lightweight Z? how much can you reduce?
#42
New Member
iTrader: (20)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by sentry65
headers -15
hf cats -20
hf cats -20
#43
New Member
iTrader: (2)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
This is interesting,
my buddy and I were just discussing how heavy cars have become. The new Civic, he says, will weigh in around 2900 lbs. When the GTO came to the U.S, there was a comparo vs the original GTO (C&D, or maybe it was R&T) and the new GTO actually weighs more than the original. Crazy.
The Z is heavy for what it is, especially when you figure the Corvette is lighter with more power and discplacement. The bulk of the weight is in the chassis and motor. I know that seems obvious, but the Z has a dual monocoque set-up to help rigidity in light of it using a hatch, in addition to strengthening suspension mounting points to help wt transfer without deflection. This is of course made out of steel to keep cost down, and is therefore substantially more heavy than it would otherwise need to be if it weren't a hatch. The real culprit though is the dirty little secret behind the VQ: It's a porker of a motor. I know I'll get thrashed for saying this and there will be the naysayers, but the motor is HEAVY. Consider this: when the GT500 car switched to the VQ over the RB, they saved a whopping 30kg from the block. That's it. The RB is cast iron for crying out loud! This is straight from a Racecar Engineering article with their chief engineer. I can post the date and names, but I am not at home with the info. Because I'm not at home, I also don't have the exact figures with me, but I can tell you the VQ35 weighs only 40lbs less than the LS1, both weights taken sans flywheel accessories, and oil, with manifolds and TB. I have the actual figures on my computer at home, and if I recall, the LS1 only weighs in at around 405 lbs. That's a V8 to the V6. Consider also, Chris Forsberg's car, stripped with cage, is like 2600 lbs with a SR20DET, intercooler and such installed. The GA cup 350 Z's are down to around 2900 lbs if I recall. it is fair to say that at least 250 lbs of that was lost due to the motor, and transmission (also heavy, but beefy for abuse). I have weights on the SR20DET, with turbo, AC, flywheel, clutch, and tranny, that I have seen on a scale myself for shipping at home. In any case, the Z just has a stiff but heavy chassis set-up, along with a heavy but versatile engine. Combined, you have a flexible motor in a stellar chassis for sure, but with some heft to make it happen.
Will
my buddy and I were just discussing how heavy cars have become. The new Civic, he says, will weigh in around 2900 lbs. When the GTO came to the U.S, there was a comparo vs the original GTO (C&D, or maybe it was R&T) and the new GTO actually weighs more than the original. Crazy.
The Z is heavy for what it is, especially when you figure the Corvette is lighter with more power and discplacement. The bulk of the weight is in the chassis and motor. I know that seems obvious, but the Z has a dual monocoque set-up to help rigidity in light of it using a hatch, in addition to strengthening suspension mounting points to help wt transfer without deflection. This is of course made out of steel to keep cost down, and is therefore substantially more heavy than it would otherwise need to be if it weren't a hatch. The real culprit though is the dirty little secret behind the VQ: It's a porker of a motor. I know I'll get thrashed for saying this and there will be the naysayers, but the motor is HEAVY. Consider this: when the GT500 car switched to the VQ over the RB, they saved a whopping 30kg from the block. That's it. The RB is cast iron for crying out loud! This is straight from a Racecar Engineering article with their chief engineer. I can post the date and names, but I am not at home with the info. Because I'm not at home, I also don't have the exact figures with me, but I can tell you the VQ35 weighs only 40lbs less than the LS1, both weights taken sans flywheel accessories, and oil, with manifolds and TB. I have the actual figures on my computer at home, and if I recall, the LS1 only weighs in at around 405 lbs. That's a V8 to the V6. Consider also, Chris Forsberg's car, stripped with cage, is like 2600 lbs with a SR20DET, intercooler and such installed. The GA cup 350 Z's are down to around 2900 lbs if I recall. it is fair to say that at least 250 lbs of that was lost due to the motor, and transmission (also heavy, but beefy for abuse). I have weights on the SR20DET, with turbo, AC, flywheel, clutch, and tranny, that I have seen on a scale myself for shipping at home. In any case, the Z just has a stiff but heavy chassis set-up, along with a heavy but versatile engine. Combined, you have a flexible motor in a stellar chassis for sure, but with some heft to make it happen.
Will
#44
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by 350Zenophile
Dude...wtf headers do you have that are 15lbs less than stock?! I weighed my stock headers and they were 15.4lbs total. The TopSpeeds coated were 13.4 for a savings of 2 lbs. I did measure a savings of 14.4lbs between the Kinetix and stock quad cats though...
ah ok, I never weighed my crawford headers or the stock ones. I went off of what someone else said in a thread somewhere.
ok, well my car weighs around 3022 lbs then
Originally Posted by ZlleH
2nd day driving without the spare tire and tools (1/4 tank). I notice when I make a U-turn at a moderate speed, I chirp the tires. It never chirped before when doing a U-turn at the same speed.
