Weight saving mod's list...

[anthonydalrymple]

Ok... I thought I'd get an official drag orientated weight reduction thread started. I'd like to focus on the "trick" or "insider" info and the actual weights of stuff we might modify or remove.

Please list the parts removed or installed, post the actual weight of items added or removed if you happened to have a scale handy, etc. It would be especially useful if you can explain with pic's how you modified an existing part or hand fabricated something for the weight loss as well.

What little I've done regarding my '89 former 4-banger 'notch.....
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Removed 4-banger swaybar & end links; 12lbs
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Removed front fiberglass bumper & mounting brackets; 18lbs
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Removed factory fan shroud, fan, & fan clutch(no weight; but I'll get it) & replaced with lighter electric fan(no weight for the electric either :roll: )
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Removed rear steel bumper reinforcement; 30lbs & installed aluminum rear bumper reinforcement;8lbs.
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Removed cheap cloth 4-banger passenger seat; 25lbs
The '96 base V6 tweed seat I weighed last night;23lbs
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Removed rear seat(both upper & lower cushions); 10lbs
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Weights of factory wheels versus Weld superlites, factory hoods versus fiberglass, anything would be of great interest!

P.S. I'll be weighing alot of stuff tonight & revising this same post with the info...

Thanks!

[gtluke]

i got 35lbs of unused wiring and bracketry from behind my dashboard and center console. though, i do not suggest this for a street driven car. the dash isn't supported all that well anymore, but you would never really notice.
don't forget the dogbone thing on the rear end, the quad shocks if you have upgraded control arms, and 30 pound and 20 years of muck buildup under your car :)
also, if you have a roll bar, you can cut the crash beams out of your doors. i believe they are about 15lbs a piece.

[QTRMILE]

I removed the steel front bumper brace, shocks and hardware for a savings of 42 lbs (or 47, I don't remember... :oops: )

I wish I had weighed everything as I took it out. Tarpaper crap, sound deadener, heater box, etc...

[eric5oh]

Don't forget about the spare tire/jack if it is not out already.

[Smiley84]

Not to be an @$$ but, it's one thing to save weight which I think is great and so far everyones info is accurate and very usfull(sp?) but make sure your saving weight in the right place. Just my .02 cents but why remove a rear bumper or any weight over the rear wheels, now from the back seat forward i understand but Personally i leave my spare tire in and i have two 35 pound steel bars inside my speaker box. which fits like a glove inbetween the rear shock towers. Id rather weigh 100 pounds more and have the rear tires get traction b4 the guy next to me.

[twister]

dont forget little things like the windsheild washer/reservoir....and you only need 2 fender bolts per side....

[anthonydalrymple]

Not to be an @$$ but, it's one thing to save weight which I think is great and so far everyones info is accurate and very usfull(sp?) but make sure your saving weight in the right place. Just my .02 cents but why remove a rear bumper or any weight over the rear wheels, now from the back seat forward i understand but Personally i leave my spare tire in and i have two 35 pound steel bars inside my speaker box. which fits like a glove inbetween the rear shock towers. Id rather weigh 100 pounds more and have the rear tires get traction b4 the guy next to me.

Everyone's opinion & idea's are appreciated in this thread nonetheless.

I believe that as long as you hook just fine; you can remove weight from the rear to an extent. My removing 22lbs via an aluminum rear bumper will be offset by the 30lbs battery going into the trunk.

So... I loose 30lbs total off the nose, gain only 8 lbs in the rear, & still have a net weight loss of 22lbs overall with better weight distribution.... Right?;)

[frankiesaysrelax]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P

[Rocko]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P
LMFAO :burnout:

[anthonydalrymple]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P

Will do! I also am a very hairy man(with the exception of my bald head of course). I shave from head to toe the day before as well.... Let me tell 'ya; azz crack razor burn really sucks....

[twister]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P

Will do! I also am a very hairy man(with the exception of my bald head of course). I shave from head to toe the day before as well.... Let me tell 'ya; azz crack razor burn really sucks....I just lost my breakfast

[frankiesaysrelax]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P

Will do! I also am a very hairy man(with the exception of my bald head of course). I shave from head to toe the day before as well.... Let me tell 'ya; azz crack razor burn really sucks....I just lost my breakfast


Bwahh!!!! :lol: too funny Anthony!!!

Twister lost his breakfast.....even more weight savings!!!! ;)

[twister]

To save every last ounce, race in your underwear and don't forget to take a leak and a big dump before you get behind the wheel. :P

Will do! I also am a very hairy man(with the exception of my bald head of course). I shave from head to toe the day before as well.... Let me tell 'ya; azz crack razor burn really sucks....I just lost my breakfast


Bwahh!!!! :lol: too funny Anthony!!!

Twister lost his breakfast.....even more weight savings!!!! ;)yeah, and I can use the weight lose...I am up over 240...

