Less weight = more power; Have you lightened your Z?
#21
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE]Originally posted by UsafaRice
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider. [/QUOT
Hell yeah a full tank of gas makes a hugh difference in my car. I never fill my gas tank more than half way and even a half tank makes a diffferent. As for me, i'm a 236 pound male who just put about 60 lbs of sounds into my car so if i can lose about 41 lbs , i'll be able to off set most of the additional weight that i put into the car. Oh yah, minus the spare and the jacks and i will be able to off set the full 60 lbs and then some...lol! Every little bit counts right?
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider. [/QUOT
Hell yeah a full tank of gas makes a hugh difference in my car. I never fill my gas tank more than half way and even a half tank makes a diffferent. As for me, i'm a 236 pound male who just put about 60 lbs of sounds into my car so if i can lose about 41 lbs , i'll be able to off set most of the additional weight that i put into the car. Oh yah, minus the spare and the jacks and i will be able to off set the full 60 lbs and then some...lol! Every little bit counts right?
#22
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by UsafaRice
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider.
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider.
#23
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Just another guy...
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by UsafaRice
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider.
Stock hood weighs about 24 pounds. Lightest CF I've ever seen is 15. You could lose half of that again by cutting out supports and braces, but then your hood would flap in the wind.
Gas weighs 6.5 lb/gal, so we can carry 130 lbs of fuel on a full tank. That's something else to consider.
TopicsII car is basically going to the extreme. Gut everything you don't need (carpet, sound deadening, sound system, air conditioning, and VQ motor ) and put a lighter engine in. His car makes around 370whp and weighs in around 2670lbs, give or take. Hopefully Chris can come in this thread and give some insight on this subject.
Btw, it might actually weigh less now with the diff, wing, and windsheild mod, huh Chris? JUST KIDDING MAN! See ya in two weeks!
#24
Registered User
i took out all the stuff i my trunk mat tools spare etc. the panel under the hatch that covers the wiper motor. less than a quarter tank of gas. and have lighter components in my exhaust. no cats and injen exhaust. saves ~150 lbs off the car (gas is heav)
#25
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: City of Lost Angels
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
isn't there some sort of limit?...i mean there must be some point where it doesn't matter how much weight is taking away from the stock car to produce speed?...just curious...a bad example is when you run for a mile in your long sleeve tshirt are no tshirt at all?<----probably run the same time. Obviously if he wore a leather jacket it may slow the runner down...but my point is there must be a median
referring to stock chassis?-am i making any sense here
referring to stock chassis?-am i making any sense here
#26
Registered User
yes and no. every little bit counts but what matters most is where the weight is taken from. if you have traction probs then stripping weight from the rear is bad. if you want better braking then rotating mass and front weight can be reduced. but yes it does fall into diminishing returns. as a 2500 lb stock z will probably not save .9 off the et due to new problems that result from decreased weight but it should easily shave .5.
#27
New Member
What's the weight difference between the Base model and Touring? I have a Base and weigh about 150lbs and would like to know how much lighter I'd be compared to a Touring with a 200lb person.
EDIT: Touring is 59lbs more. So a guy 50lbs heavier than I will be 109 all together. For some reason, the manual trans in the Touring weighs 8 lbs less, but weighs 13 lbs more on the Enthusiast, hmm...
EDIT: Touring is 59lbs more. So a guy 50lbs heavier than I will be 109 all together. For some reason, the manual trans in the Touring weighs 8 lbs less, but weighs 13 lbs more on the Enthusiast, hmm...
Last edited by NismoKid; 03-30-2004 at 06:05 AM.
#28
Registered User
Originally posted by NismoKid
What's the weight difference between the Base model and Touring? I have a Base and weigh about 150lbs and would like to know how much lighter I'd be compared to a Touring with a 200lb person.
EDIT: Touring is 59lbs more. So a guy 50lbs heavier than I will be 109 all together. For some reason, the manual trans in the Touring weighs 8 lbs less, but weighs 13 lbs more on the Enthusiast, hmm...
What's the weight difference between the Base model and Touring? I have a Base and weigh about 150lbs and would like to know how much lighter I'd be compared to a Touring with a 200lb person.
EDIT: Touring is 59lbs more. So a guy 50lbs heavier than I will be 109 all together. For some reason, the manual trans in the Touring weighs 8 lbs less, but weighs 13 lbs more on the Enthusiast, hmm...
#29
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
there is a thread on an M3 forum on a step by step to lose about 300 pounds in that car or so. Some of it is extreme, some isn't.
I do happen to notice a difference when my gas is low (the rear ends breaks lose very easily too). I have added a sub and an amp and better speakers to my car, but I took out ALL the stereo junk which was pretty light wt, except the stock head unit was waaaaay heavier than my alpine. I can remove my sub, it is on rails similar to a car seat and slides right out when I want to save wt or need more room. I also saved wt with test pipes, will be gettting the nismo exhaust and UR pulley. My wheels and tires are 9 pounds lighter than stock total, but I bet than is negated by the wt being further out to the parameter.
for guys that take out the spare tire and tools, what do you do, bring a can of that tire patch stuff with you just in case???
