The Weight Reduction Thread!
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 11
From: Albuquerque NM
Car: 1985 Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.7 LSX
Transmission: Performabuilt 4L60E
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt 3.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Oh wow! That looks basic as all hell! Pretty lightweight though, I bet!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Pinto rack is a manuel rack & pinion steering system. Crappy if you want to actually handle good lol.. a lightweight, quick ratio power rack & pinion would be such a good mod IMO because it takes the strain off the frame rail and it's lightweight and has so much better precision than a steering box. Trust me I have a Lee Built 670 box and it's decent for handling but in terms of center precision it just doesn't compare to rack & pinion.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: British columbia, Canada
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 5.0L V8
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Actually, They are great for handling.... at 60mph+ lolol. The drag car at my highschool has a manual rack, and at speed you can steer with your pinky lmao
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Must be a crappy ratio or have very little caster if you can pinky steer it. A stock IROC steering box has 12.7:1 steering ratio (2.25 turns to lock). I don't know if any racks exist where you can achieve the same turn to lock ratio (that are power, AND are lightweight and durable enough for racing)
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
20:1 is a terrible and slow ratio for handling. To turn a corner you'll have to turn the wheel so much.. I like the quick ratio of the IROC boxes. Makes low speed turns require a bit more effort but worth it big time when it comes to handling IMO.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: British columbia, Canada
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 5.0L V8
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
..... well it handles fine. More than fine. the pinky comment referred to steering response.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 0
From: p'cola FL
Car: 88 iroc-z/28
Engine: 408 lsx
Transmission: 5800 stall
Axle/Gears: 4.71
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
pinto rack is more along the lines of a 16:1 ratio. my car with skinnys actually steered great for a weekend cruiser until i put a spool in, now its both hands on the wheel. i could drive it in parking lots one had before no issue. parallel parking pretty tough, but not much of that around here.
its been forever, but all my power steering setup, box and all of steering components were around 50#. a pinto rack is only 12# not to mention i made a new steering shaft that is lighter as well.
all in what you are doing with your car.
its been forever, but all my power steering setup, box and all of steering components were around 50#. a pinto rack is only 12# not to mention i made a new steering shaft that is lighter as well.
all in what you are doing with your car.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
pinto rack is more along the lines of a 16:1 ratio. my car with skinnys actually steered great for a weekend cruiser until i put a spool in, now its both hands on the wheel. i could drive it in parking lots one had before no issue. parallel parking pretty tough, but not much of that around here.
its been forever, but all my power steering setup, box and all of steering components were around 50#. a pinto rack is only 12# not to mention i made a new steering shaft that is lighter as well.
all in what you are doing with your car.
its been forever, but all my power steering setup, box and all of steering components were around 50#. a pinto rack is only 12# not to mention i made a new steering shaft that is lighter as well.
all in what you are doing with your car.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 30
From: Texas
Car: 85 Camaro
Engine: 454 RamJet
Transmission: LT1/T56
Axle/Gears: 8.8w/4.10
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Just posting up some weights on items as I was cleaning my garage.
Stock steel crash bar #25lbs
Stock aluminum crash bar #15lbs
Stock steel drive shaft #14lbs
Stock aluminum drive shaft #11lbs
Stock steel crash bar #25lbs
Stock aluminum crash bar #15lbs
Stock steel drive shaft #14lbs
Stock aluminum drive shaft #11lbs
Supreme Member
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Crash Bars....I'm assuming both are the Front ones you listed? I don't know of any rear aluminum one so.......
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 3
From: washington
Car: 88 Trans am GTA
Engine: 2002 Ls1
Transmission: t-56
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" 4.11 gears w/ locker
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: British columbia, Canada
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 5.0L V8
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
mine is around 2800 pounds give or take stock... although its not got WS6 suspension :P although it may also be with an empty tank, thats what my registration says it weighs
Last edited by Trevmust; Jun 6, 2012 at 01:23 PM.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,576
Likes: 30
From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
have you had it on a scale? i highly doubt it weight what the title says. those are not "real world" numbers...
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Yea mine says it's 3000 stock but it's actually somewhere near 3600, but they just get that from the provincial database of cars, which in Quebec is pretty far off from what it is. My car now weighs in at 3350 or so on a truck scale.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
My driver side 3rdgen leather ultima seat weighs 60lbs and the pass seat weighs 40lbs. both seats with the stock 3rdgen tracks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,576
Likes: 30
From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
my car weighs right at 3020lbs without me in the car, and it's pretty stripped down. but since my weigh in of 2810, i've added a th400, a 9", and a roll bar, which added up pretty quickly. right now, it's 3320 going down the track. hoping to get that closer to about 3250 before the end of the year, but i'm going to be adding more weight into the car soon too (more bars, more stuff under hood, etc.)
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
Car: 1984 camaro z28
Engine: sbc 383
Transmission: Th400
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 4.11 gear
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
I just had my car weighed at a scrap metal company, was 3300 with me in the car, i weigh around 150 so without me right around 3150. I thought the weight was pretty good for still having the rear seats.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: British columbia, Canada
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 5.0L V8
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
cant wait to get my BMR k member amd A arms in there. Also the A/C delete. I have t-tops for a reason :P
Supreme Member
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Supreme Member
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Tubular a-arms and k-member with a power R&P setup would reduce weight significantly, but R&P is a complete custom job, people have done it but there's is no bolt in setup out there, yet..
