Weight loss programs...
#26
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I just helped a friend strip a 2 year old EVO for track use. I don't remember the specifics on before and after curb weight but we freaking GUTTED this car of everything non-essential. Here's a "more or less" list of everything we took out:
- all seats
- all carpet (the carpet is surprisingly heavy, by the way)
- all headliner and insulation
- all interior door panels
- window motors (replaced with manual crank mechanisms)
- power locks
- entire ac system - compressor off the engine, condenser at the front, hoses, coil in the AC box, etc.
- console
- entire stereo including amps, head unit, speakers, etc.
- airbags (surprisingly easy to remove, actually - helps to have a shop manual, but job 1 is to just disconnect the main wiring cable from the control unit behind the dash (easy to find - everything is bright yellow by law), then after that's done, the bag units are "safed" and you can safely remove their covers, remove retaining clips, lift them out and disconnect them - and airbag wiring and control unit
- trunk liner, spare, jack, hardware, etc.
- glovebox
- miscellaneous guards, heat shields, liners, insulation and a lot of little **** and fasterners, clips, etc. that wasn't necessary.
We weighed the entire lot of **** that came off the car - it totalled up to about 450 lbs of gear. Not as much as you think.
When we were done the entire car was completely stripped out to basically a rolling shell with operating doors and windows.
Additional savings will come from:
- replacement wheels and tires with lower-weight, racing-only rolling stock
- replace cast-iron brake rotors with ceramic rotors
- replace stock radiator with a higher-effiencicy, lighter weight unit.
- replace battery with racing unit
- replace exhaust "cat back" with lighter-weight, free-er flowing design. The tracks he runs at require catalysts on cars that came equipped with them, and mufflers.
Now that the car is "essence of EVO" though, he has already added back weight in terms of either racing parts that are heavier/stouter than stock items:
- Full roll cage inside (about 120 lbs of mild steel tubing and welds)
- Sparco racing seat "system" (about 65 lbs)
- Sparco racing belt set (about 15 lbs)
- Welded-in-place frame gusseting and rear strut bars (about 30 lbs of metal)
- Racing fuel cell
- firebottle system including piping to the engine bay and trunk/fuel cell
- Dry sump oiling system and high-output oil pump and tank
- High-output racing fuel system
- High-output racing ignition system
Like someone above said, what surprised us both is how little the straight-line performance was affected - the amount is easily covered up in driver inconsistency.
That said, the HANDLING is greatly improved - less weight to shift, roll around, transfer, etc. This car handled like a dream already, and with all this weight stripped out, it feels positively light on its feet. My perception of EVOs has always been that they feel heavy and blunt - they accomplish great handling through massive tires, big contact patches, stiffer than hell suspension and structure. But after the weight loss, and the seat was installed, the car feels very "light on its feet" and tossable - like a dance partner rather than a linebacker. Like the difference between an Elise and a Corvette. I just drove it again yesterday on a private track (this guy is a member of the racing "country club" south of Chicago) and now that the cage, fire system, and additional frame bracing is in, the car is hyper stiff, and handles beautifully, and hasn't lost that "tossable" feeling.
Great fun.
I'd love to turn one of these into a race car sometime (an RX-8 that is).
You won't find 800 lbs to strip away, but it does make a differrence.
- all seats
- all carpet (the carpet is surprisingly heavy, by the way)
- all headliner and insulation
- all interior door panels
- window motors (replaced with manual crank mechanisms)
- power locks
- entire ac system - compressor off the engine, condenser at the front, hoses, coil in the AC box, etc.
- console
- entire stereo including amps, head unit, speakers, etc.
- airbags (surprisingly easy to remove, actually - helps to have a shop manual, but job 1 is to just disconnect the main wiring cable from the control unit behind the dash (easy to find - everything is bright yellow by law), then after that's done, the bag units are "safed" and you can safely remove their covers, remove retaining clips, lift them out and disconnect them - and airbag wiring and control unit
- trunk liner, spare, jack, hardware, etc.
- glovebox
- miscellaneous guards, heat shields, liners, insulation and a lot of little **** and fasterners, clips, etc. that wasn't necessary.
