Adding lightness

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:36 pm

Since Le Mans and having a good look at Andy's 911 'R' interpretation I have been thinking about adding more lightness to my car.

I want more power basically and to get anymore I'd have to carry a few engine modifications, which when added up mean that perhaps a 3.6 engine conversion for a 3.6 964 or 3.8 993 engine would make cost effective sense.

However, since I don't have the money for that i'm thinking about making my car lighter.

Just wondering if the end result would be worth it.

How much of a difference does replacing all the glass apart from the windscreen with polycaronate make in terms of weight saving?

Also glass, wings, bonnet, rear deck and lighter doors... how much of saving do you think I could make?

Still considering the way to go... any thoughts?

Need speed!

Bob_Salmon · Post by **Bob_Salmon** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:56 pm

Would make a big difference in weight saved but could be offset by increases in insurance costs!

Bob

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:33 pm

3.6 swap's are no bargain, believe me I know. 3.8's are crazy money.

Alan UK thinks his short stroke motor works out cheaper and I think he's right.

Weight loss is the cheapest power to weight gain you can get. All you have to put up with is more noise and a big smile

.

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:06 am

I'm not sure I want to make my 911 so specialised and track oriented that it becomes a burdern to drive.

Saying that I spoke to a driver of a ST at Classic Le Mans and he told me his car was around 800kg pushing out 300bhp. Thats what would be my dream to get with my car, but for the moment, lightening the car seems the way to go. Until I can afford the horsepower that is.

Still pondering....

Viv_Surby · Post by **Viv_Surby** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:10 am

Just as a point of logic - can one add 'lightness' Alam?

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:54 am

Viv_Surby wrote:Just as a point of logic - can one add 'lightness' Alam?

Its an old Colin Chapman (Lotus founder) phrase.

'How do you make your cars so fast?'
'We added lightness.'

Viv_Surby · Post by **Viv_Surby** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:03 am

Bertroex · Post by **Bertroex** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:26 pm

Alam,

I drove a c3 coupe racecar that weighed in at 1000 kgs with the interior trim removed, a fibreglass engine cover (original 3.0 RSR) and glassfibre bumpers.

Considering that you started off with a c3 shell, weighing in at 1120 kgs, you are not far off. If you add the steve wong chip assuming you have DME with your 3.2 conversion, and with your fabspeed thundering flamethrower set up, back dated heating etc you can relatively easy achieve 1000 kgs and 256 bhp.

You have already saved quite a bit by removing the impact bumpers and associated hardware. Incidentally, are your doors aluminium?
You can further achieve savings by ditching that interior, get a leightweight carpet set from Andy and some light bucket seats ...

Best regards,

Bert

hashman · Post by **hashman** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:33 pm

Hey Alam, don't go drilling too many holes in that there car now, you hear me.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:25 pm

your car is fast enough mate!

I reckon a carbon fibre bonnet and engine lid plus lexan side, rear quarter and rear screen would be your best bet for quick easy weight loss

Alternatively go to the gym more often and shed some pounds!

Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:07 pm

Alam - Jim Calzia's weight-shedding info from his website in the States is worth scrutinising:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/jcalziaweights.htm

http://www.early911sregistry.org/jcalziaweights-3.htm

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:48 pm

I've heard the sound deadening is heavy and can be replaced with some shiny stuff that does a similar job but weighs next to nothing.

steve wright · Post by **steve wright** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:26 am

i was amazed at the difference ditching my navigator and luggage made at the end of of recent euro tour, as it was the first time i had driven the car with the twin plug set up. it was also the first time i actually scared myself with my own car! shedding weight is always going to be cheaper than creating power. there are a stack of lightweight panels in glassfibre which would completely transform the car from GT racing (www.gt-racing.com). ditching the sound deadening will also allow you to hear the symphony out back better.

the only comment i would make is drastically lightening a car will upset the handling potentially unless you strip unsprung weight off as well (i.e. tyres, wheels, brakes, etc) as you are inadvertently adding relative unsprung weight in lightening teh body....

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:09 pm

Thanks for the comments chaps..

My car is running a motronic 3.2 with a new Steve Wong chip with an exceptionaly flat torque curve. A dansk sport pre muffler and a Flowmaster rear muffler. All good to take the power output from 230 bhp to around 245 or so, perhaps more...

My car at a guess must near the 1000kg mark with all the back date mods. I have got the RS light weight carpet set from AppBiz, although its yet to be fitted.

I don't know if my doors are ali, but they are the original C3 ones from 1977.

Really I was thinking about changing the front wings, rear engine cover, front bonnet and all the glass.

How many kilo's do you reckon that lots worth?

I love the look of the twin bracing bars that run down the back window that the ST's had at LeMans

Just don't want to make the car to loud inside and also unsecure. Still pondering... will the comprimise be worth it...?

steve wright · Post by **steve wright** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:54 am

loud, light & powerful - sounds like a dream combo to me