19bonestock88's 2004 Saturn "Ion Green Line" build...

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Will you be removing the passenger and rear seats? Those were the largest weight reduction on my Civic when I had it. Although to be honest when hypermiling I don't notice a fuel economy difference with adding as much as 20% weight to the car, but a lighter car definitely accelerates a bit faster, albeit coasting slightly less.

[19bonestock88]

I likely will remove the seats for event/track use, but the car is entirely too loud for commuting without its backseat. I’d be happy with getting the car to 2559lb with all seats in and then taking them out to drop under 2500

[19bonestock88]

Did a test run of most of my new work commute, and averaged an indicated 50.1mpg. That’s with tire pressure that hasn’t been checked since I got the tires mounted (originally set to 55psi). I feel as though it’s not bad for just getting back in the swing of things but there’s more in the table. For the record, this was from Morgantown WV, to Coraopolis PA, pretty much all highway

[19bonestock88]

Doing a photo dump of my lightened dashboard which I completed shortly before I wrecked the car. All the major dash panels were drilled and the upper ones were wrapped with thin black felt to lessen reflections onto the windshield. The center console and the pillar covers need drilled and I still need to cut out the workings for the rear center seatbelt since there is no longer a buckle for it

[Ecky]

Pretty major commitment to weight reduction.

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Pretty major commitment to weight reduction.

I’m planning for similar treatment for the door panels and I’d also like to eventually swap to manual locks and possibly acrylic side windows. With that dashboard I’m also planning a full airbag delete and eventually an AC delete

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

I’m planning for similar treatment for the door panels and I’d also like to eventually swap to manual locks and possibly acrylic side windows.

When it comes to acrylic/plexiglass, I have already seen some pieces thicker than an equivalent made out of conventional glass.

With that dashboard I’m also planning a full airbag delete and eventually an AC delete

I guess you're also going to remove the airbag sensors and other hardware, not only the dashboard and steering wheel mounted assemblies.

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

When it comes to acrylic/plexiglass, I have already seen some pieces thicker than an equivalent made out of conventional glass.

I haven’t yet determined the proper thickness but I wanted the pieces to be a direct replacement for the glass in the window regulators. They should still roll up and down like the originals. I’ll probably even apply tint film to them so that they match and look normal

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

I guess you're also going to remove the airbag sensors and other hardware, not only the dashboard and steering wheel mounted assemblies.

I’m gonna start by only removing the airbag assemblies, given that I don’t know exactly where all the sensors are. Probably will paint over the airbag light in the cluster so it doesn’t annoy me

[19bonestock88]

It’s worth noting that I do understand that the weight reduction won’t actually do much for economy, I’m mainly doing it for dynamic response, as a 2500lb car should be able to accelerate, brake and corner better than a 2650lb car, all else equal, and I do quite enjoy driving the car hard

[ME_Andy]

That looks really cool. Is no airbags gonna be a problem for inspections in your state?