MazterDizazter

iTrader: (5)

is it removeable without making the box useless?

Stanello

iTrader: (1)

I think it's glued to the back of the padding stuff. I didn't try to take it out, but I'm sure you could if you really wanted to.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Keep the info coming and I'll keep the list going. I added lighter hatch glass to the list myself, after reading a little RX-7 history. If we can get prices and weight savings for these items, that would be great too.

The fan sucks air from the radiator using the fan shroud. Without it the fan sucks air from your engine compartment and not the radiator. So the fan shroud is critical. But if you have an electric fan directly on the radiator you don't need the fan shroud.

What is the exhaust heat shield for (what does it shield from heat?). And I was looking for lightweight rims but I couldn't find anything lighter than stock. Where do you get them?


Okay, here's the new no-compromise list, based on comments, in no particular order:
Aluminum hood
Lightweight rims
Spare tire + jack removed, sump cut out, fix-a-flat in its place
Stainless single exhaust
Flywheel
Replace sound deadening with more modern materials (remove w/ dry scraper and/or heat gun)
Lighter seats (Sparco 14lb.)
UNSCREW storage bins & support frame
Lighter hatch glass (in some later FC's, saves 10lbs.)
Fiber glass doors, $125 (carzy driver plz post site), mirrors, fenders
Lighter headlight units ("diamond glass"?)
Lighter steering wheel
Lighter suspension (it's not 100% aluminum, I checked)
Frame modifications (chamfer cuts & stitch welding)
Power steering (after car is light enough)

Maybe:
lighter/smaller battery

Other weight reduction, based on comments (compromises something):
Emissions equipment
Power steering, A/C, A/C lines, cruise control, heater core, other power equipment
Washer fluid reservoir & pump
Carpet, upholstery, door panels, head liner, dash, plastic & storage bins, sound deadening
Hatch shocks & straps
Radio, stereo, speakers, speaker housing, antenna
Sunroof motor & harness
Cut off tire sump, door support bars
Lexan windows & hatch
Cold start assist
Carbon Fiber
Passenger seat
Less bolts, clips

Juiceh

iTrader: (4)

I'm surprised no one has mentioned fiberglass or carbon fiber hoods. You could save a few pounds over the aluminum hood this way and they aren't THAT expensive. Also there are quite a few vented FG\CF hoods which would help keep the underhood temps down. Titanium exhaust system will also shave quite a few more pounds off than a stainless exhaust.

Yeah I know this stuff is pricey and the original poster is in college on a budget, but this stuff should be taken into consideration for those looking for weight savings with higher budgets.

IMHO college students on budgets shouldn't be modding cars, what happens if something breaks that is way over budget? Many project cars end up for sale on Ebay this way. Just my $0.02 here.

GTU_FAN

Um by that logic college students shouldn't have cars at all. Cars break wether you mod them or not. Perhaps you meant to say they shouldn't attempt to mod their cars because they might break something in the process?

GTU_FAN

Have you ever held an FC driveshaft? The stock flywheel weighs more.

GTU_FAN

On stock exhaust there is maybe 10lb of heat shielding. A flimsy peice over the manifold, cases around the cats and 3 peices surrounding the fuel tank. If your going with a full aftermarket exhaust you will only have to remove the peices around the fuel tank.

^Above are the only things that you will do and not regret afterward. Meaning it dosen't lessen the cars value or isn't irreversible or a pain in the *** to replace once removed.
Those above parts you suggest: Seats, Exhaust, Flyhweel, Battery will end up costing you a lot brand new and I doubt you could get them all for less then $500 used. Do you know what else you could spend $500 on? A proper tuneup and required maintenance. Do that first!
When I was an FC noob I bought springs, tires, fabbed a straight-pipe and thought I was on the right track. Then I ran into a more experienced FC owner and took him for a ride. Then he started the looong process of education. Did you know that your 6 ports aren't opening? Did you know your brake lines are cracking and your shocks are shot. Did you know your electrical system needs to be regrounded. Did you know your wheel bearings are bad.... etc. etc. I could have fixed all that for the grand I spent on tires and springs.
If you strip your car because you care about speed more then looks that's your thing. But congrats you ruined its resale value if you cant put it all back. If your the type who spends money on go-fast parts without saving anything for maintenance someday you'll be stuck with a blown engine and no money and you'll be forced to sell off your parts to recoup some of your losses. Again congrats.
But you know what? It dosen't make any difference. The FC is a lost-cause as a restoration project on any kind of sensible budget. The cost of electrical components alone is equal to the value of the car.
What I've learned from having an FC is that its stupid to spend money on it. You'll go broke trying to make it reliable. You'll go broke trying to make it pretty. You'll go broke trying to make it better because it's never good enough.
My advice? Buy it cheap and make it fast enough to keep a grin on your face and the haters in the rear-view mirror.