Wierd what a difference a 40 pound reduction can do.
Wierd what a difference a 40 pound reduction can do.
Last edited by sentry65; 08-31-2005 at 07:16 PM.
#45
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by The Mike
Just go on a diet and call it a day ![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
hehe thats a good one!
one of the last things people think of for loosing weight is THEMSELVES and Passengers LOL
#46
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by rolling
hehe thats a good one!
one of the last things people think of for loosing weight is THEMSELVES and Passengers LOL
one of the last things people think of for loosing weight is THEMSELVES and Passengers LOL
ahh yes, and you can help eliminating the passenger by removing the seat as well. lol
#47
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
When you mean bigger tires, you mean wider right? I have 18's now. When I get new rims, I was thinking of moving my rear 245 to the front and put 275 in the back. I'm debating if I should put 19" in the rear like the new '06 350Z model.
I heard going 285+ means you will have to shave the fenders. Is that what you had to do to put 285?
I heard going 285+ means you will have to shave the fenders. Is that what you had to do to put 285?
Originally Posted by sentry65
yeah cause you're losing weight off the rear tires. Some bigger tires help that from happening
#48
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
ugh enough of the go on a diet thing. That has to be the most unintelligent thing to say. If your a 250lb porker your not going to really fit in the Z anyways. I bet most of us are pretty light. Look weight reduction is just like hp mods. It gets better piece by piece. You may not notice the difference at first but once you get into the -100lbs or more category you will greatly notice the difference in the suspension,cornering, and yes acceleration will improve also bc your towing less weight. Also wieght reduction in the front adds more rear weight bias improving rear grip. Its amazing to me how many people brush off weight reduction. More HP is just that where as weight reduction pays off across every aspect of the car. The key is getting light without stripping your car.
#49
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
>> If your a 250lb porker your not going to really fit in the Z anyways. I bet most of us are pretty light.
I'm 250 and the car is very roomy. Even my brother fits and he's almost 400.
I'm 250 and the car is very roomy. Even my brother fits and he's almost 400.
#50
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by gatti-man
ugh enough of the go on a diet thing. That has to be the most unintelligent thing to say. If your a 250lb porker your not going to really fit in the Z anyways. I bet most of us are pretty light. Look weight reduction is just like hp mods. It gets better piece by piece. You may not notice the difference at first but once you get into the -100lbs or more category you will greatly notice the difference in the suspension,cornering, and yes acceleration will improve also bc your towing less weight. Also wieght reduction in the front adds more rear weight bias improving rear grip. Its amazing to me how many people brush off weight reduction. More HP is just that where as weight reduction pays off across every aspect of the car. The key is getting light without stripping your car.
Ahaha, im 270lbs and i fit with room to spare in my ZR. But then again no thinks i weigh 270 though....
#51
New Member
iTrader: (20)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by sentry65
ah ok, I never weighed my crawford headers or the stock ones. I went off of what someone else said in a thread somewhere.
Anyone have that SportZ Exhaust Shootout? I'm wondering how much my Borla Catback weighs in comparison to stock...much thanks.
#52
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Columbia, MD
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by The Mike
Just go on a diet and call it a day ![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Wink](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#53
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by gatti-man
ugh enough of the go on a diet thing. That has to be the most unintelligent thing to say. If your a 250lb porker your not going to really fit in the Z anyways.
![](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/icon39.gif)
#54
Registered User
iTrader: (50)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Yeah, maybe some day (like 10 years down the road when my car is really old and high mileage I will strip out the interior and the AC and lose weight but the only way you're gonna lose weight big time is to spend a TON of money on something like the Amuse cf body panels.
#55
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I cant believe you guys can fit. Its not the interior that makes it not roomy its the seats. Im 6' 180lbs and i barely fit in my seat. Honestly i just dont see how that can be. Like my back /lower rib cage is definitly squeezed by the seats to where there is no room to move at all. Thats why i said that. To the point where ive been looking for new seats that actually allow my back to hit the back of the seat!
#56
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://my350z.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by spcemn_spiff
Cannot afford to lose any more poundage, I am lightweight as is. May be thats more reason for me to not strip the Z to bare metal. ![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
basicly engine, tranny, wheels, and frame and necissary electronics
you would have to attach a seat somehow.. BUT i bet its REALY light!!!!
(only $15000) heheeh
![Big Grin](https://my350z.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gruppe-S
Body Interior
13
05-16-2016 10:42 PM