Diet plan

[Alpineandy]

I don't know the cost, but I think the rear slatted window that Barry J has, would save quite a few kilos from exactly the place you'd want to loose it!

Or have you done that already?

Peterg, when you go to the weighbridge, perhaps you'll find out your front:rear balance if they weigh the car with just the front and then just the back wheels on the bridge, and of course a third weight with all 4 wheeels on the bridge just to check the total weight.
Also, in my brooklands Apline bokk, probably not the most technically reliable, it states the Venturi as 260bhp but with 1150KG, which is only 226 bhp per ton.

If you're really looking to squeeze every last gramme out - fill the tyres with helium - that oxygen is heavy stuff!!

On a more serious front, I remember reading somewhere that removing weight from the moving parts of the engine means that the effect is multipled by the gearing. So reducing the weight of the crank, flywheel, conrods, and pistons by e.g 1kg should have the equivalent effect on acceleration in 1st gear as reducing the kerb weight by somewhere around 10kg (if I can work out the gear and final drive ratios correctly). Not sure how feasible it is to take weight off these parts without weakening them too much or whether this theory is complete crap - the next few posts will no doubt tell!

This will of course not have any real effect on handling as you are only reducing the overall weight of the car by a small amount.

Lighteningand balancing engine parts does work wonders....but its expensive and involves removing the engine! The whole idea was to gain at no cost. Having said that Ive now bought a red top battery....so thats 7kg off the front of the car to add to the rest. Must be around the 100kg in saving now (exhaust, airbox, stuff from the back seat, spare wheel and fittings)

How difficult are the redundant air con pipes that people keep mentioning to remove. I have access to a ramp.....whats holding them in, are they the only 2 pipes under the car or will there be csome figuring out to do? Lastly...are they heavy?

Not that heavy, leave them in Pete, if you ever decide to run a charge cooler system...

Just weighed some parts yesterday...rear glass hatch is 10kg and engine cover is 6kg

he rear glass would be worth getting rid of then....but I cant run a straight perspex screen......unless it looked like a manufacturer part and could get away with it!!!! Really dont like the rear louvred thing at all......I could get away with that but I'm not willing to do it to the car just to save 10kg!!!

[Alpineandy]

Really dont like the rear louvred thing at all......I could get away with that but I'm not willing to do it to the car just to save 10kg!!!

It's not just 10kg, It's 10kg from the place that has the most effect.
At the back and high up.

I think I read in some MSA regulations that glass could not be replaced with perspex, unless it was the front screen, which could be changed for safety reasons from toughened to laminated??? I imagine that your tyre scruitineers will know about it.

How about just removing the engine cover on race days, for 6kgs?

And did DGs weights include the gas rams, you might be able to remove about another half kg.

What about removing (just unscrews I think) the arial on race days, to Andy's point, it is high up weight, and aerodynamically obtrusive ???

peter, what about removing the front and rear bumpers and drilling holes with a hole cutter along the main bracket that runs across the bumper. it is a very heavy piece. i might do the same to my own.

My front bumper doesnt have any metal in it as its an aftermarket affair with virtually nothing holding it on!!! I will look at the rear.....its a useful thought...cheers!

Well the car got its MOT today (after an emissions scare!) and I can confirm that the weight saving program appears to have made a difference.....it feels extremely sprightly despite a slight misfire. I can also confirm that removing all the padding from the rear seats increases the cabin noise quite a bit! It may be better now the seats are back in (went for its MOT without rear seats) but its still going to be noisy!

I can also confirm that removing all the padding from the rear seats increases the cabin noise quite a bit! It may be better now the seats are back in (went for its MOT without rear seats) but its still going to be noisy!

The more noise the better. Makes you feel like you're going faster, and makes more people stop and look to see what monster machine is making all the noise!!!!!

latest innovation to try and ensure victories....the turbo shields are going in the storage box, along with the extractor fan and I'm fitting a small spacer nut into the rear glass closing latches so that the rear glass will actually be open by 5 or so mm even when locked shut to increase airflow......at the same time, the rear engine shelf will be joining the shields in the storage box. I reckon (and I havent completed it to weigh it yet) its gotta be another 15 kgs worth....bring on the Lotus and Evo8!!!!!!!!!!! (I'm scared actually )