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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

weight reduction

Old Dec 7, 2005 | 02:25 AM
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Default weight reduction

What are some good weight reduction tips and tricks? Nothing silly like removing the seats or anything like that please. I am talking about real world stuff here, getting rid of the useless junk on the Z that takes up weight and space. I have already removed the weight in the hatch along with the rear wiper and I was just wondering if there might be anything else like that a guy could get rid of to shed a few pounds to get the Z ride as slim and healthy as possible…
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 02:30 AM
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Get rid of the spare wheel etc and replace with that spray stuff that temporarily repairs punctures.

Only half fill the petrol tank.

Diet
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 02:48 AM
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Well, the spare is a given. And as for the Gas, I never fill up anyway. But there has to be more! Let's get inventive here, think people, think!
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 02:54 AM
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Rays alloys save 16kg over the standard wheels. But the GT pack adds 14kg.
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 02:57 AM
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Have a poo before you drive
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:05 AM
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Originally Posted by paulsmansfield
Rays alloys save 16kg over the standard wheels. But the GT pack adds 14kg.
Already got the Rays, they came standard on my track...
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:07 AM
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bumper reinforcements weigh about 20-25 pounds apiece, for each the front and back, but you better be careful!!!


do a single exhaust, the factory exhaust is pretty heavy

a lighter battery will shave off a few pounds, 10 maybe

factory seats weigh 47 and 44 pounds resp. think about going with some nice race seats, will stilll look really good, and save weight


of course the spare and jacks

there is a lot of sound deadening in the car, you will need to get some dry ice and it comes right off, but it will make for a lot louder and rattley (made that word up) interior

if you start to get crazy, get a nice steering wheel and get rid of the airbag filled oem one, then you also have two pillar airbags and the passenger dash one to take out,

get even crazier, the air conditioning components probably weigh over 50 pounds for all of it
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:12 AM
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for true weight saving, buy my all-time favourite car http://www.caterham.co.uk/
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:26 AM
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Originally Posted by audiblemayhem
bumper reinforcements weigh about 20-25 pounds apiece, for each the front and back, but you better be careful!!!


do a single exhaust, the factory exhaust is pretty heavy

a lighter battery will shave off a few pounds, 10 maybe

factory seats weigh 47 and 44 pounds resp. think about going with some nice race seats, will stilll look really good, and save weight


of course the spare and jacks

there is a lot of sound deadening in the car, you will need to get some dry ice and it comes right off, but it will make for a lot louder and rattley (made that word up) interior

if you start to get crazy, get a nice steering wheel and get rid of the airbag filled oem one, then you also have two pillar airbags and the passenger dash one to take out,

get even crazier, the air conditioning components probably weigh over 50 pounds for all of it

Wow, good tips there...

What do you think a set of race seats will weigh and what bumper reinforcements are you refering to?
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:27 AM
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I would kill the air bags but that is just asking for trouble...
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:30 AM
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you can find 13 pound seats, and the brackets might weigh 10pounds, so you will be saving almost 50 pounds total with both seats, the bumper reinforcements, (everyone will definently say this is a bad idea) but they are located behind both front and rear bumpers, they reinforce if you get into a wreck.
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:30 AM
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You take out the bumper reinforcements and get in an accident and die........good idea. What about a carbon fiber hatch? That has to be a lot lighter than the stock hatch.
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:34 AM
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Originally Posted by bobS
You take out the bumper reinforcements and get in an accident and die........good idea. What about a carbon fiber hatch? That has to be a lot lighter than the stock hatch.
It's not, I already checked into it. And waaaaaaay to pricy to justify.
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:35 AM
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On second thought I could sell the air bags on ebay and buy more performance parts with the money!
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:39 AM
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http://www.airbags-oem.com/partners.php
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:46 AM
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also another good idea is to think about rims and tires, every pound you save on each rim, you multiply it by four. the stock 18s weigh right over 50 pounds each, some nice light 18 pound 18s and nice 20 pound tires installed, you are saving over 50 pounds total of unsprung weight there. probably your best option by far...
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted by audiblemayhem
also another good idea is to think about rims and tires, every pound you save on each rim, you multiply it by four. the stock 18s weigh right over 50 pounds each, some nice light 18 pound 18s and nice 20 pound tires installed, you are saving over 50 pounds total of unsprung weight there. probably your best option by far...
Another good tip! But the rims and tires I have now are pretty much as light as I am going find.

I am still thinking about the air bag sugestion. That was a good one. I could make some cash and lighten up the car at the same time. I know those things are worth pretty good money to the right people...
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 04:42 AM
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Originally Posted by thezedsled
It's not, I already checked into it. And waaaaaaay to pricy to justify.
[/QUOTE]What about a carbon fiber hatch? That has to be a lot lighter than the stock hatch.[/QUOTE]

Isn't most carbon fibre stuff like that just fibreglass coated with carbon?
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 05:13 AM
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yeah...
its just for the carbon look...
stock is aluminium... which is alrdy uber light so i wouldnt worry about any of that...
i took out sound deadening in the hatch for 1 week
it drove me f*cking CRAZY
f*ck that ****... my car is daily driver and rattle interior makes me sick
like it sounds like my car is breaking apart or something
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Old Dec 7, 2005 | 10:34 AM
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That airbag place is an interesting idea....Exactly how much would all 4 of our airbags go for? Giving up safety in the name of speed isnt that stupid.....is it? Besides you can just buy a roll cage with the money you make.
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