[v8only]

lose the oem carpet, it weighs a ton. the difference in weight between acc carpet and oem stuff is around 10 pounds, maybe more, give or take. At least pull off all the inner padding off the carpet.

[fordfreak300]

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Removed front fiberglass bumper & mounting brackets; 18lbs
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Ok can you elaberate here. For as i read this I read you removed the front bumper and it brakets. This means you have no front bumper. Am i correct?

[fordfreak300]

I removed the steel front bumper brace, shocks and hardware for a savings of 42 lbs (or 47, I don't remember... :oops: )




Yuo did this while leaving the front bumper on? If so i may look into doing this as well. But i do want to be safe on the street.

[fordfreak300]

Ok for my weight savingsd i did weight everything but i now have forgoet those amounts.


I tookt eh aprking light brakets out and shaved off most of the metal. I removed the tar paper and sound deadener. I cut down anything i cold find that was metal and not a saftey part.

I have saleen wheels which are ligther than stock wheels.

I took out all teh extra wiring and such frome very where i could find it. I shortened wires where i could.

aluminum drive shaft.


my car and half a tank of gas weighed in at 2950lbs last time I weighed it.

[v8only]

mark, tony's not running a front bumper at all.

[BetterDays]

First time to the track.
Car weighed 3030 with an almost full tank.

Second time
Car weighted 2830 with an almost full tank.

Removed:
Front sway bar
back seat and brackets
passenger seat
hatch carpeting, deadener, and insulation.
Interior plastics
misc. brackets for emissions crap

[fordfreak300]

I hope you don;t get into a wreck Tony, that could be dangerous.

[anthonydalrymple]

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Removed front fiberglass bumper & mounting brackets; 18lbs
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Ok can you elaberate here. For as i read this I read you removed the front bumper and it brakets. This means you have no front bumper. Am i correct?

Yes, you are reading the information correctly! i understand the implications & rammifications of my decision.... 8)

[fordfreak300]

I know you do. I just wanted to make sure I was reading it correctly.

[5 Liter Mustang]

you could probably save 10 lbs from switching from Tailpipes to Dumps

[QTRMILE]

I removed the steel front bumper brace, shocks and hardware for a savings of 42 lbs (or 47, I don't remember... :oops: )




Yuo did this while leaving the front bumper on? If so i may look into doing this as well. But i do want to be safe on the street.

There is nothing under the bumper cover. In fact I had to fabricate brackets to locate the turn signals and a brace to keep the bumper cover from collapsing in on itself on the top end of the track (and to keep it from bouncing all around...)

For a street car, I'd just swap over to a light weight brace instead of that gigantic steel girder...

[anthonydalrymple]

There is nothing under the bumper cover. In fact I had to fabricate brackets to locate the turn signals and a brace to keep the bumper cover from collapsing in on itself on the top end of the track (and to keep it from bouncing all around...)

For a street car, I'd just swap over to a light weight brace instead of that gigantic steel girder...

I was looking around in the junkyard yesterday with a friend & noticed that quite a few mid-sided imports have simple aluminum "girder" type front bumpers under the bumper cover. Most of them have a similar curvature to my "aero-nose". I think I can easily adapt one to the nose of my car & I'll bet $ it weighs no more than 6lbs..... I'll post pic's & keep updating my progress..... I think I'm gonna grab one tonight to begin "massaging".... 8)

[fordfreak300]

qrtrmile thank you for your reply. I want to keep a bumper there as i drive on the street with my car. I think will just look into trying to find an aluminum front bumper.

[anthonydalrymple]

qrtrmile thank you for your reply. I want to keep a bumper there as i drive on the street with my car. I think will just look into trying to find an aluminum front bumper.

I'll keep an eye out for one fer 'ya dude.... I hit the local yards quite often. If I've run into a set once; you know I'll run into another.... 8)

[fordfreak300]

yeah and I can scour the yards out here. They are nto as picked through as every well else when it come to the stangs ansd such. i shoul dknow in a day or two how many stangs are in one yard after i see my neighbor again. He went yesterday and said he would look around for me.

[Anonymous]

crash bars in the doors are 15lbs a side....

[Nospony]

what year car did u get the aluminum bumpers off of. Also what cars came with aluminum bumpers that will bolt to a fox.

[anthonydalrymple]

Early production date '79 'stang is what i found a set on..... I've heard tell early turbo4 Stangs & Capris are to be checked out too.....

[5 Liter Mustang]

i was thinking... the mini-starters off of 93 mustangs could probably shave 5-10lbs off the nose

[fordfreak300]

I just cutr 11lbs of metal off of my steel bumper today. I was off work and had nothing better to do. I decied to cut some squares out and leave it still somewhat safe.

