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Topic: So where's the weight come from? (Read 2765 times) previous topic - next topic

So where's the weight come from?

Anyone done any serious weight reductions to these cars?  I've seen them often times for Mustangs and things, I was wondering what people have done with the Cougar.

Ideas where the weight between the Cougar and the Mustang comes in?  Seems that most of the interior pieces are rather light, cheap consoles, rear seat made of foam...

Obviously the body being longer and bigger has an effect, but where can I cut down on the weight? (besides going on a diet  :D, smartass, I know you were thinking it  :giggle: )

Anyway, any discussion on the topic would be appreciated.
Willpower is no match for Horsepower.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #1 –
longer and more steel body panels. The mutang has alot more plastic on them. They are shorter and have less options. Thing about it, even the tilt colum adds weight.
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

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #2 –
Pull the carpet back inside the car. Take a good look at the amount of sound deadener. Take a heat gun and putty knife and have fun. I removed as much as I could from my bird. Filled a 55gal garbage can and it was almost too heavy to carry.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #3 –
the power seat tracks are heavy, all the extra sound deadening we have over the stangs, the rest of it iis pretty much sheet metal
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #4 –
Use a power adder or build more motor, the car will seem lighter... :D

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #5 –
I pulled about 60lbs out of my T-bird just from sound deadener in the door/floor/wall panels.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #6 –
I'm with TurboCoupoe 50.I need the sound deadener,because I like it quiet going down the highway.More power AND comfort.Nice.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #7 –
Not to derail, but this reminds me of a time a few years ago that my father bought a 35mm camera through mail order. When the camera came you could tell it was obviously very, very cheaply made, but he picked it up and said "You can tell it's a good quality camera, just feel how much it weighs!"

Needless to say it didn't even last a full roll of film. I took it apart for the flash capacitor, and imagine my surprise when I found a large lead weight factory installed in the base of the camera! They actually put lead in the camera, just so people like my father would say "feel that quality!" :rollin:

Maybe somewhere in these cars there's a lead weight :crazy:
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #8 –
I wonder, for those of us who want our quiet: Is stuff like Dynamat (or equivalent) as good as factory-installed insulation, but lighter?

I like my LSC quiet. After having done my last two out-of-state road trips in Escorts, I have to say I must have my creature comforts (and relative quiet is one of them) if I ever do it again. But it would be nice to shed *some* weight on that thing.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #9 –
I like my quiet too. If I wanted a race car I'd drive a Mustang. Luxury is one of the big reasons I like these cars...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #10 –
Quote
I wonder, for those of us who want our quiet: Is stuff like Dynamat (or equivalent) as good as factory-installed insulation, but lighter?


dynomat is actually heavy.. i'm pretty sure it's actually heavier then the factory installed insulation.

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #11 –
Having pulled most of the sound deadener out of my mustang (all the fabric stuff, didn't touch the tar junk) and then taken a few highway trips in it....I'll leave the sound deadener in my Thunderbird, thanks.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #12 –
The sound deading material adds so much weight, but unless you're making a race car, leave it in. It will provide much more driver comfort.  If you do want to remove it, wait until winter and use a hammer.  It will shatter the tar.

I'm going to strip all the tar out of my '77 Celica since I'll be doing SCCA stuff with it. I did the same in another 77 and the tar filled a trash can.  Crazy stuff.
"I put my foot in my tank and I began to roll." Chuck Berry

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #13 –
Lighter suspension components may be a better solution.Better cornering,less weight.Fiberglass hood maybe?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Re: So where's the weight come from?

Reply #14 –
Not much in the way of lighter springs, shocks, struts etc.  There are tubular sway bars for the Mustangs - I wonder how they would lighten the car. 

Not running the Turbo Coupe wheels is one way to keep the car light.  Those things weigh a ton.

A fiberglass hood is a great idea as the stock hoods are just way too heavy. 

I'm sure the doors are the real anchors.  Take out the window motors, the bracing (I forget if there's a lot of bracing in there) and the speakers.
"I put my foot in my tank and I began to roll." Chuck Berry