Putting my car on a diet.
01-22-02, 12:47 PM
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Putting my car on a diet.
So I have a heavy assed convertible RX-7. It needs to loose some weight. Anyone that has done this to theirs, convertible or not, tell me what you have lost and how much weight went down with it. Tired of being beaten by a certain 88 GXL. Thanks a lot in advance.
01-22-02, 01:49 PM
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I thought about doing this, but then I took the easy way out - I bought a Miata.
My thoughts on lightening a 'vert -
Possible, but some $$$
- Replace the power windows & locks with manuals.
- Replace the seats with racing seats.
- Full (single) exhaust - the stock one is way too heavy/bulky.
- Replace the lower front chassis brace with one cut from aluminum.
- Lighter battery
- Remove the AC
- Replace steering wheel with a non-airbag unit
Possible, but a LOT of $$$
- Ditch the whole top assembly for a custom aluminum frame top that lowers manually
Also, along with a header, I'd get an upgraded ECU, It made a world of difference on my 'vert. Do a search on MD Racing or ECU.
Good luck!
My thoughts on lightening a 'vert -
Possible, but some $$$
- Replace the power windows & locks with manuals.
- Replace the seats with racing seats.
- Full (single) exhaust - the stock one is way too heavy/bulky.
- Replace the lower front chassis brace with one cut from aluminum.
- Lighter battery
- Remove the AC
- Replace steering wheel with a non-airbag unit
Possible, but a LOT of $$$
- Ditch the whole top assembly for a custom aluminum frame top that lowers manually
Also, along with a header, I'd get an upgraded ECU, It made a world of difference on my 'vert. Do a search on MD Racing or ECU.
Good luck!
Last edited by go_speed_go; 01-22-02 at 01:59 PM.
01-22-02, 09:34 PM
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Thanks, but there are some really bad neighborhoods here that I would not want to leave my car in if I had a flat that I couldn't fix a flat with!
Anyone else have some ideas?
Anyone else have some ideas?
01-23-02, 12:28 AM
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ditch the power steering, take the hood padding off.
take the insulation out from under the carpet, lose the heater, get rid of all the unneeded brackets. get lighter wheels, go on a diet, replace the windows with lexan, remove the emission controls, use a 2L bottle for a gas tank, take the fender liners off, drive around with no hood....
mike
take the insulation out from under the carpet, lose the heater, get rid of all the unneeded brackets. get lighter wheels, go on a diet, replace the windows with lexan, remove the emission controls, use a 2L bottle for a gas tank, take the fender liners off, drive around with no hood....
mike
01-23-02, 04:28 AM
#7
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Originally posted by j9fd3s
ditch the power steering, take the hood padding off.
take the insulation out from under the carpet, lose the heater, get rid of all the unneeded brackets. get lighter wheels, go on a diet, replace the windows with lexan, remove the emission controls, use a 2L bottle for a gas tank, take the fender liners off, drive around with no hood....
mike
ditch the power steering, take the hood padding off.
take the insulation out from under the carpet, lose the heater, get rid of all the unneeded brackets. get lighter wheels, go on a diet, replace the windows with lexan, remove the emission controls, use a 2L bottle for a gas tank, take the fender liners off, drive around with no hood....
mike
and where exactly would you go with a 2L tank ? Not very far I suppose...you wouldnt even make it to the next gas station 2 blocks down....
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01-23-02, 08:41 AM
#9
I wish I was driving!
Originally posted by TheTwinTurboRX-7
Thanks, but there are some really bad neighborhoods here that I would not want to leave my car in if I had a flat that I couldn't fix a flat with!
Anyone else have some ideas?
Thanks, but there are some really bad neighborhoods here that I would not want to leave my car in if I had a flat that I couldn't fix a flat with!
Anyone else have some ideas?
Sean Cathcart
01-23-02, 01:50 PM
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Originally posted by scathcart
No, I don't think thats what he meant. I removed my spare tire and jack and replaced it with one of those pressurized canisters. They fill flat tires with foam to plug the leak and then reinflate the tire. They cost around $20 Cdn and weigh like 2 lbs, tops. I think this is what he was thinking.
Sean Cathcart
No, I don't think thats what he meant. I removed my spare tire and jack and replaced it with one of those pressurized canisters. They fill flat tires with foam to plug the leak and then reinflate the tire. They cost around $20 Cdn and weigh like 2 lbs, tops. I think this is what he was thinking.
Sean Cathcart
01-23-02, 02:00 PM
#12
Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
If you pull up the carpet you'll see that there is an aspahlt liner stuck to the metal, you can remove that for about 35 lbs.
All the carpet and carpet insulation. I personally lik ethe carpet, but you could replace it with very basic carpet the type used for subwoofer boxes pretty easy.
Just replacing the factory insulation is worth about 30 lbs as the factory didn't use the lightest stuff in the world. I just replaced all mine with a better grade insulation and was quite surprised how much lighter the better grade was. Maybe 15 lbs lighter than the factory stuff.
Lighter seats. The 'vert seats like the GXL are very heavy.
Air conditioning (although that will drop the re-sale when you go to sell it)
Make sure you have the aluminum hood. Its easy to check, as the hood brackets and latch are riveted in rather than welded.
All the carpet and carpet insulation. I personally lik ethe carpet, but you could replace it with very basic carpet the type used for subwoofer boxes pretty easy.
Just replacing the factory insulation is worth about 30 lbs as the factory didn't use the lightest stuff in the world. I just replaced all mine with a better grade insulation and was quite surprised how much lighter the better grade was. Maybe 15 lbs lighter than the factory stuff.
Lighter seats. The 'vert seats like the GXL are very heavy.
Air conditioning (although that will drop the re-sale when you go to sell it)
Make sure you have the aluminum hood. Its easy to check, as the hood brackets and latch are riveted in rather than welded.
01-23-02, 03:08 PM
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I just happen to have a set of vert wheels for sale. $350 you pay shipping.
All 4 wheels
all 4 caps
the tool for the caps
4 yokahoma avid h4 205/60-15 tires with 75% tread.
The wheels are in good shape for there age but not perfect. There is one with a curb mark and they all have a few nicks and scratches but nothing major. They are deffinitely light as hell, and look damn good to.
All 4 wheels
all 4 caps
the tool for the caps
4 yokahoma avid h4 205/60-15 tires with 75% tread.
The wheels are in good shape for there age but not perfect. There is one with a curb mark and they all have a few nicks and scratches but nothing major. They are deffinitely light as hell, and look damn good to.
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