Taking nose cone off car: pita (well not really but it sounds good)

Cutting squares in steel bumper with 4" electric grinder: time consuming


look on wifes face when she gets home from work and you lean on your nose cone (with bungie cord hidden inside) so it falls off: priceless! :)

[MAT88GT]

remove one of the horns, half a lb
cut off the swaybar brackets, another lb
swap in an electric fan, weighs a little less depending on the fan, and it pulls weight off the accessories
ditch the ps, go with a fr manual rack and shaft
gut the stock hood supports, my 88 hood only weighed 5lbs more than a 4" glass hood
remove the smog pump
no tails
rear end damper weight, almost 10lbs
remove the sound deadener from the front and rear inner fenders/wheel wells
gut the dash as luke said
rewire the car using an "its a snap" wiring harness ($150)
ditch the belt line moldings, 10-15lbs
remove the belts once the rear seats are out, cut the attatchment brackets off the rear seat pan
remove the rear speakers
manual brakes
an aftermarket steering wheel (grant) will save a few lb's over the stocker
put on some draglights, aluminum heads (50lbs), glass hood (20lbs), k member (50lbs depending on brand) with tube a arms and coil overs
if you have a coupe, get a pin on glass decklid and remove the tension spring setup and mounts

[sleepercoupe]

i didnt bother reading but want to list everything i took out or was factory on my car...

Manual Steering
Manual brakes
No A/C under the dash or hood
Aluminum Front and rears
No swaybars
Console delete
Spare tire/jack removed
ALL sound deadening removed
Cheapo factory 79 Vinyl seats
Removed rear seatbelts
Vinyl headliner with no insulation
Removed the driveshaft dampner (dogbone)
Manual windows/locks/seats (seats dont even recline)

Things where you could save weight but I havent
Rear seat delete
Stereo/speakers delete
Aluminum Heads
Tubular K-member/arms
Coil-overs
Tubular rear suspension
Window motor/arms

[anthonydalrymple]

I know I'm reviving an old thread; but the ACC carpet I installed this weekend has to be 10-20lbs lighter than the OE factory carpet. The insulation on the replacement is rather thin & sparse. The factory carpet is almost entirely covered in twice as thick insulation & with several fiberglass filled "mats" attached......

[fordfreak300]

I pulled all that off of my factory carpet. I have no insolation on my carpet what so ever. I have heard in teh past the ACC carpet is lighter than stock. Not bad to save some weight and freshen up the look.

[StangBoy]

no one has mentioned the criuse control and associated parts-7-8lbs

a non tilt column would be worth a few lbs.

[quickslver50]

things i removed / things i added

all sound deadning, installed 1/8" thick carpet
a/c
p/s
smog & emissions stuff
rear seats & all brackets
quads
rear dogbone
metal front bumper {still a street car}
inner fender covers
sway bars, & brackets
trimed up & removed unused wiring
relocated batt. to hatch
4" chopped up / lightened up hood
fiberglass wing

[fordfreak300]

no one has mentioned the criuse control and associated parts-7-8lbs

a non tilt column would be worth a few lbs.

your right I always forget to mention I removed my entire cruise control assembly, and all associated wiring. total it was about 7-8lbs if I rememebr correctly.

[KAILUAZ]

Bump for an oldie but goodie.

[93-331-29PSI]

I removed the steel front bumper brace, shocks and hardware for a savings of 42 lbs (or 47, I don't remember... :oops: )

I wish I had weighed everything as I took it out. Tarpaper crap, sound deadener, heater box, etc...

Information never gets old

I just shipped this very setup and it weighed 46.8 lbs, granted there were no turn signal lights or brackets.

I should have weighed the stuff I pulled out of this coupe, but I didn't know this thread existed.

[KAILUAZ]

Yeah, this is good stuff!

[little Loopie]

Anyone know the actual weight savings for Power Steering to Manual Steering? And what are you folks weighing this stuff with, the 'ole ladies bathroom scale?

[Orion]

Not to be an @$$ but, it's one thing to save weight which I think is great and so far everyones info is accurate and very usfull(sp?) but make sure your saving weight in the right place. Just my .02 cents but why remove a rear bumper or any weight over the rear wheels, now from the back seat forward i understand but Personally i leave my spare tire in and i have two 35 pound steel bars inside my speaker box. which fits like a glove inbetween the rear shock towers. Id rather weigh 100 pounds more and have the rear tires get traction b4 the guy next to me.

yup yup. Different people hook up differently though. Some freinds have had to add wait to the rear others took it out but you can also do a batery relocation kit is good. put all that weight over the rear dont want it up front

[WTmark]

if you really want to get anal about weight savings; get a bunch of hole saws and a plasma cutter and go to town on all the interior panels and brackets...........swiss cheese everything.........get rid of the stock fuel tank and get a 5 gallon fuel cell.........
if it's not a street car, use the hole saws and swiss cheese the inner fender panels and radiator support...........that should keep you yankees busy on those long wintry nights.

[331Capri]

jenny craig

[86_LX]

would it be safe to run a bumper on the street with like 3in holes drilled in it? I read in mustang proformance 2 that you can use a bumper off of a areo nose car with the supports spaced a bit out? im not sure on this though.