Weight Reduction List

[turbo87adam]

Kinda off topic but is there an option code on the spid label or a designation in the vin that would indicate if a regal/ grand national is an export model?? The reason I ask is I picked up a parts car because it had an export front bumper support and an aluminum rear bumper support. By looking at the vin it's just a plain Jane buick regal!! Not that it would affect its value or would make it more desirable . Just curious??


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[pacecarta]

i

 

[turbo87adam]

I'll have to take a look out of curiosity!! Thanks for the info

Adam,


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[Catmandoo]

were all the export cars equipped with the aluminum supports and other the 'lightweights', were any of the American cars equipped with the aluminum supports? I have an '87 limited T with VD6 & VD7 but it is a Canadian car. I wonder if that makes it a little more rare as I am contemplating doing an LS swap.
thanks,

 

[pacecarta]

t

 

[Catmandoo]

were all the export cars equipped with the aluminum supports and other the 'lightweights', were any of the American cars equipped with the aluminum supports? I have an '87 limited T with VD6 & VD7 but it is a Canadian car. I wonder if that makes it a little more rare as I am contemplating doing an LS swap.
thanks,[/quote
edit: I found my answer, not overly rare but cool all the same

 

[murphster]

I am just going to update a previous post in this thread. All weights are with driver, I'm not a little guy either as I weigh in the mid 200 #s.

Last year (2013)
Al bumper supports and shims - 16lbs
Fiberglass front bumper - 33lbs
Fiberglass rear bumper - 35lbs
Strange front disc brakes - 22lbs
Fuel Cell 10gal - 15lbs
5 gallons less gas - 30lbs

With full cage, AC removed, Al heads, the car weighed 3465lbs with me in it. I also have other standard weight loss stuff such as fbody radiator, mini starter, insulation removed, no front sway bar, no spare tire, and Weld wheels. I also have TRZ tubular upper and lower front control arms.

Spring 2014
Rack and Pinion - 45lbs
Carbon Fiber hood - 30lbs
Fiberglass decklid - 23lbs
Hacked radiator support - 13.7lbs
Iceman tubular trans xmember - 9.5lbs
Door bars, speakers - 37.5lbs
Kirkey front seats - 31.4lbs
Rear seats - 29.6 lbs (don't plan on keeping them out but wanted to see)
Fiberglass doors with stock glass - 125lbs from stock doors (less for me since door bars already removed)

The car weighed 3250lbs.

Current (Fall 2014)
Strange rear disc brakes - 25lbs (estimated going from steel drums)
Emergency brake stuff - 10lbs (estimated)
35 spline axles - +10lbs (estimated)
TRZ anti roll bar in place of H&R bar - 20lbs
Removed rear tailpipes and added turndowns - 10lbs (ATR dual 3")

Car weighed 3200lbs with me and my racing bag with helmet, fire jacket, fire pants and other stuff. It weighed 2910lbs empty.

I'm truly running out of stuff I can do to reduce the weight further. Here is a list of more things I've seriously considered:
- Replace heavy stock carpet (maybe) -10lbs?
- lighter battery (mini ones don't last long and poor CCA, my current one is heavy though) -15lbs?
- replace spare tire well with aluminum sheet (maybe) -10lbs?
- lighter driveshaft (nope, I won't replace my Dennys 3.5") -10lbs?
- remove wiper assembly (nope, still drive it on the street, seems risky) -7lbs?
- skinnier driver (lots of weight could be saved here) -50lbs?

So I could maybe reduce the car another 35lbs to bring it into the high 2800lbs range. Combined with a driver diet, mid 3100lbs with driver is in reach.

 

[trixdout]

Have you thought about making the passenger seat like a quick release and take it out for the races?

 

[murphster]

Have you thought about making the passenger seat like a quick release and take it out for the races?

I have a Kirkey passenger seat also. Takes only a minute to remove as it is, 4 nuts.......

 

[Street Lethal]

Aside from a Pro Front End, and a rear lexan glass kit from maybe VFN or Harwood, not much more you can do to reduce weight that drastically...

 

[turbojoe1]

Carbon fiber turbo hood? With the power bulge I mean....


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[turbojoe1]

Steering colume, inner fenders, tubular rad support, manual everything, carbon fiber steering wheel, pedals, gutted dash, remove spoiler and air damns


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[murphster]

Aside from a Pro Front End, and a rear lexan glass kit from maybe VFN or Harwood, not much more you can do to reduce weight that drastically...

Nah, the lexan windows would def look obvious and are not legal on the road and in a lot of racing classes. I still want all my lights working on the front and to keep the inner wheel house, so a lot of the major weight savings would be gone. We weighed front fenders and not as much as you would think with just the metal remaining. I'm sure there would still be some savings though even after you added all the lights and wheel house stuff, but probably not too drastic.

With the stock interior in the car, most of my weight savings are not obvious to the casual observer except for the white bumpers (which look better than the chrome ones I think). I've tried not to do anything too crazy that just screams race car.

 

[murphster]

Steering colume, inner fenders, tubular rad support, manual everything, carbon fiber steering wheel, pedals, gutted dash, remove spoiler and air damns

There is a post about the carbon hood earlier in the thread.....

I've wanted to keep the interior somewhat stock looking so I wouldn't do the column or steering wheel. Thought about a fiberglass dash, but I like keeping the stock look with the oem dash. No spoiler on my car and I need my front air damn for the track. I do have power windows and locks, but I like keeping the passenger window down at the track in the summer until the last second for cooling so it just wasn't worth the weight savings for me. Already have a lightened rad support. And I do have manual brakes and steering already. Probably could gut the dash some more though. The front inner fenders are heavy, but since I do street driving they are a must to keep all the dirt out of the engine bay. All good ideas.

 

[bison]

Let Paul drive your car. youre 290 pounds.


BPE2013@hotmail.com

 

[murphster]

More like 260 lol. The bag was 30. The Paul mod would be my cheapest one yet.

 

[Phoneguy]

The front inner fenders are heavy, but since I do street driving they are a must to keep all the dirt out of the engine bay. All good ideas.

I think Dusty lost his hood at the track after removing the inner fenders....

Bryan

 

[hotairgnx548]

I had a person tell me he had a 84 t something with alum frt fenders and hood from the factory. His grandfather bought for his wife new also bumper braces ,bench seat stripped down car. I had never hear of frt fenders or hood made of alum before . Can a ny one tell me if he's pulling my leg? John

 

[tbone87]

I think Dusty lost his hood at the track after removing the inner fenders....

Bryan

What do u expect at 175 lol

 

[TT/Ameasap]

The small batteries work. Mine cranks my car like its a big one..Even when its cold out.