Classic Mustangs (Tech) Technical discussions about the Mustangs of yester-year.

Weight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 25, 2009 | 08:22 PM
  #1  
1slow67's Avatar
1slow67
Thread Starter
ROTM Moderator
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,157
From: AL
Default Weight

What are some ways to shave off some weight on the coupe? I plan on taking the rear seat out and making a seat delete. Aluminum door panels instead of the vinly style? What else?
Old May 25, 2009 | 08:33 PM
  #2  
Starfury's Avatar
Starfury
6th Gear Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
Default

Vinyl door panels hardly weigh anything; I wouldn't worry about those much.

If you're serious about it:
Spare tire
Insulation (weighs a lot more than you'd think)
Interior trim panels
Exterior trim pieces
Hood and front valence (switch to fiberglass)
Glove box
Heads/intake (switch to aluminum)
Power brake booster
Pony grille insert
Power steering setup
A/C system
Spindles and suspension (switch to TCP forged w/coilovers)
Radio

All I have for now.

All that said, you're probably going to see more improvement from gears, tires, and a good suspension than you will from basic weight loss stuff.
Old May 25, 2009 | 08:47 PM
  #3  
stangtjk's Avatar
stangtjk
2nd Gear Member
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 398
From: WV
Default

Remove all the window regulators and glass and replace it with lexan.
Old May 25, 2009 | 08:50 PM
  #4  
1slow67's Avatar
1slow67
Thread Starter
ROTM Moderator
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,157
From: AL
Default

I have new gears since I upgraded to 5 lug. I went from 3.21 to 3.00 gears. I'm taking out the spare, I'll take off the pony corral on the front, I am trying to figure out how to take off my front bumper(and make it look good), don't have A/C PS or PB, thinking about moving the radio, I'm going to lower it some more to help with the center of gravity, I was thinking about getting some roller perches.
Old May 25, 2009 | 08:51 PM
  #5  
1slow67's Avatar
1slow67
Thread Starter
ROTM Moderator
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,157
From: AL
Default

Originally Posted by stangtjk
Remove all the window regulators and glass and replace it with lexan.
Don't think my parents would allow that unfortunately.
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:06 PM
  #6  
Starfury's Avatar
Starfury
6th Gear Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
Default

Good. It's not DOT legal, as far as I know. Works for a race car, which doesn't have side windows, but you should have glass in a real car. You need to be able to break out of the car in an emergency, and you aren't going to break the lexan.

3.22 to 3.00 gears is the wrong way for performance. I'm running 3.25's and they're barely enough to keep my motor happy.
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #7  
racin66coupe's Avatar
racin66coupe
5th Gear Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,485
From: NH
Default

why are you trying to shave weight? i thought it was a show car?
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:20 PM
  #8  
1slow67's Avatar
1slow67
Thread Starter
ROTM Moderator
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,157
From: AL
Default

It is a show car, but I would like to have some fun every now and then. Just for fun do some racing with it.

Last edited by 1slow67; May 25, 2009 at 09:22 PM.
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:24 PM
  #9  
1slow67's Avatar
1slow67
Thread Starter
ROTM Moderator
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,157
From: AL
Default

Originally Posted by Starfury
3.22 to 3.00 gears is the wrong way for performance. I'm running 3.25's and they're barely enough to keep my motor happy.
I know it isn't good for it. I plan on upgrading to 3.55s or 3.73s ASAP. Once my grandfather and dad told me I couldn't launch it as hard as I usually do I knew the gears would have to go.
Old May 25, 2009 | 09:30 PM
  #10  
Starfury's Avatar
Starfury
6th Gear Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
Default

Like I said, true weight savings are not for a 'just for fun' car. You're going to remove a lot of amenities that you'll like on a street car before you ever see a noticable performance improvement.

You're much better off with aluminum top end, gears, 5sp, disc brakes, and suspension upgrades.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:26 PM.