Very thorough article on weight reduction

[rsx2002]

I was looking around today for ways to reduce weight in my rsx when I came across this link. It is for a civic si and is directed at performance tuners, but weight reduction always helps FE. I think its a interesting article...just wanted to share: Weight Reductions Guide & Tips - Features - Import Tuner

[AnDoireman]

I was messing about with weight reduction last week. I only managed to remove roughly 30kg of weight, from my kerb weight of roughly 1280kg. I came to the conclusion that for the increase in noise, the decrease in practicality, and the decrease in security (ie, no parcel shelf to hide my tools under), it wasn't worth doing.

[rsx2002]

yeah you have to give up alot to make a big deference. I just took my back seat out and im hearing all kinds of new road noise. its saves me alot on gas though because any time im in a group of 3 or more, im automatically not the one getting stuck driving.

[MetroMPG]

Good article. Good for a chuckle or two also.

[Figjam74]

It doesn't make sense for me to pull stuff out of my car to reduce weight until I lose the extra 100 lbs around my midsection.

[ebacherville]

really i think carbon fiber would be great for replacing steel floor pans etc.. but its so expensive still..

[whokilledthejams]

I remember seeing a very similar article as applies to Subaru Imprezas. Same idea, though-- if you're willing to put up with a shell of a car, you can actually get some good gains out of it. On the other hand, the more extreme measures are best suited to track toys. I don't think most people realize just how comfortable even a low-end car is these days.

Originally Posted by ebacherville

really i think carbon fiber would be great for replacing steel floor pans etc.. but its so expensive still..

Interestingly, fiberglass is (or at least can be) lighter. CF really shines in structural parts, but that's also where it is the most expensive to use. Sadly, in a lot of applications, you can find CF parts easier than 'glass ones, because it's more rice. For example, for the xB, you can get a CF hood, rear hatch, and front fenders, but altogether, they only save a couple of pounds over the steel parts, and cost a fortune. If you are serious about lightness, you'd mold the steel part, and make a basic fiberglass sheet with the contours of the original. No structure, but much lighter.

More radically, you could just take off your doors. Maybe even get an upholstery shop to make Jeep-style soft doors!

[MazdaMatt]

None of you people use your A/C anyway, take the whole thing out of your cars! You save a lot of weight doing that! Also, upgrade to a larger Master Cylinder and remove your brake booster. You don't have to worry about boost during EOC and you save a pile of weight. Those are easy mods that anybody with a socket set and some grey matter could do.

My track car has a full, one-piece fiberglass front end. That's hood, fenders and bumper all in one mold. The piece weighs about 25 pounds and looks GREAT. It also has flared fenders that stock wheels might not stick out of when turning, so they could be closed off. There are no holes anywhere in it. You could shave (estimated) 150+ lbs from a civic doing this. You'd have to cut holes for the lights and mount them, and fab some mounting hardware for the whole piece, but the weight reduction and aero benefits are huge. I believe that it is perfectly street-legal as well, as long as you have the lights installed.

ok, so i havn't read the article yet... about to do that now...

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by whokilledthejams

More radically, you could just take off your doors. Maybe even get an upholstery shop to make Jeep-style soft doors!

On any fairly flat section, you could look into aircraft fabric & dope. Leave enough of the metal to maintain shape, then put the fabric over it. Been used on small airplanes for decades...

[Arminius]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

None of you people use your A/C anyway,..

Most wives won't do without it. Most passangers won't either.