We weighed the entire lot of **** that came off the car - it totalled up to about 450 lbs of gear. Not as much as you think.
When we were done the entire car was completely stripped out to basically a rolling shell with operating doors and windows.
Additional savings will come from:
- replacement wheels and tires with lower-weight, racing-only rolling stock
- replace cast-iron brake rotors with ceramic rotors
- replace stock radiator with a higher-effiencicy, lighter weight unit.
- replace battery with racing unit
- replace exhaust "cat back" with lighter-weight, free-er flowing design. The tracks he runs at require catalysts on cars that came equipped with them, and mufflers.
Now that the car is "essence of EVO" though, he has already added back weight in terms of either racing parts that are heavier/stouter than stock items:
- Full roll cage inside (about 120 lbs of mild steel tubing and welds)
- Sparco racing seat "system" (about 65 lbs)
- Sparco racing belt set (about 15 lbs)
- Welded-in-place frame gusseting and rear strut bars (about 30 lbs of metal)
- Racing fuel cell
- firebottle system including piping to the engine bay and trunk/fuel cell
- Dry sump oiling system and high-output oil pump and tank
- High-output racing fuel system
- High-output racing ignition system
Like someone above said, what surprised us both is how little the straight-line performance was affected - the amount is easily covered up in driver inconsistency.
That said, the HANDLING is greatly improved - less weight to shift, roll around, transfer, etc. This car handled like a dream already, and with all this weight stripped out, it feels positively light on its feet. My perception of EVOs has always been that they feel heavy and blunt - they accomplish great handling through massive tires, big contact patches, stiffer than hell suspension and structure. But after the weight loss, and the seat was installed, the car feels very "light on its feet" and tossable - like a dance partner rather than a linebacker. Like the difference between an Elise and a Corvette. I just drove it again yesterday on a private track (this guy is a member of the racing "country club" south of Chicago) and now that the cage, fire system, and additional frame bracing is in, the car is hyper stiff, and handles beautifully, and hasn't lost that "tossable" feeling.
Great fun.
I'd love to turn one of these into a race car sometime (an RX-8 that is).
You won't find 800 lbs to strip away, but it does make a differrence.
#27
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old battery was 16 kgs new one 9 kgs . so 7kg saving (15.2lbs)
I originally was just going to use it for track days because the CCAs were about 1/2 what the old one was (430cca vs 7**cca) .
It is winter here now and although my car is always garaged it gets close to freezing in there . I have had absolutely no issues with starting and it turns over just as fast . Mind you my car always starts instantly anyway .
I originally was just going to use it for track days because the CCAs were about 1/2 what the old one was (430cca vs 7**cca) .
It is winter here now and although my car is always garaged it gets close to freezing in there . I have had absolutely no issues with starting and it turns over just as fast . Mind you my car always starts instantly anyway .
#28
Rotary , eh?
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The OEM battery weights somewhere in the 35-45lbs area. You can get an Odyssey that weights as little as 11lbs for under $100.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/applications/auto.htm
I think speedsource got their cars down to 25-2600lbs area but that was with gutting EVERYTHING in the passanger compartment and engine bay and adding back in a roll cage, seat and fire apparatus.
Also aluminum brake calipers would drop a few unsprung lbs at each corner.
http://www.odysseybatteries.com/applications/auto.htm
I think speedsource got their cars down to 25-2600lbs area but that was with gutting EVERYTHING in the passanger compartment and engine bay and adding back in a roll cage, seat and fire apparatus.
Also aluminum brake calipers would drop a few unsprung lbs at each corner.
Last edited by mac11; 10-09-2007 at 08:29 PM.
#30
Power!!
2-piece brake rotors along with the aluminum calipers are a big gain as well. I believe the racingbrake kit is 6lbs per wheel for calipers and 14 lbs for rotors.
www.racingbrake.com
www.racingbrake.com
Last edited by shaunv74; 09-17-2007 at 04:19 PM.
