How can I make my 1st gen lighter?
#1
Ghost Ride the Whip
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How can I make my 1st gen lighter?
The title says it all.
I'm looking for anything to make my already light 84 GSLSE even lighter....
Yes I know about tearing apart the interior, but does anyone know of a place I can get carbon fiber hoods or plexiglass rear hatches?
Any help would be appreciated.
I'm looking for anything to make my already light 84 GSLSE even lighter....
Yes I know about tearing apart the interior, but does anyone know of a place I can get carbon fiber hoods or plexiglass rear hatches?
Any help would be appreciated.
#6
Terrified.
Get lighter exhaust, get lightweight seats, lighter wheels. Yes, these are all minor things, but every little bit counts, right? Also do away with everything you don't need like A/C, power windows, etc. etc.
Edit: I was a bit late with the whole removing of power stuff.
Edit: I was a bit late with the whole removing of power stuff.
#7
7-less
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Not really much else you can do. These cars are already tremendously light compared to most cars out there. I'd say a stripped interior, one racing bucket seat, lightweight windows, fenders, carbon fiber hood, header panel and headlight panels, and I think you'd be all set.
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#8
Airflow is my life
Acid dip the body, single coat of paint, lighest wheels and tires money can buy, replace the dash with a homemade CF/FG shell, strip the wiring harness of all unnecessary wires, get an FC water pump and housing, thats all I got off the top of my head.
#9
Ghost Ride the Whip
Thread Starter
How much does a stock GSLSE weigh?
I don't have power steering but have AC and power windows.
I already have a bucket seat and a racing beat exhaust...
Interior is mostly stock (with the exception of the bucket seat)
I don't have power steering but have AC and power windows.
I already have a bucket seat and a racing beat exhaust...
Interior is mostly stock (with the exception of the bucket seat)
#10
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My GSL-SE has power everything, including the steering. It's rated at 2325 lb.
To help put things in perspective, the new Pontiac Solstice is rated at 2878 lb, with a 52/48% weight ratio. Its sibling, the Saturn Sky, is 2800 lb., unknown on the weight balance, probably the same. The new Mazda MX-5 is 2498 lb. (est)
Our cars are really light when you compare it to those roadsters.
To help put things in perspective, the new Pontiac Solstice is rated at 2878 lb, with a 52/48% weight ratio. Its sibling, the Saturn Sky, is 2800 lb., unknown on the weight balance, probably the same. The new Mazda MX-5 is 2498 lb. (est)
Our cars are really light when you compare it to those roadsters.
Last edited by 85 FB; 09-21-06 at 07:40 PM.
#13
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Ask him to check his registration and look under EW (Empty Weight). Compare that to 2325 lb.
EDIT: I did some searching around, the Saturn is SLIGHTLY lighter. Base curb weight: Manual transmission with A/C weighs at 2281 lb. Automatic with A/C weighs at 2312 lb. That's a 44 lb advantage with a manual, and a 13 lb advantage with an automatic. Also, it's weight balance is at 62/38.
And, remember, it takes 100 lb to lose a 1/10th of a second. Just thought I'd throw that bit in there.
EDIT: I did some searching around, the Saturn is SLIGHTLY lighter. Base curb weight: Manual transmission with A/C weighs at 2281 lb. Automatic with A/C weighs at 2312 lb. That's a 44 lb advantage with a manual, and a 13 lb advantage with an automatic. Also, it's weight balance is at 62/38.
And, remember, it takes 100 lb to lose a 1/10th of a second. Just thought I'd throw that bit in there.
Last edited by 85 FB; 09-21-06 at 07:52 PM.
#14
It's obsessive
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Originally Posted by justint5387
You can take out the driver ....
jk... if you don't need a/c then you can take that out and smaller battery is an option too.
jk... if you don't need a/c then you can take that out and smaller battery is an option too.
#17
backyard tuner
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ya if you want light weight its best to stick with the GS's, swap in a GSL diff and tear apart anything in the motor you dont need, remove whatever ya dont need in the interior and it can be pretty darn light.
i have my car down to a bare mininum of what i need, but still enough to use it as a daily driver, it just has no a/c, p/s, airpump, efi, etc.. i was under 2300 with the 12a, not sure what im at now with the 13b, but ive also removed more stuff from the car.
i have my car down to a bare mininum of what i need, but still enough to use it as a daily driver, it just has no a/c, p/s, airpump, efi, etc.. i was under 2300 with the 12a, not sure what im at now with the 13b, but ive also removed more stuff from the car.
#21
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: you dont really need to remove alot of weight from theses car, unless your building a full race car. their already light to begin with(i know you said that, im not trying to prove you wrong.) you can make the cars considerably quicker/better handling with a few bolt ons
#22
Originally Posted by RX(ZONE)
Alright my friend said he found out that his 95 Saturn SC1, is light then my -SE. True, or no?
And as for taking off weight, take out the carpeting, pound out all of the sound deadening, and then if you want put the carpeting back in.
#23
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Originally Posted by diabolical1
my opinion ... that's all this is. if this is a street car, getting it less than 2000 pounds will probably yield a highly uncivilized automobile. just something to consider ...
that car weighed with a full tank of gas, and no driver 2540lbs...
#24
Ghost Ride the Whip
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s
thats ok the owner is pretty uncilivilised =)
that car weighed with a full tank of gas, and no driver 2540lbs...
that car weighed with a full tank of gas, and no driver 2540lbs...
#25
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You want light? Remove the doors/fenders and replace with CF or FG parts. Good luck finding them, though. Fenders can be found in FG, as part of a widebody kit. I dunno about doors, though.