 10lbs X the moment arm and compare it to the original mass "out there" X the same moment arm. So, 2 questions:
1. Did you do anything else at the same time?
2. Did you do a double blind test, or could there be some psychological effect? Or did you think the feel was so strong that it couldn't possibly be a placebo effect? (Note, many have been surprised by the strength of this).

I'm trying to rationalize what ought to be true with your observations. Not that you aren't an experienced and trusted poster. _Randy

[dd74]

Joe: although I have a narrow body; i.e., not an SC, from what I understand, both cars weigh about the same.

With that, I've finished stripping out the rear interior pieces and found to my surprise, that everything - the seats, insulation beneath the seats, carpeting, speakers, side panels and decklid come to approximately 100 pounds. In my case, I would not be using the rear seats, so it was an easy removal on my part.

I agree with the others, particularly Jack's assessment, that the most effective place to remove weight are the ends and up top. Get rid of the sunroof stuff if you have it, power window stuff, if you can, and stock bumpers if you eventually feel the inclination.

One reason I would not remove the door to the smuggler's box is it could give a little bit more protection to the lightweight racing battery you should put inside the smuggler's box in lieu of the heavy stock battery that comes with the 911. This made a big difference up front for me; about 35 pounds were saved, I believe, as well as the new location is farther back and to the center of the car. It's well worth it, and relatively inexpensive.

[Bill Verburg]

Randy, No and No. There was no psychological effect because absolutely none was expected or looked for. It was just something immediately apparant. How much mass in a skaters arms to cause the dramatic effects seen on ice?

[Randy Webb]

Bill, I don't think you understand what I am talking about re placebo effect. It is precisely that one does NOT expect any psychological effect. Placebo effects are ubiquitous and surprisingly strong.

As to the skater's arms that is not a good analogy. One is placing mass where none was present before and doing so all along the radial distance of both arms. An arm wieghs a fair amount (and there is actually a book where that gruesome factoid can be looked up...). On the car, there is already considerable mass and one is merely removing a small fracrtion of it.

[saxen]

I took nearly 250lbs off my 911sc- it was much quicker with out a doubt- however it now handles like crap and sits around an inch higher than it use to- so i need to address that next

[ToddM]

I don't know guys, if you remove the rear bumper pads where are you supposed to sit and drink your beer?

[James Brown]

lighter exhaust and intake system will do wonders also. but cost big bucks. the 911r tail light are lighter due to the old mounting brackets that you remove, that's another 10 pounds in the right place. removing rear seats and tray and original sound pad in the engine compartment save 20-30 pounds. get the drill out, ounces add up to pounds. Do you need heat? and after the weight loss, corner balance and lowering is in order.

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by ToddM

I don't know guys, if you remove the rear bumper pads where are you supposed to sit and drink your beer?

Australia , like the rest of us