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Topic: Weight Reduction (Read 3686 times) previous topic - next topic

Weight Reduction

Since the white bird is slated to be a Pikes Peak hillclimb car (2WD Time Attack Class) I am wondering how much weight I can expect to shed from a simple "Stage I" gutting of the interior. Panels / Carpet / Seats / Dash / etc...

"Stage II" will involve replacing the windows (removing power window ) and getting a full fiberglass front clip, (hood / fenders / front end) trunk lid, and fuel cell.

"Stage III" Lighter drive shaft / Flywheel / Wheels

Here is what I am guessing

Stage I = 300lbs +/-
Stage II = 350 to 400lbs +/-
Stage III = 25 to 50lbs +/-

Total race weight goal = 2500 to 2800 lbs +/-

Any other suggestions from those who have actually done this are appreciated!
2013 Focus (Daily)
1968 Cougar XR7
1987 Turbo Coupe
5 Speed, Stock IHI, Aeromotive 340LPH, Stinger 3in DP w/Magnaflow 3in Race Series ler, Hallman Boost Controller, Corbeau Fixed Back Racing Seats, Rebuilt 35# Injectors, Kirban AFPR, Stinger's Front Mount Piping w/Big NPR Front Mount IC, 3/8 E-85 Fuel Lines, SPEC Stage 3+ Clutch, Explorer 4.0 Dual Core Radiator, Optima Red Top Battery
1988 Turbo Coupe (RIP)
1984 Cougar (RIP) :cougarsmily:
1986 Cougar XR7 5 Speed.  (sold)

Weight Reduction

Reply #1 –
se out the sound deadening  that at least 20 lbs, the bumper reinforcements and the impact shocks are good for another 75 lbs
1986 T-bird
347 stroker motor
185 AFR Heads
TrickFlow cam 224/232-542/563
Victor Jr. intake CNC ported
Quickfuel Holley 800 cfm
Hooker 1-3/4 long tubes
Custom built AOD
B&M 3000 stall
8.8 w/4.30 gears
UPR K-member,A-Arms,and coil-overs
UPR upper/lower control arms
Strange shocks/struts
26x10x15 M/T slicks
11.48@119.27
(coming soon Tremec 3550)
The Finished Product
http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/03grinnie/T-bird/

Weight Reduction

Reply #2 –
Wow, that's alot of dead weight!

Thanks!
2013 Focus (Daily)
1968 Cougar XR7
1987 Turbo Coupe
5 Speed, Stock IHI, Aeromotive 340LPH, Stinger 3in DP w/Magnaflow 3in Race Series ler, Hallman Boost Controller, Corbeau Fixed Back Racing Seats, Rebuilt 35# Injectors, Kirban AFPR, Stinger's Front Mount Piping w/Big NPR Front Mount IC, 3/8 E-85 Fuel Lines, SPEC Stage 3+ Clutch, Explorer 4.0 Dual Core Radiator, Optima Red Top Battery
1988 Turbo Coupe (RIP)
1984 Cougar (RIP) :cougarsmily:
1986 Cougar XR7 5 Speed.  (sold)

Weight Reduction

Reply #4 –
Quote from: turbo_88_XR7;337945
what is it? TC, 5.0?


It's a turbo coupe.

I gave up on the 5.0 scene after I got my first 2.3t haha :burnout:
2013 Focus (Daily)
1968 Cougar XR7
1987 Turbo Coupe
5 Speed, Stock IHI, Aeromotive 340LPH, Stinger 3in DP w/Magnaflow 3in Race Series ler, Hallman Boost Controller, Corbeau Fixed Back Racing Seats, Rebuilt 35# Injectors, Kirban AFPR, Stinger's Front Mount Piping w/Big NPR Front Mount IC, 3/8 E-85 Fuel Lines, SPEC Stage 3+ Clutch, Explorer 4.0 Dual Core Radiator, Optima Red Top Battery
1988 Turbo Coupe (RIP)
1984 Cougar (RIP) :cougarsmily:
1986 Cougar XR7 5 Speed.  (sold)

Weight Reduction

Reply #5 –
After I sed the sound dampening material off the backside of a stock carpet, I put it all in a garbage bag then weighed it at roughly 40pounds!
The Carpeting itself only weighs about 8 pounds now. ;)
That was a 4eye interior though, Dunno about 87-88 Carpeting.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

Weight Reduction

Reply #6 –
ah.. i was going to say try finding some aluminum heads because that'd save you quite a bit of weight lol

Weight Reduction

Reply #7 –
if its not gonna see street duty, pull the impact beams out of the doors too.

also, i would swap stgII and stgIII around. rotating weight is more important than sprung weight. i.e. do the "free" weight removal, then when it comes time to spend money on getting lighter, spend it on rotating mass first.
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

Weight Reduction

Reply #8 –
Do a side exit exhaust with no lers... lol.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Weight Reduction

Reply #9 –
If you want to be competitive, go all out. I think that if you went with a aluminum headed 5.0 you could be faster for less, but since you already have the 2.3 do it.

I would pull everything. You can put it all back if you want to street drive it again.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Weight Reduction

Reply #10 –
just the sound deadener glued to the floor came out to 38# in the 87 lx(?) I have.  Carpet itself was 40#.  I'm going through the same stuff right now trying to loose weight for autox instead though.  2800# should be pretty easy I think.

88 t-bird tc - 14.97 @ 90  IHI 18 psi + k+n filter...so far - NOW HX-35 @25psi - 12.75@112    348rwhp/395rwtq
78 F-150 - 11.61@120 on 175shot N20 - 12.55@110 on motor - 5200# race weight:hick:

Weight Reduction

Reply #11 –
it's a shame i don't live out closer to you.. i'd love to set my GoProHD in car camera up and catch an in-car video :D my life long dream is to run pikes peak, even if i have to do it in a yugo hahah

Weight Reduction

Reply #12 –
When would this take place? I'm not exactly close, but I would love to see a pikes peak and fellow cougar owner.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Weight Reduction

Reply #13 –
Wow, I didn't think the sound deadener would add up to that much.  I thought about sing it off but got lazy when I thought about how much there is.  I may just have to get to it.  I have some weight reduction done : 2.3T in place of 5.0, removed carpet and padding, all interior panels, deleted heater and ac, removed all ducting and excess stuff from behind dash, removed rear seats and installed manual seat tracks on the front, and a few things in the engine bay.  I haven't weighed it yet but I am hoping it weighs in around 3000.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

Weight Reduction

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Haystack;338088
When would this take place? I'm not exactly close, but I would love to see a pikes peak and fellow cougar owner.


The hillclimb takes place in July of every year. Although, I am not sure if I will have the car ready by next year. Also, I have to start doing autox / other racing events to get good at driving. I don't want to drive off a cliff LOL

Pikes Peak will be fully paved by 2012 I think it is. At that point, the competition should get VERY intense.
2013 Focus (Daily)
1968 Cougar XR7
1987 Turbo Coupe
5 Speed, Stock IHI, Aeromotive 340LPH, Stinger 3in DP w/Magnaflow 3in Race Series ler, Hallman Boost Controller, Corbeau Fixed Back Racing Seats, Rebuilt 35# Injectors, Kirban AFPR, Stinger's Front Mount Piping w/Big NPR Front Mount IC, 3/8 E-85 Fuel Lines, SPEC Stage 3+ Clutch, Explorer 4.0 Dual Core Radiator, Optima Red Top Battery
1988 Turbo Coupe (RIP)
1984 Cougar (RIP) :cougarsmily:
1986 Cougar XR7 5 Speed.  (sold)