Weight reduction strategies
#1
Weight reduction strategies
I am thinking of ways of reducing the weight of my 996TT. Ideas that come to mind are:
GT3 seats
Replacing the motorized rear wing with a fixed unit
Aftermarket exhaust (already done - Fabspeed sport)
Light weight Brembo kit from Beastpower (12lbs per corner I believe)
Removing the rear seats
Removing the spare tire
Lighter weight wheels (already ordered, HRE 540Rs)
I'd appreciate the input from anyone/everyone who can give me some insight regarding weight savings of the above. Also, any other ideas for weight savings (excluding Watt's inevitable suggestion, "buy a GT2") would be welcomed.
Thanks in advance,
-Donn
GT3 seats
Replacing the motorized rear wing with a fixed unit
Aftermarket exhaust (already done - Fabspeed sport)
Light weight Brembo kit from Beastpower (12lbs per corner I believe)
Removing the rear seats
Removing the spare tire
Lighter weight wheels (already ordered, HRE 540Rs)
I'd appreciate the input from anyone/everyone who can give me some insight regarding weight savings of the above. Also, any other ideas for weight savings (excluding Watt's inevitable suggestion, "buy a GT2") would be welcomed.
Thanks in advance,
-Donn
#2
remove front driveshaft!
You could remove the front driveshaft, diff, and axle shafts.
Sort of an erzatz GT2. It's been done before. Saves over
100 lbs and lots of rotating mass.
Hoosier tires are much lighter than most other tires.
I'll bet several of the CF body parts for the GT3-RS would fit.
remove the air conditioner compressor and condenser.
Lighter-weight battery, maybe mount it where the spare tire
was.
Sort of an erzatz GT2. It's been done before. Saves over
100 lbs and lots of rotating mass.
Hoosier tires are much lighter than most other tires.
I'll bet several of the CF body parts for the GT3-RS would fit.
remove the air conditioner compressor and condenser.
Lighter-weight battery, maybe mount it where the spare tire
was.
#3
Re: remove front driveshaft!
Originally posted by Joe Weinstein
You could remove the front driveshaft, diff, and axle shafts.
Sort of an erzatz GT2. It's been done before. Saves over
100 lbs and lots of rotating mass.
Hoosier tires are much lighter than most other tires.
I'll bet several of the CF body parts for the GT3-RS would fit.
remove the air conditioner compressor and condenser.
Lighter-weight battery, maybe mount it where the spare tire
was.
You could remove the front driveshaft, diff, and axle shafts.
Sort of an erzatz GT2. It's been done before. Saves over
100 lbs and lots of rotating mass.
Hoosier tires are much lighter than most other tires.
I'll bet several of the CF body parts for the GT3-RS would fit.
remove the air conditioner compressor and condenser.
Lighter-weight battery, maybe mount it where the spare tire
was.
Any ideas how much the battery might save?
What CF body parts are available?
With 640 HP on tap, I'd like to retain the AWD system. Also, the results of the Audi's in Trans Am (and their subsequent banning) many years ago suggest to me that the AWD system works to my advantage (with proper suspension tuning), in spite of what may be a 100 lb weight penalty.
By the way, the drive shaft you can lift with your pinky. It weighs next to nothing. It is definitely < 5 lbs. Not sure how much the front transaxle weighs though.
-Donn
#4
CF parts
Racer, if you´re looking for carbon-fiber parts you should look at the Manthey racing bodykit, pictures of which are posted in one of the earlier threads. It saves 63 kilograms, equivalent to 140 lbs and helps improve the car´s aerodynamics tremendously. Its only downfall is the price - 22.000 EUR.
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...&threadid=1613
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...&threadid=1613
#5
Me Too
Racer 63, I am looking at the same thing. I am pulling the rear seats, adding a roll bar (oops more weight), considering the brembo brakes but am waiting to make a decision on 19" wheels or not.
What are the weights of your HRE's versus the stock 18" hollow spokes? Are you going to look at different shocks (valving) with the lighter unsprung weight?
