Weight reduction of body panels??
09-15-2009, 05:01 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Henry County, Georgia
Posts: 1,636
Weight reduction of body panels??
Anyone know how much the body panels weight? Ive got some pretty minimal experience with fiberglass but i was wondering how much weight could be saved by making fiberglass of carbon parts as opposed to sheet metal. I would think i could manage to make some fenders out of glass fairly easily but considering i have little free time and money to invest right now because of school i wonder if its worth it.
Any opinions? My goal one day is to lighten my car dramatically so im just trying to think if some more creative ways to shave a good bit of weight other then wheels and seats.
Any opinions? My goal one day is to lighten my car dramatically so im just trying to think if some more creative ways to shave a good bit of weight other then wheels and seats.
09-15-2009, 06:41 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Clermont, FL
Posts: 2,952
most of your weight from body panels is in the doors, with the glass and intrusion bars. The fenders would net you minimal weight reduction. There is a company that makes all the panels out of carbon for the rolex cobra but it cost $32k.
09-17-2009, 09:13 AM
#3
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 3,758
Anyone know how much the body panels weight? Ive got some pretty minimal experience with fiberglass but i was wondering how much weight could be saved by making fiberglass of carbon parts as opposed to sheet metal. I would think i could manage to make some fenders out of glass fairly easily but considering i have little free time and money to invest right now because of school i wonder if its worth it.
Any opinions? My goal one day is to lighten my car dramatically so im just trying to think if some more creative ways to shave a good bit of weight other then wheels and seats.
Any opinions? My goal one day is to lighten my car dramatically so im just trying to think if some more creative ways to shave a good bit of weight other then wheels and seats.
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.
09-17-2009, 01:05 PM
#4
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: California
Posts: 944
Don't forget the hood... the stocker is not light at all... as for weight reduction check out this thread there are multiple guys over here with less then 3000lb S197s. http://s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13162
09-17-2009, 03:12 PM
#5
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 3,758
Don't forget the hood... the stocker is not light at all... as for weight reduction check out this thread there are multiple guys over here with less then 3000lb S197s. http://s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13162
:-)
09-18-2009, 02:20 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Near Wash. DC Posts: 13,541
Posts: 2,497
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.