one of my boy's had an 89 iroc that he put a 383 stroker in and the 3months later got rearend and we're looking for another one to put the motor and trans in

 

hardtop or t-top. hardtop is structurally stronger. im not sure about lighter though.

just don't buy a converatble.

 

thats what i figure but he want a second opinion

thanx

 

t-tops add almost 30 pounds.

 

Also the earlier cars ie 82-83 are several hundred pounds lighter then the later model. THey even came with a SMC lightweight hood and weigh close to 3000#'s.

 

hey, fully loaded with a heavy stereo system, every option, plus some tools in the trunk, and half tank of gast, my convertible weighs 3390.


take out all the extra stuff that a strip car doesnt need, and my vert can weigh less then 3000

 

Dont forget... a vert doesnt have to lug around that huge hatch

I'd agree that an early ('82-84) Z/28 hardtop would be the best way to go, especially with the factory fibreglass hood.

 

funny I've always read the vers weigh somewhere around 3400 or so and the coupe (no t-top) weigh 3300 or so. Maybe my info was wrong? thatd be great, cause i'd love for my car to be lighter then I thought

cheers

 

Wouldn't the convertable still weigh more, as it would have to have all that reinfoncement underneath to make up for the lack of the stuctural hardtop?

 

*shrug*

i weigh a tad over 220. (im not a small guy) and my car weighs in on the track scale at 3615

so im just taking my weight out of that and thats what my car actually weighs as it sat with the stereo and subwoofer in the back, and some tools in the trunk... full interior and all... the only thing not in/on the car at that time was the smog pump... and i doubt thats even 5lbs.


i think the nohatch VS bracing argument should be more about the fact that my weight bias will be farter forward..... since the hatch is on the back of the car, while the bracing is in the middle.

 

I'd say a notchback car would be the lightest. Also airbags add a good amount of weight.

 

Actually, probably one of the really low-optioned early base model cars, like a base Firebird or Camaro from '82 or '83 would be the lightest, especially with a hardtop and a Z/28 fibreglass hood.

I say this because they don't have to lug around alot of the parts that a Z/28 or a TA would, like ground effects, spoilers, heavier suspension components, no t-tops....

I dont know if its true or just a myth, but i've heard that for the same year car, the Camaros have always been lighter than a similarly build Firebird.

(ex. '82 Z/28 vs '82 TA.... '89 IROC vs '89 GTA)

All that stuff may not weigh much, but it all adds up, right?

If you want really light, look for an '82 or '83 Camaro SC with a hardtop and no spoilers and gfx, then add the Z/28 'glass hood... THAT would probably be the lightest 3rdgen you could build with a V8, lol.

 

my 91 GTA fully loaded leather and all hardtop L98, with custom wood well subbox amps a subs, and a 3/4 tank of gas, my car comes in at 3380. almost to the tee.

 

roughly 10lbs lighter then mine... cool