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Originally Posted by jyl
I admit to just fast forwarding through the video - while I like drillium, it got tedious.
I wonder what weight reduction is possible by replacing body panels with aluminum or carbon fiber, glass with Lexan, and NOT doing all that drillium? If you want to go further and blow even more money, remake as many steel components as possible in titanium.
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Agree here and with Higgens. I think there are ways to lighten a 911 significantly w/o making Swiss cheese. The 914 rear lids with balsa ribbing come to mind and that was then. The rocker panels on a 911 may or may not be overengineered. There isn't a lot of change to the Targa body with the exception of some additional pieces near the footwell. And there's that heated tube ass'y and all the connections.
If roll over concerns are not considered, the windshield frame is quite heavy being 3 folded and spot welded members. 2 would do it easily.
I can't think of a lot of redundancy in the front except for the smuggler's box and more tubing. Early cars had the metal battery boxes.
Suspensions can be surprisingly heavy and I would think need so for longevity. But for the point, there is some to gain there. The rear spring plates are complex and once dialed in could be greatly simplified.
IDK if the car here had CF rotors and that sort of thing but light wheels and tires could probably save quite a bit.
The front and rear bulkheads along with the package tray could very well be bonded AL of CF. That could be true with the tunnel as well. If the tunnel is a torsional component, it should be one piece CF.
It is obvious to state that the roof and all bolt on body parts be CF, even the welded rear quarters including the entire rear glass area. The rear lid would not touch metal anywhere including the entire rear latch panel. All composite. The front equivalent as well. That's a lot of work.
All in all, I think a stock 911 could be operated without the floors or rear seat area, and certainly no gas tank as we know it. Could all that be CF? I'm far from an engineer, just a guy who has a lot of time with a Sawzall in hand.
And I didn't even get to the dash or interior, or lack thereof.