Frame Lightening

[Blue89rs]

Being that I am the proprieter of all questions "wacky", here's another one.

What can be done to lighten the F-body frame? I want to get a V6 camaro down around 2000 lbs, so where does the weight need to come from? Things I will fiberglass are:

Hood
Doors (with reinforcements)
Rear Hatch
uh.....whatelse?

I'm thinking go tubular firewall/tranny bump and then glass or sheet over it. Anything else?

[79 Z28]

the firewall/floor area thing is a bad idea. its not safe, you need a certian thickness of metal there to protect yourself from stuff like fire etc and debris, and the tranny housing area same deal, if a tranny goes or a clutch/flywheel goes you could lose your legs, no joke. stick to other areas i strongly suggest :)

[CamaroRobZ28beer]

Theres that bigass bumper on the front u could hack off, no one see its anyway because its under the valance. :P

[79 Z28]

just dont get into a front end collision :P you can lighten that by drilling stuff out and counter bracing it :)

[Wagonized]

replacing your stock glass with lexan will save weight...or you can just get a whole fibreglass body

[Hansthegod]

That rear hatch is ass-heavy. And remove your spare/jack etc... Get light aluminum rims, and fill your tires with helium!

lol

[thomas]

you can buy chrome moley x members for 3rd and 4th gen camaros and converting your struts into coil overs and takes about 1201bs off the frt end

[Drakar]

also the bumper support on 4cyl f-body's where aluminum, you could find one of those and swap, still be safe but light.


Ah good thing to do would be weigh your car now, that way you and everyone helping would know how much weigh to shed.

Also an LS1 would help with weight and if it didn't you would have more power :D

[Blue89rs]

I'm gonna have to try those out. I'm gonna weight my stock trim RS and see where it sits. How much lighter is a T5 than a 700R4? Since I'm going to put a V6 in this thing, I've got the aluminum 3.1 heads (much lighter) and wanted to go 5 speed, since I have it in my garage ;D

I had no idea that they made an aluminum k-member. The only other option that I knew about was the tubular one.

[93formula]

not a aluminum k member, a chromoly one. the aluminum reference was to bumper supports on 4 cyl equipped f bodies. changing out the glass to lexan will help big time!! theres a particular type of lexan to get though for the street so it doesnt scratch, i read it on cz28.com, cant remember though. do you want to keep a full interior? also fibreglass hood, and front fenders. remove the fuel tank for a fuel cell.

[Blue89rs]

have you ever seen anyone do a tubular strut tower?

[93formula]

my edelbrock STB is tubular and BMR makes tubular ones as well.

[Wagonized]

removing the insulation (sound deadening) under the carpet makes a difference too.

take the t-tops off ;D

[Blue89rs]

Just weighed the car, 3240 lbs with 2.8L 700R4, no AC, solid roof, stock trim with 15" RS rims, and 4 12" subs in the back (HAHA!) ;D . Hopefully the tranny swap will happen this week since I got my truck fixed. I'll keep you posted as to what I do and how much it knockes off!

[79 Z28]

wholly cow, hes alive! ;D

[93formula]

take the four 12s out and that will lighten her up a bit.

[79 Z28]

take the four 12s out and that will lighten her up a bit.
unexceptable ;D

[Drakar]

Auto - T-5 should net 50lbs+

those 15" Z rims weight about 40ish pounds each, a set of aftermarket would be lighter and bigger. 16" iroc's are 50# each.

Lexan T-tops instead of Glass.

disc rear instead of drum

replace front seats with racing seats, remove back seats.

[93formula]

yeah but the 4 12s and box alone is worth atleast 200 lbs.

[Blue89rs]

k, old post, but hey, I've got new numbers.

3100lbs, the only thing that has changed is no rear seats or stereo. Most of it was the stereo! haha... I'll post later on, as I've got more done since the last time I posted.

[Dizzle]

I bet a lexan rear hatch and t tops would drop your weight slightly. But lexan scratches easily and is extremly expensive.

[MonkeyWrench]

notch backs look like shit but are way lighter but are also expensive as well

[Zion]

k, old post, but hey, I've got new numbers.

3100lbs, the only thing that has changed is no rear seats or stereo. Most of it was the stereo! haha... I'll post later on, as I've got more done since the last time I posted.



reentry racer just got a piece of lexan made to fix the back hatch, sheds approx 150lb's. He is trying to sell it i think, since he needs the weight over the rear wheels.
also, transam mesh wheels are CONSIDERABLY lighter then any other camaro wheel

[Blue89rs]

I have a set of those wheels and yes, they are incredibly light.

I've held that piece of lexan that reentry has. It weights maybe 5 lbs, seriously. You can hold it up with your thumb and index finger on hand. He's probably gonna ask a lot tho, being that it was custom made.