I also want ot keep the AWD - sorry to say but it really seams to work well (although no track experience yet).
How much weight does a fixed wing save?
You might look at odyssey or other dry cell batteries for light weight, but definitely lower the damn thing.
Tim
What are the weights of your HRE's versus the stock 18" hollow spokes? Are you going to look at different shocks (valving) with the lighter unsprung weight?
I also want ot keep the AWD - sorry to say but it really seams to work well (although no track experience yet).
How much weight does a fixed wing save?
You might look at odyssey or other dry cell batteries for light weight, but definitely lower the damn thing.
Tim
#6
gee Donn,
it is an obvious beginning...
but i considered building a TT lightweight. imagine 2600# with 550 HP, Ruf suspension and 4WD. here's what we came up with:
- Spare tire, and trunk junk (-20 lbs.)
- Carbon Fiber Hood from performance products(-25 lbs)
- Recaro Carbon Fiber Seats(-100 lbs.)
- Performance Project V7.0 Exhaust from turbo-exhaust.com(-50lbs)
- Carbon Fiber quarter panels, doors, bumpers, rear wing and sunroof (-250 lbs. I am probably off on this)
- Carbon Fiber interior (-30 lbs.)
- Carbon fiber intake Scargo (-10 lbs.)
- side and rear window in lexan, light front window (-50lbs.)
- Sound proofing, rear seats+hardware light carpets, unnecessary electronics and AC (-100 lbs. Could this be -150lbs.?)
- GT2 carbon brakes from Porsche or brembo (-44 lbs.)-
- light wheels from Fikse or similar(-15 lbs.)
- Light weight battery (-5lbs)
- Personal Diet (-20 lbs.)
-remove interior, airbags, etc ?? 50 lbs???
This adds up roughly to 771 lbs. +/- 50 removed. Of course, then you have to add the roll cage, harnesses, and other safety goodies. i would leave the a/c in myself for street car
this would be a fun car where it rains and snows, a multi surface rally meister
it is an obvious beginning...
but i considered building a TT lightweight. imagine 2600# with 550 HP, Ruf suspension and 4WD. here's what we came up with:
- Spare tire, and trunk junk (-20 lbs.)
- Carbon Fiber Hood from performance products(-25 lbs)
- Recaro Carbon Fiber Seats(-100 lbs.)
- Performance Project V7.0 Exhaust from turbo-exhaust.com(-50lbs)
- Carbon Fiber quarter panels, doors, bumpers, rear wing and sunroof (-250 lbs. I am probably off on this)
- Carbon Fiber interior (-30 lbs.)
- Carbon fiber intake Scargo (-10 lbs.)
- side and rear window in lexan, light front window (-50lbs.)
- Sound proofing, rear seats+hardware light carpets, unnecessary electronics and AC (-100 lbs. Could this be -150lbs.?)
- GT2 carbon brakes from Porsche or brembo (-44 lbs.)-
- light wheels from Fikse or similar(-15 lbs.)
- Light weight battery (-5lbs)
- Personal Diet (-20 lbs.)
-remove interior, airbags, etc ?? 50 lbs???
This adds up roughly to 771 lbs. +/- 50 removed. Of course, then you have to add the roll cage, harnesses, and other safety goodies. i would leave the a/c in myself for street car
this would be a fun car where it rains and snows, a multi surface rally meister
Last edited by watt; 09-24-2003 at 07:59 AM.
#7
Trending Topics
#8
Originally posted by 03-turbo911
Personal diet is often overlooked, good points there watt..
Personal diet is often overlooked, good points there watt..
-Donn
#9
Originally posted by watt
gee Donn,
it is an obvious beginning...
but i considered building a TT lightweight. imagine 2600# with 550 HP, Ruf suspension and 4WD. here's what we came up with:
<clip>
gee Donn,
it is an obvious beginning...
but i considered building a TT lightweight. imagine 2600# with 550 HP, Ruf suspension and 4WD. here's what we came up with:
<clip>
Cheers,
-Donn
#10
Re: Me Too
Originally posted by ColorChange
What are the weights of your HRE's versus the stock 18" hollow spokes? Are you going to look at different shocks (valving) with the lighter unsprung weight?