#31
When I get better at driving track I will be switching to CF rims but only on the track. I agree. I was thinking about the aluminum replacements but I don't have the money for that. Seeing what I can do at home and with minimal professional help first. I would like to keep (At least in the front two seats) a driving car interior. I want to replace a few parts there and remove a few things like some extras in the dash I won't use. A/C will be gone. If I can get to the air bags without blowing off my face I will. Never did that before and one guy said it is a bit difficult. But ill take a look thanks for the input.
For removing the air bags just disconnect the battery and give the car some time to sit and let the capacitors discharge and the air bags won't go off (I'd give it a couple hours or so just to be safe because with your head that close you can seriously hurt yourself and damage your hearing)
#33
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I own a 2006 Mazda MX-5. Our cars are based off of yours. So much, that a common cheap mod that us NC (code for the 06+ mx-5's) owners is to buy Sway bars from you RX-8 guys and have a much stiffer ride.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
#34
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I own a 2006 Mazda MX-5. Our cars are based off of yours. So much, that a common cheap mod that us NC (code for the 06+ mx-5's) owners is to buy Sway bars from you RX-8 guys and have a much stiffer ride.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
I may be getting an FC soon. Nice one with everything working. May be swapping that engine for the modern rotary 1.6L. Other than that I won't be doing any engine swaps.
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Last time at Barber Motorsports park our club met with Speedsource Mazda RX-8 driver, Sylvan Tremblay. I asked how much weight saving they achieved in their race RX-8's. His response was a little cagey but said they lost around 600 lbs. Probably a little lighter than that as the Grand-Am Regs say minimum weight is 2200 lbs.
So good luck with your own weight savings program.
http://www.grand-am.com/CONTENT/Docs...07/GTRules.pdf
Last edited by valpac; 01-05-2008 at 11:44 AM.
#40
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Some guy in a 2007 Audi TT was racing me at the track yesterday . I found that I could gain on him down the backstraight early on in the day . Later that day I could not gain anything at all . WTF I thought - either he got faster or I got slower . I then realised that earlier he had a passenger with him - made quite a difference ....
#41
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I own a 2006 Mazda MX-5. Our cars are based off of yours. So much, that a common cheap mod that us NC (code for the 06+ mx-5's) owners is to buy Sway bars from you RX-8 guys and have a much stiffer ride.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
I suggest you do what this one guy in Germany accomplished. He put a Renesis Rotary into an NC. the thing weighs around 2,400 pounds with full interior and options.
#42
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O I am sorry, I didn't know you knew me? Oh wait you don't, I guess your just an idiot then. Try making assumptions about something you actually know about. Don't be an ***. This thread is asking about weight loss for the RX8, and you have given no information on that. So why are you talking? Other than because your a bored immature moron who can't seem to get that others may know less than you, others may want to know more than you (Mind they probably don't even know you), or others already know more than you and are STILL seaking information. STFU and leave the talking to the people who are trying to help or be helped.
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What size are you looking at? I don't know of any forged or casted wheels that weigh less than 10 lbs. I know the 18x9.5 of the rpf1's weigh 17.2 (wheel database sticky) but have also been weighed at 17.2. Unless you're going to pick up some 12x6 carbon fiber wheels...if they make these...I don't think there is a real 10 lb wheel option. You talking kg on accident?
As for rotational mass, where do you get 1 to 4 rotational to static weight ratio? I've heard it all. 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 10, undefined, just looking for some answers.
As for rotational mass, where do you get 1 to 4 rotational to static weight ratio? I've heard it all. 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 10, undefined, just looking for some answers.
damn, those enkei rpf1s weigh less than 10 pounds each.
what do the stock rims weigh, like 22-23lbs? and to make it even better, afaik, each 1lb of rotational mass eliminated is similar to removing 4 pounds of dead weight in the car. so thats removing more 130lbs off the car. holy crap. http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...-1051bRX8.html
only downside is the $279x4 price tag. and the fact that they look ugly.
what do the stock rims weigh, like 22-23lbs? and to make it even better, afaik, each 1lb of rotational mass eliminated is similar to removing 4 pounds of dead weight in the car. so thats removing more 130lbs off the car. holy crap. http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...-1051bRX8.html
only downside is the $279x4 price tag. and the fact that they look ugly.
