Clay Head Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 I've never really looked at making my car lighter before but figure its now the best way to feed upgraditis. I am looking for the best value route to saving around 50-70Kgs. (Don't even go there with the go to the gym, stop eating pies, gags Paul McKenzie!). With 160bhp, this should push the car up to around 310bhp/tonne as it weighs about 570Kgs at the moment. I have a De-dion XF with dry sump, standard bell-housing, pre 96 chassis, cycle wings, 13" minilites and pretty standard elsewhere. Does anyone have a suggested route to the magic 500Kgs with an estimated cost. Changing the bell-housing is a given I suppose , saving 8Kgs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Head Posted November 10, 2002 Author Share Posted November 10, 2002 Thinking about it maybe saving 70Kgs is a bit optimistic! Perhaps I should aim for arounf 40Kgs. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 Hi Depends on how you are My goal is too loose about 15 kilos on the driver and the car because I am in when I drive 2 weeks of no sugar and fat so 4 kilos less 12 kilos remaining but the bicycle already works better ... For the cat :there are no heater, no carpet, no hood in the boot, no spare wheel no keys or something to help in case of breakdown no dry sump, no big wheels, But I want to keep : decent seat, windscreen, fiberglass items security and budget reasons regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 I can see that this afternoon's blast has got you thinking. Suggestions: Hood and hood bag.....but you like to stay dry Heater...but you like to stay warm Spare wheel........but you've only just bought it Windscreen......but you like to keep your hair in place If I was you I'd concentrate on the pies..although 40 kg weight loss might be a bit ambitious. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Head Posted November 10, 2002 Author Share Posted November 10, 2002 My view is that this approach is cheaper than looking for more power. My XF is at a nice practical / reliable point and I would not want to take it any wilder. I suppose its a blend of practicality and cost vs result! How much weight does the carbon fibre nose and wings actually save, for example and at what cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 I can send you my 'weight of things 7' spreadsheet that should give you some scope. Wheels and tyres and spare are a good start. Then there's the heater (not much really), the screen, side screens, hood/bag, leather seats. Then there's silly like one of the horns, the reversing lamp, etc etc etc... hours of fun. I have lost some 75 kgs off my HPC from touring to race spec. Now with no passenger provision or anything that isn't needed for the track... /Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Head Posted November 10, 2002 Author Share Posted November 10, 2002 Steve, That spreadsheet would be great (Paul, I'll send it to you too if you like)! My e-mail is tr.moore@ntlworld.com. Thanks Paul, 40Kg weight loss for your good self........possible! Edited by - clay head on 10 Nov 2002 18:24:45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted November 10, 2002 Share Posted November 10, 2002 My advice is to never, ever, say "That's only 1/2 a kilo so it doesn't matter." Like anything else that's worth doing, the rewards are for those who apply themselves and who pay attention to the details. A few "silly ones" for you: carbon replacement for wooden boot floor/ali boot floor cover, vinyl tax disc holder, vinyl front numberplate, racing battery, carbon mats, titanium exhaust and no cat, HE30 cam cover, revised front light setup = total saving @ 20kg's approx. And that's off an SLR which already was quite pared down to start with. You've just got to keep shedding those little 250g chunks and before you know where you are you've lost lots. A bit like dieting really! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Agreed. It's the little things.. Have you gone as far as Nylon bolts in all apps you can? /Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taran Las Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Clayhead, An ali bell housing is a start - lose the heater (if you have one). Ali front hubs, Ali gearbox casing, smaller battery etc. Lots of scope Philip. D. Owen Membership No. 3976 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 40kg is possible 70 would be difficult. On my X/F I have done the following I would start by removing the seats and replacing with race ones, I would then fit an ali gearbox casing and bell housing. Buy the lightest wheels you can afford, weigh your exhaust silencer and replace it with a lighter one of about 4.5 kg (I saved 6 KG by changing). Ditch the heater if you have one, remove the spare wheel. A lighter battery can save some weight as well If you can live without a screen and its ancillaries then that could go as well. An Ali rad is nice but in terms of pounds spend for kgs saved is expensive as are lightweight starters, alternators and brake calipers . Edited by - Graham Perry on 11 Nov 2002 08:49:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMMO Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Weight saved so far on my road car: Odyssey battery 2.5 kilos Titanium silencer 2.5 kilos Removed seats and fitted bench seat 9 kilos (futher savings to come when I make my own seats) Ali bell housing 6 kilos Ali crank pulley 1.1 kilos Carpets under seat 1.5 kilo Replaced horns for single motorcycle one 800 grams Tax disk holder 125 grams (tax disk stuck in windscreen) That's