Where does weight gain come from on a 87 GN vs 87 Turbo T?

[tb3]

I did a search on "weight", and I confess, after about 15 pages of not getting the answer I was looking for, I gave up. So I though I'd post and maybe somebody can enlighten my enquiring mind. If the WE4's where faster from the factory than the GN's due to less weight, then how much less do they weigh? I can understand the steel wheels being heavier than the alum, and the rear spoiler on the gn's, which weighs almost nothing. But where else could they be saving enough weight to amount to any differance? What else is included in the trim package of the GN's that was left off of the WE4's? I got a feeling the answers probably really obvious, but, sometimes you just don't know till you ask.

 

[suicide six]

Gn wheels around 28lbs ea.Some cars came with alum bumper brackets,light wt bumper backings,Alum core supports,And of course extra options add wt.

 

[suicide six]

alum drums also

 

[turbofish38]

The main weight gain on the 87 GN was from the steel wheels and steel bumper reinforcements. This only applies to the 1987 GN! Other years and other models got the aluminum parts with the exception of the 86 GN which has steel wheels. Every 86 GN got aluminum bumper reinforcements. I wouldn't count aluminum drums as option content had more to do with whether a TR got them or not. If I guesstimate correctly thats about 75 pounds at the most. Whats that equate to in the 1/4 mile? Not even ten thousandths? .010? Driver technique could make it an even match as far as that goes.

 

[RT87]

What if you add the wheel weight difference, aluminum drum difference, and aluminum bumper support difference to the difference between a bench seat T and a bucket seat GN with power driver's side and console? What about power door lock motors vs crank windows? A 150 lb lighter car is like carrying one less passenger.

 

[TURBOELKY]

I had a we-4

yeah, it felt lighter when I would bench press it just kidding. The we-4 could not have been very much lighter at all. the main weight savings on these cars I have personally felt were the bumpers. The steel is way heavier than alumn bumper supports. between the front and back, you would save about 80 lbs or so if I read correctly. The t-wheels are a little lighter, deduct what ever weight for each one and multiply it by 4, not sure how much, probably about 25-30lbs. Your right, the rear spoiler dont weigh more than my nuts, I mean a big bag of peanuts, 2lbs or so? I dont know how much people swear they save with manual windows and locks, but it does not out weigh power options if there is no passenger to roll down the other window, manual SUCKS!! get over it guys. maybe the grey interrior was lighter than the two tone mine had an astro roof, there goes the weight savings

 

[Bob Smith]

I weighed my two cars yesterday. I have a 1987 limited "T" & an '87 GN. Both are hard tops, both have the steel chrome wheels, both have the same options. The only difference, the "T" has a non-power bench & the GN has non-power buckets. Both had all other power options. The "T" weighed in @ 3650 with me in it & 3/4 tank of gas. The GN weighed in @ 3800 with me in it & 1/4 tank of gas. These are both low milage, stock cars. I couldn't believe the difference!!

 

[flattype]

I weighed my two cars yesterday. I have a 1987 limited "T" & an '87 GN. Both are hard tops, both have the steel chrome wheels, both have the same options. The only difference, the "T" has a non-power bench & the GN has non-power buckets. Both had all other power options. The "T" weighed in @ 3650 with me in it & 3/4 tank of gas. The GN weighed in @ 3800 with me in it & 1/4 tank of gas. These are both low milage, stock cars. I couldn't believe the difference!!

Maybe the GN emblems are made of lead?

 

[1QUICK85]

My '85 has the 84/85 GN or 86/87 T style wheels, they weight 18lbs. a piece. So, the 84 - 86 GN's have aluminum bumper supports? All of them? I guess I never really checked. -Nick.

 

[BUICKTIME]

"weight"?

the 100# or so in weight is great, but the rotating mass makes for the biggest difference (alum. drums and wheels), as far as e.t. is concerned.