GTU_FAN

Vert rims are all you need. You'll spend 2 grand on something lighter then 11lbs.

Stanello

iTrader: (1)

Heh, just picked up a set of vert wheels myself.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, always do maintenance first. And get a good buyer's guide. Got me an FC in good shape. But I think I learned the hard way not to pretty it up. Now I'm just going to get some wax so it can keep what looks it has, and make use of the touch up stuff I have without buying more. Just about to finish maintenance items and then after school I'll have money for real upgrades. Until then my notes keep accumulating. Weight reduction is actually my 3rd set of notes after power and handling. I'll keep updating and reposting the weight reduction list after enough comments, btw. It's not that I'm ignoring comments.

Most electrical stuff doesn't cost much though. It's usually a resoldering job (~free), or regrounding, or the TPS. Most are minor too. My car won't switch blower vents, nor display the time of day, but I don't care enough to do the soldering.

robtechfabrications

vert wheels ftw...i put mine on and noticed a huge difference...more than i thought i'd get from just wheels

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

The 10lbs. saved on vert rims equals 20lbs. because it's rotational. I got that from physics; savings are actually a little lower because the weight saved isn't at the outer edge (the tire is). The lighter weight also helps handling. I appreciate the tip, as wheels will probably be my first upgrade.

(13.5lbs-11lbs. = 2.5lbs.) x 4 = 10lbs.

SupraMikesRX7

iTrader: (1)

Close to 2100 lbs. pre-cage. Cage weighs in at 76lbs with 20-30lbs more of gussets and additional bracing Nothing in the interior. the stock seat and ghetto brace you see in the picture is gone now. replaced with an aluminum seat on the drivers' side and a corbeau forza on the passenger.

No ac, power steering, smog pump.

Thinking of removing the stock gauge cluster for an aluminum panel with the neccessities.

-Mike

KillaKitiie

^^^^ absolutly beautifull in everyway! im there as soon as i remove my dash.

photopaintball

good, so im not the only one who finds cars like that pretty.

My5ABaby

iTrader: (7)

Well at least you kept the passenger side seat belt buckle...

cool_as_crap

aluminum seat? that must be uncomfortable.

i see some door beef you could cut out, leave just the shell and build the cage into that (weld the doors) and just climb in dukes of hazard style.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

"Did you have a car fire??"
"No, that's weight reduction."
"Oh, nevermind."

MazterDizazter

iTrader: (5)

Took the words right out of my mouth. I go to college full time and I still manage to maintain 2 cars (and possibly a third soon)! If something breaks, I have a spare, hehe. I didn't know the driveshaft was that light. Some cars have really heavy ones. I'm gonna hafta remove my RH heat shield now. I thought it was a splash guard or something but I forgot about the whole dual exhaust thing (mine came with an aftermarket single). SupraMikesRX7, are you gonna paint the interior or leave it like that?

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

Carbon fiber drive shafts are $950.

SupraMikesRX7

iTrader: (1)

Thanks man!

Only there till I bolt the passenger side harness in.

Race car, not a DD.

The doors are getting cut up and swiss cheesed soon. Not a fan of crawling in through the window..

Once I get the rest of the sound deadening out and finish patching rust holes and seam welding, it will have some cheap roll on truck bedliner in the floorboards and rattle can flat black every where else.

kiyoshi

I recently put 15lbs wheels on my vert but do not notice huge difference. I thought I would. Maybe I am dumb. I think I need to weigh them (wheel + tire) for comparison.

Correction:
They are 17lbs wheels. So I added 20lbs+....

owen is fat

good thread.
lightweight parts make the car perform so much better.

--MAstermind--

why do you say this? i agree but WHY? chassis is heavier? heavier gauge steel used? ridgity?

please solid answers!

photopaintball

Is there a place for fc3s weights?

And cool as crap: we want more pictures of your car, outside and under. Or at least I do.