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Interesting read up on automobile handling. It goes in depth about suspensions and how weight affects different aspects of handling (sprung, unsprung, rotaional, etc.): http://medlem.spray.se/bmw02hemsida/...Suspension.htm
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
For anyone interested on seeing unsprung weight in action, I found a video on youtube of a guy filming his rear-end in motion while driving.. (Mounted the cam underneath the car). You can see the rear diff in motion going over bumps and turns, but the interesting part is seeing the UNSPRUNG weight moving in action.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Sorry to double post but I found an article on hoses and how racing hoses can reduce weight: http://www.majon.com/articles/automo...hose_1372.html
Makes sense if you replace all the hoses/fuel lines on the car maybe? Good for a few pounds maybe? I guess this could be done if you've literally reduced every ounce of weight possible and have nothing left?
Makes sense if you replace all the hoses/fuel lines on the car maybe? Good for a few pounds maybe? I guess this could be done if you've literally reduced every ounce of weight possible and have nothing left?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 885
Likes: 1
From: Annapolis, Maryland
Car: 1985 Camaro
Engine: 565 BBC
Transmission: Glide
Axle/Gears: 9 inch/spool/3.70
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
What about the deck lid there is a lot of metal on that thing. Anyone ever tried to "gut" it? I am 160 lbs over for the class I want to race in and I need to find some weight.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 4
From: Central Texas
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
The rear hatch w/o any wing or spoiler is 90lbs. And the majority of that is the glass, not the metal decklid. Cutting out even the entire inner structure isn't gonna save much weight. The glass is the heaviest part.
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Car: 1989 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Borg Warner/ 2.77 gear
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Isnt it bad to take weight off thr rear? It'll throw the balance off. Most of the "bad" weight is on the front.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: British columbia, Canada
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 5.0L V8
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
-revives thread- MWAHAHAHAHA! how much does a 350 weigh again? I wanna do an LS3 swap and thats a 400 pound motor with the bells and whistles (not sure if thats oil in or not, thats the shipping weight and I'm damn sure they come with oil in them O.O )
Last edited by Trevmust; Dec 29, 2012 at 03:21 AM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: long island ny
Car: 1987 camaro sc
Engine: lg4 305
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
swapping an ls into these cars you cut around 100 pounds
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,576
Likes: 30
From: Harford County, MD
Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
be careful how you do it though, don't sacrifice on road safety for possible increases in mileage.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Montreal, Canada
Car: 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: TPI 310ci (LB9)
Transmission: Custom Rebuilt 700R4 - 2600 Stall
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.73 Eaton Limited-Slip
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
Not only might it increase gas mileage, if done properly and safely as mw66nova said, it could actually make the car safer (less braking distance, better more evenly distributed handling, potentially lower center of gravity makes it less likely to roll over, etc.) .. It also reduces wear and tear on things like drivetrain, suspension, tires, brakes, etc. I've reduced estimated 250lbs from my car and it looks like it was never touched (minus the fiberglass hood). All the small, albeit expensive, lightweight parts add up too!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 50
From: Manitoba
Car: '91 GTA
Engine: 421sbc
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9" with 3.89
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
I got a '91 GTA with cloth power lumbar seats. Anyone have a weight on them?
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 0
From: p'cola FL
Car: 88 iroc-z/28
Engine: 408 lsx
Transmission: 5800 stall
Axle/Gears: 4.71
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
i havent wegihed one in years. i think my camaro power(no lumbar) was either 53 or 33, but i know it was heavy.
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
Car: 1991 camaro
Engine: 3.1L V6 dynomax exhaust
Transmission: 700r4 auto
Axle/Gears: 89 iroc-z 9bolt disc+posi 3.27
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
1991 TPI dual snorkel cold air intake 3.1L stock v6
MAF connected and wired in.
Next mod aluminum driveshaft hopefully I can find one at my local junkyard I'm not going to spend 80$ 100$ for a new one wish me luck. Did 92 91 90 z28s have Al ? Or will I have to get one out of 2001 2002 2003 2004 4th gen? What's years can I use does anyone know?
(If anyone wants the dual snorkel cold air I have one for sale)
MAF connected and wired in.
Next mod aluminum driveshaft hopefully I can find one at my local junkyard I'm not going to spend 80$ 100$ for a new one wish me luck. Did 92 91 90 z28s have Al ? Or will I have to get one out of 2001 2002 2003 2004 4th gen? What's years can I use does anyone know?
(If anyone wants the dual snorkel cold air I have one for sale)
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 2
From: Saskatchewan, canada
Car: 1982 Firebird T/A
Engine: 305
Re: The Weight Reduction Thread!
I work at a place that does a lot of allum fab stuff. I seen we can break sheets of alum and weld it too. Im thinking of converting my front latch support to allum, and any other bracket type steel on my front end. But doesn't allum and steel corrode together?












Where did you get THAT?