What are the weights of your HRE's versus the stock 18" hollow spokes? Are you going to look at different shocks (valving) with the lighter unsprung weight?
Had not though about different valving... Will discuss with Todd.
Originally posted by ColorChange
I also want ot keep the AWD - sorry to say but it really seams to work well (although no track experience yet).
I also want ot keep the AWD - sorry to say but it really seams to work well (although no track experience yet).
Originally posted by ColorChange
How much weight does a fixed wing save?
How much weight does a fixed wing save?
-Donn
#11
Hey Watt -
Just noticed that you did not specifically break out the weight savings for various body panels. Do you have that by chance? Specifically, as Tim asked, what's the weight savings of the fixed (say fiberglass or CF) wing vs. the stock, mechanically actuated wing?
Just noticed that you did not specifically break out the weight savings for various body panels. Do you have that by chance? Specifically, as Tim asked, what's the weight savings of the fixed (say fiberglass or CF) wing vs. the stock, mechanically actuated wing?
#13
i do not.
stopped my research project, which i did after i sold my first, slower, seal grey gt2 to a beginner driver, Josh, the busman, ofstein, and you'd never figure this out -- decided to buy another GT2 . i investigated building a 3.8 RSR clone as well.
but i realised a gt2 is almost my perfect hotrod from factory... and bought another... Sorry, but it's TRUE!!!!!
PS. if this is a street car, one of my english gt2 buddies strongly advises against carbon panels. he has seen a carbon bonnet --shot as a lethal projectile -- right thru the windshield like a plank, not crumpling like steel in a major shunt...
so you do denigrate numerous saftey issues... not so bad at slower speeds... but since i started road racing, i'm into steel and airbags and anything that might incrementally improve my chances.
stopped my research project, which i did after i sold my first, slower, seal grey gt2 to a beginner driver, Josh, the busman, ofstein, and you'd never figure this out -- decided to buy another GT2 . i investigated building a 3.8 RSR clone as well.
but i realised a gt2 is almost my perfect hotrod from factory... and bought another... Sorry, but it's TRUE!!!!!
PS. if this is a street car, one of my english gt2 buddies strongly advises against carbon panels. he has seen a carbon bonnet --shot as a lethal projectile -- right thru the windshield like a plank, not crumpling like steel in a major shunt...
so you do denigrate numerous saftey issues... not so bad at slower speeds... but since i started road racing, i'm into steel and airbags and anything that might incrementally improve my chances.
Last edited by watt; 09-24-2003 at 04:11 PM.
#15
Originally posted by watt
i do not.
decided to buy another GT2, and stopped my research!!! i nvestigated building a 3.8 RSR clone as well.
since a gt2 is almost my perfect hotrod from factory... Sorry, but it's TRUE!!!!!
PS. if this is a street car, one of my english gt2 buddies strongly advises against carbon panels. he has seen a carbon bonnet --shot as a lethal projectile -- right thru the windshield like a plank, not crumpling like steel in a major shunt...
so you do denigrate numerous saftey issues... not so bad at slower speeds... but since i started road racing, i'm into steel and airbags and anything that might incrementally improve my chances.
i do not.
decided to buy another GT2, and stopped my research!!! i nvestigated building a 3.8 RSR clone as well.
since a gt2 is almost my perfect hotrod from factory... Sorry, but it's TRUE!!!!!
PS. if this is a street car, one of my english gt2 buddies strongly advises against carbon panels. he has seen a carbon bonnet --shot as a lethal projectile -- right thru the windshield like a plank, not crumpling like steel in a major shunt...
so you do denigrate numerous saftey issues... not so bad at slower speeds... but since i started road racing, i'm into steel and airbags and anything that might incrementally improve my chances.