[McRib 1s Back]

Since my car is used for weekend fun and track days exclusively, I've decided to make some changes to lighten the car. Beware, this materially changes the car's practical value!

Here's a short list of the stuff I've done so far:

- remove full-sized spare and associated hardware: ~45 pounds
- remove back seat (cushion bottom and back): ~25 pounds (this was surprisngly difficult)

Dave suggested the removal of the rear wiper assembly and motor (plugging the resultant hole), and I'm going to do that. I'll report back, but I think his guess of 6-7 pounds is probably accurate.

What do you guys think? What else can we do to reduce weight, short of gutting the car? I think I'm pretty much at the limit and until it becomes a dedicated race car, I won't fully gut it or cage it. At that point stuff like AC and other non-vital accessories will come out!

 

[madhatter]

Lighter exhaust, remove sound deadening, headliner, lighter wheels, sunroof if you've got one...

 

[k757]

Since my car is used for weekend fun and track days exclusively, I've decided to make some changes to lighten the car. Beware, this materially changes the car's practical value!

Here's a short list of the stuff I've done so far:

- remove full-sized spare and associated hardware: ~45 pounds
- remove back seat (cushion bottom and back): ~25 pounds (this was surprisngly difficult)

Dave suggested the removal of the rear wiper assembly and motor (plugging the resultant hole), and I'm going to do that. I'll report back, but I think his guess of 6-7 pounds is probably accurate.

What do you guys think? What else can we do to reduce weight, short of gutting the car? I think I'm pretty much at the limit and until it becomes a dedicated race car, I won't fully gut it or cage it. At that point stuff like AC and other non-vital accessories will come out!

passenger seat. That is going to be a big number

 

[was-an-M]

I am swapping my OEM wheels for 15" OZ Ultraleggeras and NT01 tires. I'd guess that will save me 10# per corner. The wheels are 12# a piece and the tires are 20#. The wheels are almost comically light.

 

[D1JL]

Remove the badges from the rear.
Fill the tires with helium.


Dave

 

[was-an-M]

Don't forget to hit the can before you get in the car.

 

[Cligedy]

passenger seat. That is going to be a big number

The driver's side seat (base, not recaros) is 43lbs if I remember right.

 

[Nik17]

The driver's side seat (base, not recaros) is 43lbs if I remember right.

I would probably keep that one!

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Lighter exhaust, remove sound deadening, headliner, lighter wheels, sunroof if you've got one...

Exhaust is definitely on the list, but I'm not sure how much lighter it will be. Maybe I can dump those pesky cats.

The headliner weighs almost nothing, but it's gone once I go the full cage route.

I do have lighter wheels! In fact, I have two sets of lightweight Sparco wheels (15" and 16"). My new 15" wheels only weigh 13.8 pounds! I guess I was just focused on stuff inside the car.

This is something I thought about when buying the car, so I never considered a sunroof (I generally do not like them).

 

[McRib 1s Back]

I would probably keep that one!

Removing the passenger seat is tempting -- and I'll surely swap the seats for actual lightweight race seats one day. Keeping the 2nd seat for a passenger is something I'll probably do.

I have the Recaro seats, so I'll probably post those for sale.

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Don't forget to hit the can before you get in the car.

Ha, yeah, I'm aware that for all of the weight we obsess about on the car, the driver might be able to shed a pound or two!

 

[McRib 1s Back]

I am swapping my OEM wheels for 15" OZ Ultraleggeras and NT01 tires. I'd guess that will save me 10# per corner. The wheels are 12# a piece and the tires are 20#. The wheels are almost comically light.

The OZ in 15" really are 12 pounds each! I remember being sorely tempted to buy them, but I went Sparco to save a few bucks. My new wheels are only 13.8 pounds each. The weight difference is very noticeable even compared to my 16" Sparco on DZ2s!

