What is it exactly that makes the 79-80 cars lighter than the 84-85 cars? I can't imagine it's anything too difficult, but I'm just curious. TIA

 

Well, for one I think they had a smaller radiator.

 

the 4 speed vs 5 speed added weight
no storage bins at least in the 79
smaller fuel tank in the SA
thinner rims 5 on the SA compared to 5.5 on the FB
simpler electronics
what about AC?


anyone else

 

sa's have a/c
you can get a 5 speed in the sa also, so the weight does not really come from there..

storage bins donot come in the sa's stock, but those are not that much weight anyways..

there is a good 200 lb difference between them. but i am not sure where all of it goes to.

 

um, I know........... There is a hole, where the exhaust ports are, on SA engines', but not on FB's.......... Probably, lost a good .0005 pounds there

But, then there are the HEAVIER exhaust manifolds.......... So, I dunno!!

 

Is it a different chassis? Thinner sheet metal for the body maybe? I'm not sure. All I know is the more I see SA's the more I like 'em. Never used to but hey, I'm coming around now

 

What is the weight difference? Anyone got official numbers of a stock SA as compared to a stock 83 GSL? I'd like to see what we are actually talking here. Later

 

its the electric fuel door release

 

1979-80 3-speed auto 2,410
1979-80 4-speed 2,350
1979-80 5-speed 2,385
1981-85 4-speed/12A 2,300
1981-85 5-speed/12A 2,335
1981-83 3-speed auto 2,360
1983-85 (Japan) 5-speed/12A Turbo 2,540
1984-85 4-speed auto
1984-85 5-speed/13B 2,640

they actually weight a little more.. i guess it would make sense since the bumpers are heavier (and hold up better)

when i said 200 lbs, i was thinking the difference between the gsl-se and the SA's... and i only knew that difference because a friend of mine has a -e and i have a SA

 

Okay, so based on those numbers, the weight differences aren't all that outstanding (unless you compare 13B and 12A).

So there is still hope for my stripped 84.

 

Thanks for clearing that up riffraff!

 

no problem...
and remember, there is always room for weight reduction.

 

DUDE!!! I was going to start a very similar thread just before I saw yours. Anyways my SA came in at 1060Kg (2337 Lbs) I wanna hit 1000Kg (2200lbs). I'm not sure where to look for my weight reduction. BTW this was done a truck weigh station at 2AM, I'm assuming it's failr accurate sice it reset to zero after each (all 8) of us went on it. I still won the light weight contest again a new WRX, a turbo daytona, V6 Accord, 5.0, 87 Rx-7 and some kind of civic.

I'll be taking out the nasty heavy sub, the full size spare is gone. I was looking at the back of my bumpers today and it looks like some really heavy cutting to skin the back off, I'd imagine the doors to be the same. So where am I gonna find my diet? I rememebr peejay claiming 2300 with A/C. How? Mine's gone. Can I take all the bracing of the underside of the hood, it appears to only be tack/spot welded and an easy candidate for removal. Suggestions? Thanks. -George

 

only if you want your hood flapping like mad.

 

Less sound deadening, less power crap, basically. It's funny how they say they put aluminum bumpers on the '81-85 which makes them weigh 85lb less, but you can drop almost 100lb off of an SA by removing the thermal reactor and putting a header on...

 

is that a stock header or aftermarket?

 

Mazda never put headers on the cars stock.

 

dammit, i know they aren't "headers" but the damn manifold. nevermind.

 

you can always go carbon fiber... hood , headlight covers, plate in between the headlights.. get some lighter seats..

 

Someone's gonna say these eventually, so I'll beat the rush:

-Eat healthier and exercise
-Don't take a friend

Hell yes, I never get to say the obviuos ones.

 

What's a gallon of cheapo gas weigh?

Hmmm... Would switching to corn liquor or turpentine lighten things up?

Would the car run on these types of fuels?

 

Gasoline weighs 7lb/gal. I don't think fuel is the way to reduce weight, unless alcohol weighs less than 4lb/gallon

 

Anyone with a moonshine still care to share details?

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I almost never have a passenger, I hate it I can FEEL the lost power. I'm only 150 right now (got sick for a couple weeks lost 15lbs). When I weighed the car it had a quater tank of gas.

Peejay: No sound deading, just carpet, no underlay. Thermal reactor's gone, so's the rest of the stock exhaust, holy crap was that **** heavy...I almost dropped it on my foot when I finally got it off.

I'll work on it for a bit, and see what I can get it down to, I'm not smart enough to re-wire the car for only the essentials....well maybe I'm just scared lol. Later.

 

just for the record, i hate the electric fuel door release.