Idaho2018GTPremium
Well-Known Member
Because weight savings must be substantial to make a noticeable impact on a DD car. For example:How about a bit of weight loss? Not sure why everyone puts such a premium on big horsepower numbers and not less weight.
The 5.0 is plenty powerful. Lack of power isn't its issue. Being burdened with excessive weight is, especially over the front end. Unlike adding power, which only helps you in a straight line (and may even hinder you in the corners if you're adding a heavy supercharger on the nose), cutting weight will benefit straight line, cornering, and braking performance.
I'd recommend cheap weight loss measures like rear seat delete, miscellaneous cover deletes (engine cover, coil covers, battery cover, radiator cover) sound tube delete, windshield washer fluid reservoir and lines delete (only if your car is a non daily driver/not driven in winter car), hood heat/sound shield delete, active grille shutter delete, etc.
If you're willing to spend some money, you can lose even more weight through purchasing a carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber or aluminum drive shaft, lightweight forged wheels, lightweight brake kit, lightweight fixed driver and passenger seats, lightweight exhaust, etc.
Rear seat delete (~30 lbs) = equivalent to adding ~3.5 hp (can't feel that in the seat of the pants)
Engine cover delete = 0.4 hp (negligible)
Sound tube delete = 0.1 hp
Empty windshield washer reservoir = 1 hp (compared to a full one)
1/2 empty tank of fuel = 50 lbs savings vs. full tank = +6 hp
Those are all free. However, I need my rear seats (kids) and windshield washer fluid as it's my DD. The extra 0.5 hp from removing the engine cover and sound tube isn't worth it to me. I can make do filling up more frequently because my gas station is not out of the way at all, so I don't usually go past 9-10 gallons in the fuel tank.
Where you can see gains in acceleration and esp. in handling are in lighter wheels and brake rotors. Saving 10 lbs/wheel = 40 lbs rotating mass. For acceleration, that's like removing 120 lbs of sprung weight. Equal to about +14hp gain in acceleration.
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