I really like the OZ wheels but don't regret buying the Sparcos. I feel better after hearing that anecdotally the Sparco line is considered tougher. At track, I run all kinds of stuff over! Anyhow, at the time I wasn't certain the 15" application would work; consider it an experiment that the newer guys can profit from!

 

[Cligedy]

I would probably keep that one!

Staying legal for street class is the only reason that the factory seats are in the car. I really want to swap them out.

 

[Nik17]

Staying legal for street class is the only reason that the factory seats are in the car. I really want to swap them out.

Are those Elise seats?

Also, are the base seats lighter than the recaros?

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Are those Elise seats?

Also, are the base seats lighter than the recaros?

I do believe he said they were from an Elise. They might be lighter, but don't appear to allow the use of a 5-point harness. If I'm going through the trouble of swapping out my nice Recaro seats, I'm going to install a racing harness.

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Staying legal for street class is the only reason that the factory seats are in the car. I really want to swap them out.

At this point I don't have any plans to run a stock/street-legal class. That's a good clarification -- apart from making my car less practical, it won't qualify for that class of racing. I just want maximum Fiesta fun at the track!

 

[D1JL]

A Trailer.
Because soon the car will not be street legal.


Dave

 

[D1JL]

Remove all of the glass and window regulators.
Replace the windshield with Lexan.
That will be a couple hundred pounds.



Dave

 

[was-an-M]

I do believe he said they were from an Elise. They might be lighter, but don't appear to allow the use of a 5-point harness. If I'm going through the trouble of swapping out my nice Recaro seats, I'm going to install a racing harness.

Personally I wouldn't install a harness until I could put in a half cage. I think people have varying opinions on this, but the 5-point belts don't allow any movement, so if there is a roll over and the roof does compact some you run the risk of you compacting with it. The 3-point belts are designed to let the occupants roll away in the event of some deflection in the roof during a rollover. Again, just sharing another view. I know very experienced guys who run harnesses without a cage and some that swear they'd never.

On the topic of staying planted in seats - I'd encourage you guys to check out the CG-Lock. Between that and the Recaro seats I think you'll be very impressed. I ran Schroth Quick-Fit 4-points in my M3 until the Sr. Tech at an event said they were illegal in NJ (where two of the 3 nearest tracks to me are) so I dumped them and the CG-Lock was nearly as good. Just figured I'd share.

The OZ in 15" really are 12 pounds each! I remember being sorely tempted to buy them, but I went Sparco to save a few bucks. My new wheels are only 13.8 pounds each. The weight difference is very noticeable even compared to my 16" Sparco on DZ2s!

I really like the OZ wheels but don't regret buying the Sparcos. I feel better after hearing that anecdotally the Sparco line is considered tougher. At track, I run all kinds of stuff over! Anyhow, at the time I wasn't certain the 15" application would work; consider it an experiment that the newer guys can profit from!

The Tirerack site claims they are the the UPS shipping slip also says similar (32# for 2 wheels double boxed). They are pretty funny to pick up. I looked at the Sparcos and I was trying to find reviews on their toughness. I like my Sparco shoes and gloves but didn't know much about their wheels. OZ was a name I knew and I liked the look a little more so that's what I went with.

I looked at some 16" wheels too but tire selection sucked. It seemed like 15" or 17" was the way to go.

The downside (or upside) depending on how I (or my wife ) looks at it, is 15" wheels means no BBK. Just need pads. Waiting on those Porterfields

 

[McRib 1s Back]

Remove all of the glass and window regulators.
Replace the windshield with Lexan.
That will be a couple hundred pounds.



Dave

Yes, that and a trailer once it becomes a dedicated race car. I am looking for the easy wins right now without making illegal for street use. Part of the charm right now is still driving it to the track. I have been shopping for trailers -- it would be a lot easier to deal with a mechanical issue at the track!

Perhaps there are good deals on used trailers, but it looks like that's another $2-3K for something decent.

Nothing I've done so far calls the car's legality into question. I agree that I'm on a slippery slope!