Does anyone know what the stock fuel tank weight is for the FD? Im thinking about sumping the tank or a custom fuel cell, I just want to know if it would be a nice weight saver or not? Thanks

 

I would think that there would be easier ways to save weight that you should try first. I have listed a few below.

Simplify your stereo.
Remove the AC
Remove the PS
Remove the ABS system.
Aluminum calipers.
Remove spare tire.
Light weight rims and tires.
Light weight racing seats.
Carbon fiber drive shaft.
Carbon fiber hood.
Remove your heater core.

You can trim a lot of fat in these areas.

 

I had to comment on your list.....

Aluminum calipers -- car already has aluminum calipers

Light weight rims and tires -- it would be very difficult to significantly lower the weight of the stock setup

Carbon fiber drive shaft -- only a 2 lb difference

Carbon fiber hood -- NO difference in weight once painted

 

Most of that stuff is allready gone. I just want to know if removing the fuel tank is going to help in the weight lose area or not. It would be worth it to me if there was a 20lb or better weight lose but It wont if its much less, as far as the cf driveshaft it weighs 9lbs the stock one is 14lb or so not much for 950.00. Im sure the hood is about the same. Thanks

 

How tall are you, and how much do you weigh? If you are overweight, thats a good place to start. Good for you and the car.

 

Very true, but thankfuly I dont ahve that problem my weight is about 150 give or take a few pounds and besides Im not that much into weight reduction to go on a deit.

 

Didn't know that, thanks rynberg, I learn something new every day reading this forum.

 

hah,

yea... anything that could have been made in alluminum was made in it, who ever designed these cars made them super light, even our hoods are alluminum... I realy wish they had invested some money in a better plastic for the interiors, i know you have a part on your car thats cracked or broken, heck, even our jacks are alluminum...

i bet nobody even noticed that our spare tires are made by enkei, lol

 

Glad you don't have that problem. It strikes me as very funny to see a guy thats way overweight, trying to put his car on a "diet".

 

The tank itself doesn't weigh much, but the fuel does. Unless you can find a way to drive the car without carrying around fuel I wouldn't sweat the idea of a lightweight tank.

 

Yep. The spare is lightweight aluminum along with the jack and the jack handle. Mazda obviously spent some money there for no reason other than lightness.

 

Good point.

If you are racing, you don't want a bunch of fuel sloshing around in the tank. So, you fill the tank to avoid sloshing, or run it with low fuel (low slosh factor). Running with low fuel risks getting air in the fuel lines when cornering. That's bad!

A full tank of gas at about 8lbs/gallon is around 165 lbs. A 5 gallon fuel cell would hold about 40 lbs of gas. That's about 125 lbs of savings, not counting the weight savings of the smaller tank.

 

The only problem with tis is the limited range that it provides. You will either have to stop at every gas station or start shopping fpr trailers to tow your queen.

 

I think gas is more like 6 lbs/gallon and it's water that is 8 lbs/gallon.