Weight Reduction - Smart?

[Hack]

How about titanium exhaust?

I agree carbon fiber roof would save some weight, but it is significant work for a car that isn't designed with one. It can certainly be done if you want it enough, though. Unlimited budget - make the entire body carbon fiber.

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[Nataphen]

Unlimited budget - make the entire body carbon fiber.

LOL! With an unlimited budget, buy a car that doesn't need $$$$$$ worth of work to make it all CF.

 

[Hack]

LOL! With an unlimited budget, buy a car that doesn't need $$$$$$ worth of work to make it all CF.

Right. But I was actually playing the game the OP asked me to. You're off topic. :cheers:

 

[ohtobbad]

well if were playing, all the carpet, sound material, headliner,
lexan side and rear windows. switch gas tank to fuel cell.
not sure how much, but the list is endless.

Nimble street car it already is, only do all of this, if seriously tracking it.

 

[Darkane]

well if were playing, all the carpet, sound material, headliner,
lexan side and rear windows. switch gas tank to fuel cell.
not sure how much, but the list is endless.

Nimble street car it already is, only do all of this, if seriously tracking it.

Yeah. Id like to leave the interior complete minus the rear seats.

Any panel that I could realistically switch over to aluminum or carbon fibre I'd do.

A 3400lb gt350 would be brilliant on the street.

Lightness on the street is so much fun. Coming from an import and muscle background, there's nothing quite like a 2100lb civic hatch to just throw around everywhere. Lightness really increases driving pleasure in my opinion.

 

[barstowpo]

Add back in a complete cage that would become necessary with all the light weight body panels.

 

[Darkane]

Add back in a complete cage that would become necessary with all the light weight body panels.

As far as I know, just the doors would require a cage. Roof is questionable, if done correctly no need of a cage. Doesn't sound like it's doable on the s550 anyway.

 

[Grimace427]

BMR is developing a tubular front subframe or is already done developing it, not sure. That is a good chunk of weight removed from the front end.

 

[Darkane]

So I'm working with FRPP right now to get some information.

I inquired about the aluminum rear knuckles and hub assembly that vendors are selling. The vendors pages are saying fits all 15-16 mustangs but FRPP said it may not because of different steel castings between GT and GT350 (haven't verified that myself). However that said it would be great if it worked. FRPP told me the shipping weight of the box is roughly 40lbs. I can see 10lbs saved a side of not more of unsprung weight.

Add in steeda bullit aluminum vertical links and were under way

Also found out the front bumper impact bar is aluminum but the rear may still be steel. A tubular rear bar would trim more weight.

 

[Higgs Boson]

60 grand plus 10-20 (so 70-80) grand in lightening mods to get to 3425 lbs

if you want a 2 seater under 3300-3400 lbs you can buy a Corvette, or better yet, a used Z06 or ZR1, way more car for the money than a ruined GT350 or Mustang.

I'd say you're on the wrong car entirely.

 

[xt6wagon]

Now it gets interesting, and where my research came in. A BMW M3 Carbon fibre roof saves 11lbs over a stock Aluminum roof, and more importantly lowers center of gravity by 2". That's huge.

If you believe that, I got some ocean front property to sell you in Montana. They might have lowered the CG by 2" overall, but the roof would have been a ttiny portion of that.

 

[Darkane]

If you believe that, I got some ocean front property to sell you in Montana. They might have lowered the CG by 2" overall, but the roof would have been a ttiny portion of that.

We'll believing it or not that's BMW press release.

Like I said realistically I'd only do a few of these mods. They could completely ruin the balance of the car all said and done.

 

[Zitrosounds]

I got the Battery already. You think I'd save more than 12? Stock is like 31lbs, 19lbs is reasonable for a Lithium, maybe 16lbs but that's stretching it.

I didn't include Long tube headers, but that would eliminate the Cats etc.

Stereo and AC all would be left. It still has to be daily drivable, the goal is not making a track car, but a super nimble street car.

Damn hard to find information about materials used, I assume - however - anyone know for sure if the bumper bars on the 350 are made from aluminum or steel? #17906

aluminum.

 

[DrumReaper]

I searched and found 5 threads, all of which weren't super helpful. I was bored earlier and did some research on Gen5 Camaro's and their Carbon-Fibre aftermarket pieces. I couldn't quite get all the weights they saved but I got a decent idea about things.

Here's where I'm at right now - 3760lbs Base model.

1) Neil4Speed 19" wheels - Save 40 lbs

2) Catback exhaust in the future - Save 30 lbs

3) Rear seat delete (Useless anyway, baby seat didn't even fit properly FORD!) Conflicting information but Save 31-42lbs (Seat itself 30+ and cushions 10lbs)

4) Light weight Battery - Save 12 lbs

Now it gets interesting, and where my research came in. A BMW M3 Carbon fibre roof saves 11lbs over a stock Aluminum roof, and more importantly lowers center of gravity by 2". That's huge.

11lbs you say? Useless? I agree, however our roofs are made of Steel! I verified with a magnet, I mean Ford that's a CHEAP upgrade to make on the manufacturing line, and I estimate it would save our cars 15 lbs or more, and drop the center of gravity. Now add an aftermarket carbon piece and we're talking 25-30 lbs.

5) Carbon Fiber roof - Save 25lbs

On the car the trunk is also steel. The Camaro 5G saves 22lbs with a carbon fiber lid. (30lbs stock, 8 lbs CF)

6) Carbon Trunk lid - Save 22lbs

Now additional body components that I was surprised to see are the doors. STEEL. Here we have some potential. This is purely speculative since I can't find concrete information on weight. What I did find was an Imprezza front door with window weighs ~70lbs. The Seibon carbon equivalent is 30lbs.

Lets just assume for numbers and size sake our doors are 100lbs each. The equivalent Carbon door will be 40-50lbs.

7) I don't think I would ever do this because of safety concerns BUT Carbon Fibre doors - Save 100 lbs

8) Carbon fibre seats - Save 50lbs (Both)

9) Driveshaft? - Save 15lbs.

Anyway all said and done I would realistically only do Wheels, Exhaust (Maybe headers, resonators) and maybe rear seat delete. It's neat to see how far you can take a vehicle though. I hope FRPP releases some additional aluminum lightweight suspension pieces.

So let's tally up out weight savings with an unlimited budget:

3760
-40
-30
-40
-12
-25
-22
-100
-50
-15

=3426

Thoughts?

And yet your base cars stickers for <$50k, and you wish to use CF everywhere... Why not let's just make the whole car CF so it cuts down on manufacturing cost... Smh.

Exotic materials = Exotic pricing. Good luck with that.

If you wanna lose weight, go on a diet...

 

[FPCV8YO]

aluminum.

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that both the GT350 & GT350R have aluminum bumper bars in the front but, the GT350 has a steel bumper bar in the rear and only the GT350R has an aluminum bumper bar in the rear.

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