I do happen to notice a difference when my gas is low (the rear ends breaks lose very easily too). I have added a sub and an amp and better speakers to my car, but I took out ALL the stereo junk which was pretty light wt, except the stock head unit was waaaaay heavier than my alpine. I can remove my sub, it is on rails similar to a car seat and slides right out when I want to save wt or need more room. I also saved wt with test pipes, will be gettting the nismo exhaust and UR pulley. My wheels and tires are 9 pounds lighter than stock total, but I bet than is negated by the wt being further out to the parameter.
for guys that take out the spare tire and tools, what do you do, bring a can of that tire patch stuff with you just in case???
#30
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: far from you
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by S12 driver
Didn't someone swapped a SR20DET in their Z, and it weighs only 2700lbs? If you're serious about weight reduction, that may be a good choice.
Didn't someone swapped a SR20DET in their Z, and it weighs only 2700lbs? If you're serious about weight reduction, that may be a good choice.
Can anyone shed anymore info on this swap? It seems like a nice alternative to the vq35 in terms of rebuild and parts availability.
#31
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Lateapex
IMO, swapping-out the VQ35 for a 4-banger qualifies for the ridiculous-idea-of-the-week award. (Although, it's better than a small-block-swap, which some neandertal will no doubt attempt one day.)
IMO, swapping-out the VQ35 for a 4-banger qualifies for the ridiculous-idea-of-the-week award. (Although, it's better than a small-block-swap, which some neandertal will no doubt attempt one day.)
#32
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Puyallup, WA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Drag Limited
I wouldent be so sure of that, they put a toyo 4 banger in a supra in Top Speed's car if I remember correctly and it was faster and less powerful than the I6 2jz thats cause its lighter and lower center of gravity helped it acheive a higher top speed than the extra power of the heavier and less centerd I6 could achieve.
I wouldent be so sure of that, they put a toyo 4 banger in a supra in Top Speed's car if I remember correctly and it was faster and less powerful than the I6 2jz thats cause its lighter and lower center of gravity helped it acheive a higher top speed than the extra power of the heavier and less centerd I6 could achieve.
#33
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Just another guy...
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Lateapex
IMO, swapping-out the VQ35 for a 4-banger qualifies for the ridiculous-idea-of-the-week award. (Although, it's better than a small-block-swap, which some neandertal will no doubt attempt one day.)
IMO, swapping-out the VQ35 for a 4-banger qualifies for the ridiculous-idea-of-the-week award. (Although, it's better than a small-block-swap, which some neandertal will no doubt attempt one day.)
#34
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tampa, Fl
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by DruDragzOn
I took out my spare tire and that heavy mat at the back. That's the only weight reduction I've done.
I took out my spare tire and that heavy mat at the back. That's the only weight reduction I've done.
I was under the assumption that the spare tire added weight in the rear for traction and weight distribution. When the engineers design cars, don't they consider the weight of everything....even passengers, spare tire, jack, and gas for optimal performance? Kinda like how plane manufacturers have to consider the weight of wiring and screws for safety. I understand the ideology of reducing weight but when is it doing more harm than good. If I spend $5000 to get lightweight wheels and tires to save 40lbs, wouldn't that $5000 go a lot farther in adding FI to add 100hp so that 40 addtional pounds don't mean a thing ? Will removing the spare put less weight in the rear creating less force on the rear tires thus create less traction? With the removal of the spare, will the weight distribution change thus changing the center of gravity? This is the only reason why I haven't removed my spare yet.
#35
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Canada B.C.
Posts: 1,204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by NOZ4U
I If I spend $5000 to get lightweight wheels and tires to save 40lbs, wouldn't that $5000 go a lot farther in adding FI to add 100hp so that 40 addtional pounds don't mean a thing ?
I If I spend $5000 to get lightweight wheels and tires to save 40lbs, wouldn't that $5000 go a lot farther in adding FI to add 100hp so that 40 addtional pounds don't mean a thing ?
when a car is lighter, the braking and cornering will also improve while ur accelration improves!
#36
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Tampa, Fl
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by GY-Z
u have to also keep in mind that straight acceleration isn't every thing.
when a car is lighter, the braking and cornering will also improve while ur accelration improves!
u have to also keep in mind that straight acceleration isn't every thing.
when a car is lighter, the braking and cornering will also improve while ur accelration improves!
#39
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: City of Lost Angels
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by phatshiet
Can anyone shed anymore info on this swap? It seems like a nice alternative to the vq35 in terms of rebuild and parts availability.
Can anyone shed anymore info on this swap? It seems like a nice alternative to the vq35 in terms of rebuild and parts availability.
ps. was the gtr ever rear wheel drive?....i'm not too familiar with the skylines but i thought they were awd ...or both in different versions
#40
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Just another guy...
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The GTR was always awd but there were electronics to make it rwd... and some people changed the driveshaft and made it strictly rwd. To get lots of power, the RB26DETT still rules and that's a reason why they're putting it into the Z still. Only problem is it makes the car really heavy and changes the weight distribution a lot. I think at a race, Nismo had a tuned VQ 350Z and a RB 350Z and the VQ had faster lap times. Anyway, on a road course (or drifting), having less weight and a decent amount of power is better than having lots of power and too much weight. With the extra weight, you start eating up tires faster and working the brakes more. Then you with more power, you eat both of those up even faster!