extra 50 lbs the sa has?
Is it in the unibody, thicker steel?
I want to build a project car, and I like the SA's dash, bumpers, and tail lights.
I know some of you would say 50 lbs is not much, but its the sum of all the weight you remove that makes the difference, and 50 lbs is a chunk!
Anyone know where it is?

 

No way, the SA is lighter.

O_O

If it WAS heavier, though, it'd be in the steel bumpers.

 

thermal reactor and full size spare.

 

Bumpers, 25 more each? I don't think so, but, I don't have them to weigh.
Thermal reactor, may not equal the weight of 3 cats and exhaust manifold.
Full size spare, I did not think of, but 50 lbs more than later version?
Weigh bumpers, erh, keep trying.

 

have you picked up a thermal reactor? They're pretty heavy.

 

the exhaust pipe and exhaust is cast iron or something else that is thick and heavy, the cats are heavy as hell too. Installing an after market exhaust would improve performance just on weight. The center of gravity would be raised slightly. Remove the stupid space wasting storage bins (what was mazda thinking?), and the one inch rubber matting in back also.

And another thing, all that space wasting plastic in the center consule.

Any way to fix the saging roof liner?? Both front and back??

 

Where did you get those numbers? did you actually weigh a pair of stock cars? Everything I have ever read says the FB weighs 2400- 2450. I weighed one that was about 2450, but it had a sunroof and electric windows, Air conditioning, no power steering. Those things make a lot of difference. You have to compare two cars equipped the same.

The only absdolutely accurate number I have is my 1984 GSL with sunroof, electric windows, no power steering, no A/C and a Ford V8 with automatic! It weighs 2550 without fuel.

If you strip down an FB to the exact same equipment, I will bet is just as light as the SA. If light is what you want, find one without those items I have listed, just your base model. Personally, I prefer a few more pounds and get the 84-85 GSl with the disc brakes and lsd. They also have a much nicer interior, dash, heater controls etc.

 

Not sure I understand where your weight numbers are coming from, in stock trim the FB is heavier than any SA according to all the specs I've seen. Maybe these are two cars that have been stripped to different levels ?

 

Yeah the SAs exhaust is heavy as ****. If you switched to a Racing Beat system you'd lighten the car by 50-75 pounds. I have a base 83 S. I'm not sure what it weighs. The only thing power I want is steering LOL

 

my fb says 2335 lbs...

 

my fb doesnt talk







well not anymore since i put her on a diet

 

I think these weights are dry weights ( no oil or gas in the car ). The GS SA models spec at 2385 and the base FB S models are spec at 2350, but the other fb models on up to 85 spec at 2500. So maybe you have an 81-83 S model to see these numbers. If you fill up the tank on the FB ( its 2 gallons larger than the SA ) the weight will come up to 16.4*6 + 2350 = 2448 for the FB full of gas and the SA is 14.4*6 + 2385 = 2471. So with gas the weight diff is now only 23 lbs.

Heres one source for these numbers: http://www.rx7.org/public/rx7specs.html

 

I got the numbers in the FAQ page, here http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/S.../firstgen.html
I would imagine that its dry weight, each car with 5 spd.

Stiletto, your'e probably right about them being equal when stripped, but I'd like to know where the weight is. If, in fact the numbers are accurate.
Maybe it's the combo of all the things mentioned?

 

The bumpers are about 8lbs lighter each. The thermal reactor looses about 5 lbs over the p815s exhaust manifold. The cats are heavy on the later model but that is about evened out with the HEAVY headpipe on the SA and the extra vent pipe for the thermal reactor that is carried all the way to the rear of the car. SAs also have an 2 extra crash support braces located under the rear sheetmetal inside the vehicle ( where the rear storage boxes were added) that were removed for the 81 year after it was determined that it would pass rear crash tests without them. That's about 29 of it that I know of for sure.

If I remember correctly the FB tranny is 4-5 lbs lighter due to case thickness

That's 33 - 34. The SA had a full size spare VS a compact for later models. That's about 8-10.

That's about 41-44 that I know of.

 

i put mine on the scale last weekend. AC under the hood gone. Stock exhaust gone. big mat under rear carpet gone. all items including tire, jack, and pocket change taken out. 2210 lbs with 1/4 tank of gas. 1300 on the front axle 910 on the rear.

 

Well... The bumpers are heavy as hell each...

 

Uh yea, it's a very cheap temporary method, but looks very ghetto. in my old car i had the same problem, so i bought a bunch of different colored push pins, and stuck them up there, made different designs and stuff. Interestingly enough it actually worked for about 4 months till i decided to replace the headliner.

I paid $175 for the complete headliner, foam thingy behind it, and labor. (this was in a station wagon so it was alittle more expensive)

about 25 extra for them to replace the sun visor lining.

 

actually, the thermal reactor weighs only a little more than the racing beat header.

That's a quality exhaust system!!! Thick as hell. But yeah, there's a lot more that comes off when switching exhausts. It's as much fun as going to the dump or having a garage sale. Just hucking off a whole bunch of heavy stuff.

 

Ahhh, just what I was looking for.
A little confused about which you are saying is lighter/heavier.
Youv'e added the weight up, so I think your'e saying:
SA bumpers 8 lbs heavier each.
Thermal reactor 5 lbs heavier than exh. mani.
Headpipe = cats.
Full size spare 8-10+.
Crash braces 8+, easily removable I wonder?, maybe better to keep, 8 lbs, hmmm.
Trans. 4-5+.

Dang bumpers, I like them.

 

Yes. Sorry it was confusing. I was on the cell phone, listening to the home phone ring, and trying to type my response all at once.

You got the idea right, though.

In the mid 80's we stripped a few SAs to convert to drag cars. On rainy days we would guess the weight of the stuff we stripped for fun. Amazing the stuff you learn when you are bored.

Leave the braces. Believe me,they are WAY too much work for the weight savings. They are welded in and in an awkward place to grind out.

Good luck

 

my se weighed 2635 frickin pig almost weighed more then my 2nd gen.

 

Nosferatu, great info there, thanks.