Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods FAQ: Weight Reduction

-> DemonSVT's weight distribution / reduction post

Originally posted by RogerB:

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Grassroots Motorsports, May 03.

Based on power:weight,
30 lbs out of a 3000 lbs car is equal to a 1% increase in horsepower.
30 lbs out of a 2500 lbs car yields the same as a 1.2% increase in engine output.

And that's static weight. Rotational weight is more significant.

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Previously suggested Modifications

Remove:
- air conditioning system
- ceiling lining
- center console
- glove box
- hood liner
- jack
- mechanical traction control
- passenger and rear seats
- power window system
- rear deck lid cover
- sail panels
- sound deadening materials
- spare tire
- stereo system (4 speakers, amp, HU, antenna, etc.)
- sunroof system
- windshield wiper (mono-style or none)
- wiper fluid system
- unused seatbelt systems
- trunk lining and trim

- battery -> relocate to trunk and/or lightweight (Dynabatt)
- brakes -> Wilwood, TCE packages
- exhaust -> offroad y-pipe
- glass -> Lexan
- headers -> MSDS / Weapon-R
- hood -> carbon fiber
- pulleys -> lightweight
- seats -> lightweight
- suspension -> Ground Controls + Konis
- trunk -> carbon fiber
- wheels -> lightweight

Search: weight reduction

hopefully we can put this subject to rest for once and for all. Thanks Pete!

make it a sticky too

I remember a certain post about a Nissan, there is alot more to remove! lol JK

Good post, man ,good post!

just wanted to throw up some additional information.

personally for a battery, I would use motorcycle racing batteries rather than a dynobatt due to price.
heres my preference
12v

Also heres a great writeup about ligher car batteries
batteries

mumm brother's has a fair amount of info up on their "reduced" cougar which is worth looking at.
mumm

ok so this guy drives a saturn but has one of the best documented weight reductions.
saturn

my last suggestion is not to use plexiglass, I see that being a safety hazard. You want to use lexan [also known as poly carbonate]. I can post links on how to properly work with it if anyone is interested.

also dont forget, gut the side view mirrors [rather heavy].

another option [never have had a response on this issue] is to remove the 'fire wall' foam crap under the dash [I have seen this stuff start a car fire so I dont understand what makes it fire retardant], that should gain you about 20 pounds.

You can also refab the steering column. That thing is insanely heavy.

Dont forget to pull the airbags, and 5mph bumpers.

sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky sticky

Stock suspension -> Konis/GCs: Just over 15 lbs lost. And that's almost 3 lbs of unsprung weight per corner, which always helps.

The whole lot: struts, springs, and hardware came down to 45 lbs in a box (including negligible packaging) for all the Koni/GC stuff. When I was done, all the parts that had come off were a little over 60 lbs.

Within about .5 lbs:
Stock springs: 5 lbs each
Stock struts: 10 lbs each

So it looks like I'll be under 3000# with driver and fuel for this season! The car itself will weight a good bit less than 2800# dry.