#46
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What size are you looking at? I don't know of any forged or casted wheels that weigh less than 10 lbs. I know the 18x9.5 of the rpf1's weigh 17.2 (wheel database sticky) but have also been weighed at 17.2. Unless you're going to pick up some 12x6 carbon fiber wheels...if they make these...I don't think there is a real 10 lb wheel option. You talking kg on accident?
#47
I can see that you will make a lot of friends here...
And on lightweight Porsches, they use stickers instead of enamel badges. You could save a few ounces...
Or drive naked? Save a few pounds in clothing? Shave off all your hair? There's some weight right there...
And on lightweight Porsches, they use stickers instead of enamel badges. You could save a few ounces...
Or drive naked? Save a few pounds in clothing? Shave off all your hair? There's some weight right there...
#48
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This thread is incredibly awesome. You have a boy racer who 1. doesn't know anything about driving, 2. has no money, and 3. wants to strip his rx-8 down by 800 lbs, but without replacing any panels. So, straight off the bat, the kid obviously doesn't have a clue. I couldn't stop laughing when he posted "Wow, I didn't realize batteries weighed that much. Thanks." and knew I needed to keep reading.
That's all fine and dandy, it's always fun to see these kids and watch them squirm and complain in IM-speak (omg u!!) when people point out the unrealistic expectations. But they mostly then complain that everyone is out to get them and don't know what they're talking about and then "quit the boards". This one's stuck around for over 3 months now, spouting a special brand of ignorance on the thread. I'm almost genuinely interested in seeing how this turns out. I'm waiting for the threads when he starts stripping things like the MAF and wondering why his car won't start. This is great. :D
That's all fine and dandy, it's always fun to see these kids and watch them squirm and complain in IM-speak (omg u!!) when people point out the unrealistic expectations. But they mostly then complain that everyone is out to get them and don't know what they're talking about and then "quit the boards". This one's stuck around for over 3 months now, spouting a special brand of ignorance on the thread. I'm almost genuinely interested in seeing how this turns out. I'm waiting for the threads when he starts stripping things like the MAF and wondering why his car won't start. This is great. :D
#49
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This thread is incredibly awesome. You have a boy racer who 1. doesn't know anything about driving, 2. has no money, and 3. wants to strip his rx-8 down by 800 lbs, but without replacing any panels. So, straight off the bat, the kid obviously doesn't have a clue. I couldn't stop laughing when he posted "Wow, I didn't realize batteries weighed that much. Thanks." and knew I needed to keep reading.
That's all fine and dandy, it's always fun to see these kids and watch them squirm and complain in IM-speak (omg u!!) when people point out the unrealistic expectations. But they mostly then complain that everyone is out to get them and don't know what they're talking about and then "quit the boards". This one's stuck around for over 3 months now, spouting a special brand of ignorance on the thread. I'm almost genuinely interested in seeing how this turns out. I'm waiting for the threads when he starts stripping things like the MAF and wondering why his car won't start. This is great. :D
That's all fine and dandy, it's always fun to see these kids and watch them squirm and complain in IM-speak (omg u!!) when people point out the unrealistic expectations. But they mostly then complain that everyone is out to get them and don't know what they're talking about and then "quit the boards". This one's stuck around for over 3 months now, spouting a special brand of ignorance on the thread. I'm almost genuinely interested in seeing how this turns out. I'm waiting for the threads when he starts stripping things like the MAF and wondering why his car won't start. This is great. :D
#50
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Oh, most definitely you don't have to be mechanically inclined to want to build a racecar - hell, every 15 year old kid on the planet wants to. The difference is if you have any hope of doing it. However, I liken your first post to a request to "build a spaceship to go to the moon for 17 dollars", your subsequent posts are very similar to "okay what about 22.50?", and your reply to me as "I don't actually need to know how to build it, but i can hope, and then do it for 17 dollars".
What I really need is a ticket to your fairytale land for 17 dollars. Okay, okay, I'll give you 22.50 for one, but that's it.
What I really need is a ticket to your fairytale land for 17 dollars. Okay, okay, I'll give you 22.50 for one, but that's it.