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Author: Subject: Weight Reduction
unkle

posted on 28/11/07 at 09:53 AM Reply With Quote
Weight Reduction

Apart from the obvious of going on a diet - what have you done/replaced to reduce the weight of your locost?
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Guinness

posted on 28/11/07 at 09:59 AM Reply With Quote
Changed the battery from a standard Sierra to a motorbike one.

Best bit was the battery was a £1 ebay special and the acid cost me £2!

Mike






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unkle

posted on 28/11/07 at 10:02 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Guinness
Changed the battery from a standard Sierra to a motorbike one.
Mike


Excellent - batteries pretty darn heavy.

wonder what the lightest car battery is.....

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DarrenW

posted on 28/11/07 at 10:25 AM Reply With Quote
Ive fitted light weight alloys. ATS DTC's (optional extra on some Westies).

Removed dizzy. Swapped carbs (not sure if i saved weight or not but it goes better). Not fitted header tank.

[Edited on 28/11/07 by DarrenW]






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mookaloid

posted on 28/11/07 at 11:23 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
Ive fitted light weight alloys. ATS DTC's (optional extra on some Westies).

Removed dizzy. Swapped carbs (not sure if i saved weight or not but it goes better). Not fitted header tank.

[Edited on 28/11/07 by DarrenW]


You also added weight with all that girly padded trim on the seats and the tunnel etc

Cheers

Mark





"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."


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bigrich

posted on 28/11/07 at 11:33 AM Reply With Quote
wheels and tyres , lighter calipers, solid discs instead of vented alloy bolts in none stressed areas other bolts cut to length, grp seats instead of padded type and not taking a pasenger aswell







A pint for the gent and a white wine/fruit based drink for the lady. Those are the rules

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Werner Van Loock

posted on 28/11/07 at 11:44 AM Reply With Quote
Alloy bell housing, small alternator, alloy diff housing if you're using english axle, alloy hub carriers, single digidash unit compared to multi dials, alloy dampers with smaller diam. using smaller diam springs, alloy front uprights, alloy fual tank (smaller?), alloy T9 gearbox case (quaife) light CDS tube roll bar etc... there's a lot you can do, but most if not all cost a bundle.





http://www.clubstylus.be

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indykid

posted on 28/11/07 at 12:11 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by bigrich
wheels and tyres , lighter calipers, solid discs instead of vented alloy bolts in none stressed areas other bolts cut to length, grp seats instead of padded type and not taking a pasenger aswell


if you don't take a passenger, why do they need a seat?

you even have 2 exhausts!

tom






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Hellfire

posted on 28/11/07 at 12:12 PM Reply With Quote
Bike engine......... nuff said.

Phil

PS - Perforated chassis and floor, bolts cut down to size, helium in tyres...

PPS - Only kidding (Just in case you decide to try the perforated chassis and helium in tyres)






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Hammerhead

posted on 28/11/07 at 12:22 PM Reply With Quote
carbon fibre bodywork






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speedyxjs

posted on 28/11/07 at 12:28 PM Reply With Quote
You could fit smaller resevoirs (wrong spelling i think) for water, coolant etc





How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?

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02GF74

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:10 PM Reply With Quote
alumnium radiator, mount close to engine to keep hoses short, helium in tyres, spoked steering wheel, don't paint bodywork, don't fit windscreen, fit LED lamps so can use thinner section cable, no reverse lamp or wiring, ... and so on.
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DaveFJ

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:19 PM Reply With Quote
you have all missed the obvious one.. (unless I missed it!)

Go on a diet! Undoubtedly heaviest and most useless part of most cars is the driver... shed some weight there! (I reckon I could/should save about 30lbs )





Dave

"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always

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02GF74

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:26 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DaveFJ
you have all missed the obvious one.. (unless I missed it!)

Go on a diet! Undoubtedly heaviest and most useless part of most cars is the driver... shed some weight there! (I reckon I could/should save about 30lbs )


no YOU have missed the obvious one.

First post being:

quote:
Originally posted by unkle
Apart from the obvious of going on a diet - what have you done/replaced to reduce the weight of your locost?




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unkle

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:38 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by DaveFJ
you have all missed the obvious one.. (unless I missed it!)

Go on a diet! Undoubtedly heaviest and most useless part of most cars is the driver... shed some weight there! (I reckon I could/should save about 30lbs )


no YOU have missed the obvious one.

First post being:

quote:
Originally posted by unkle
Apart from the obvious of going on a diet - what have you done/replaced to reduce the weight of your locost?






He was probably eating at the time........

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DaveFJ

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:43 PM Reply With Quote
I'll get my coat





Dave

"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always

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unkle

posted on 28/11/07 at 01:53 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DaveFJ
I'll get my coat


No, leave it off, it'll save a few pounds!!

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Danozeman

posted on 28/11/07 at 02:43 PM Reply With Quote
Lighter wheels, alloy uprights and calipers etc.. alloy floor.





Dan

Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!

http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk

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higgsti

posted on 28/11/07 at 02:55 PM Reply With Quote
without going into the obvious the guy i bought my car was a weight saving fanatic and im going further with more carbon /titainium and ally bolts.change steering column to tube with your connectors rewelded,lightened discs to rear as well as front,ally pedals instead of steel or drill existing,lighten lobros even heard of gun drilling drive shaftsand centres of bolts.drill holes in anything which isnt stressed .stick on tax disc holder the list ,goes on

[Edited on 28/11/07 by higgsti]

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DaveFJ

posted on 28/11/07 at 03:14 PM Reply With Quote
well if your really going that far!!! remove body panels and replace with that plasticy film stuff they use to cover model aircraft!

How about a Balsa wood dash?





Dave

"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always

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Paul TigerB6

posted on 28/11/07 at 03:22 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Bike engine......... nuff said.





Hehe - Somebody had to say it!! Saves at least 80kg anyway.

Alloy dampers can save a chunk of weight and quality dampers are a good upgrade anyway.

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twybrow

posted on 28/11/07 at 06:41 PM Reply With Quote
Drilling driveshafts? That is quite extreme. I wonder what the theoretical lowest weight could be, if you followed all of the above suggestions... If you were starting a build and had the option (and money) to fit all of the lightest parts available, a BEC, CDS tube, titanium fasteners, CF instead of GRP etc etc. what do you think the lowest ROAD LEGAL car could be - I would hazard a wet weight (with a tiny plastic fuel tank!) of 350kg. Then you could look at going very silly and make the chassis from carbon (yes it can be done and I've seen it - it was very light and very stiff, but you add the need for earth wire everywhere)... sod it, lets just walk and be done with it.






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higgsti

posted on 28/11/07 at 09:13 PM Reply With Quote
the guy i bought my car off has had the raceleda stub shafts in titainium.chris masons car though not road legal wouldnt take much is hovering somewhere around 350kg and hes not started lightening yet
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iank

posted on 28/11/07 at 10:53 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by unkle
wonder what the lightest car battery is.....


I believe it's the one from the Robin Reliant.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=70621

Bike battery is probably a better bet





--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous

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C10CoryM

posted on 29/11/07 at 03:08 AM Reply With Quote
Lighter wheels are often the most noticable upgrade. You lose a few pounds with lighter rims/tires, you are losing unsprung mass, and you are losing rotating mass as well. Rotating mass reduces power so its three for the price of one . More power, less unsprung mass, and less mass overall.
Cheers.





"Our watchword evermore shall be: The Maple Leaf Forever!"

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