Weight reduction of body panels??
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4th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,636
From: Henry County, Georgia
For $6000 installed so you can remove 600 lbs from the car, this is the equivalent in terms of acceleration of adding a low end supercharger and has handling benefits.
However you could get the exact same results by adding an actual supercharger, a suspension kit, and 295 tires at all 4 corners. The difference being your car would be more comfortable, more powerful with something as simple as a dyno tune, and it would be less complicated and problematic. Also your top speed would be greater, not that it matters.
When I did a dollar for dollar analysis of the cost effectiveness of weight reduction on the Mustang, it was a reasonable idea, but ultimately it's not worth it.
However you could get the exact same results by adding an actual supercharger, a suspension kit, and 295 tires at all 4 corners. The difference being your car would be more comfortable, more powerful with something as simple as a dyno tune, and it would be less complicated and problematic. Also your top speed would be greater, not that it matters.
When I did a dollar for dollar analysis of the cost effectiveness of weight reduction on the Mustang, it was a reasonable idea, but ultimately it's not worth it.
But if you lightened the car then added the blower you could have a pretty quick car im guessing.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 41
From: California
Top weight savers (not necessarily in order):
1) insulation
2) power seats
3) door panels
4) wheels
5) spare tire/jack
6) exhaust, assuming it's just for drag racing (replacing with short side-exit or dumps will save LOTS of weight)
7) driveshaft
8) k-member
The only body panel with real big weight savings potential is the trunk lid.
1) insulation
2) power seats
3) door panels
4) wheels
5) spare tire/jack
6) exhaust, assuming it's just for drag racing (replacing with short side-exit or dumps will save LOTS of weight)
7) driveshaft
8) k-member
The only body panel with real big weight savings potential is the trunk lid.
spare tire/jack are like 60 lbs
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
Didn't Modaddict do a weight saving thread? If I recall he (or whomever) did a pretty thorough study on weight reduction.
A few items I didn't notice in the above posts were the battery (there's an 18# battery that was discussed and used successfully), rear seat delete, front sway bar delete not to mention aluminum DS...
A few items I didn't notice in the above posts were the battery (there's an 18# battery that was discussed and used successfully), rear seat delete, front sway bar delete not to mention aluminum DS...
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 171
From: Va
Best to start with the easy parts first...
25 lbs or so for the spare tire and jack and replace with electric pump, cell phone, AAA, etc.
10 lbs X 4 wheels if you go with light weight 18's instead of 26-28 lbs Ford wheels...
15 lbs, I think, by switching to flow threw exhaust (like stingers) instead of stock mufflers...
That's 80 lbs and you didn't really change the comfort or functioning of your car, throw in new lower control arms and you'd probably shave off another 5 lbs.
25 lbs or so for the spare tire and jack and replace with electric pump, cell phone, AAA, etc.
10 lbs X 4 wheels if you go with light weight 18's instead of 26-28 lbs Ford wheels...
15 lbs, I think, by switching to flow threw exhaust (like stingers) instead of stock mufflers...
That's 80 lbs and you didn't really change the comfort or functioning of your car, throw in new lower control arms and you'd probably shave off another 5 lbs.
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