over 23 kilos. I'm still nibbling away at things. I have some ali 4 pot Wilwoods which will save 4 kilos, some smaller fog and reversing light around 500 grams. Luke Beaumont is making some fibreglass rear light mounts which will probably save another 500 grams. I've got some iddy biddy motorcylcle coils which will save 700 grams and a box of titanium and aluminium nuts and bolts to fit. Also making some titanium sheet rear wheel arch protectors, another 700 grams. The originals weigh 1 kilo! Carbon fibre would not be in keeping with the look of my car. Might get rid of the heater as I don't seem to be using it much, but I'm keeping the screen hood, etc. Probably keep the spare wheel for rear impact protection rather than anything else. The best thing about being small is that I only weigh 60 kilos, so I have a head start on some of you more corpulent types. 😬 AMMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julians Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 You can get rid of the reversing light completely, its not required for MOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 wheels and tyres are a good poin to start. get rid of the spare, fit mag wheels and ACB10s (or CR500s) and you'll save about 30 kg (assuiming you're on 14", and not ACB10s or CR500s). losing the screen, wipers and washer bottle is another 10 or so. tillets (GRP, or kevlar if the wallet stretches) carpets are easy to get rid of. After that you're into a few kg at a time - carbon wings/nose, battery, ali rad, spare wheel carrier etc. plus any XF specific bits. HOOPY 500 kg R706KGU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Head Posted November 11, 2002 Author Share Posted November 11, 2002 Thanks for the advice, guys. The more you look, the more you find I expect. The other great thing is you can sell what you shead! Any offers for the wife....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick M Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 I went through this exercise with my Westy and it's a combination of lots of little things plus a few big things which makes the difference. I reckon I've stripped about 70kg out of my car, but then I had a lot more to remove and the new engine and gearbox are quite a bit lighter than the Xflow. For example, ditch the screen and heater, but also rip out the wiring from the loom. OK, might seem a bit extreme but in swapping over from a car with a heater, screen, wipers and a multitude of instruments to one with an aeroscreen and Stack display I reckon I stripped about 80 feet of wire from the car. And if I was starting from scratch with the loom I'd save even more by using thin-wall high quality wire throughout. Then there's things like using aluminium bolts in low stress applications, or even gluing things rather than riveting or bolting them in place. Kick strips and wheel arch protectors for example. I've also made a seat out of 2 pack foam which saved quite a lot of weight. Also have a think about things near each end of the car - can you, for example, fit a lighter radiator ?? What brakes are you using front and rear ? Can you justify a set of magnesium wheels ? That sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Birtwisle Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 I am on the very same quest. Spare wheel is coming off this weekend which will save 17kg at the rear end. I am going to replace the 15" prisoner alloys that weigh 15.5kg (with tire) each with my minilites that are 12.7kg (with tire) so that is an 11.2kg saving. SO ... in one weekend I will remove 28.2kg which is more then the weight of a full tank of petrol (assuming petrol has an SG of 0.72) hmmmm, i need to lose a few kilograms too but that aint so quick and simple! Alex B S713UMY 1.8K Viper Blue Edited by - abirtwisle on 14 Nov 2002 15:25:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 True, I don't think Rach would appreciate it if you got rid of her 😳 HOOPY 500 kg R706KGU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Buy a live axle Seven and you have lost already 50kg 😬 Steve, how heavy is she now ? Edited by - elie boone on 14 Nov 2002 19:27:05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Last weighing = 517 kgs with slicks and race wheels, no plates, no headlamps etc etc. This was with race fuel load. I will be lighening the flywheel by some 5kgs this winter 😬 Not sure if TB's weigh less than Webers... there is less to them... Ooooh must go out and weigh them... back soon /Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Pair of DCOE type TB's inc inlet maifold, ITG air filter, throttle linkage and some hose = 4.4kgs. That's gotta be lighter than 2 Webers with K&N airfilters! Will weight when the above come off! /Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulo Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 If it's not necessary - throw it out If its big and solid - drill holes in it If it's steel cast iron or granite - replace it with titanium,rare and costlyium or plastic. There must be some truth in this somewhere 😬 Paul the 3F's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonstevens Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 please email me that weight spreadsheet too!!! biccybezza2@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonP Posted November 14, 2002 Share Posted November 14, 2002 Ditch the iron bell housing! Eliseless and Se7ening again in the rain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Phillips Posted November 15, 2002 Share Posted November 15, 2002 Ammo, Are the rear light mounts going to be available from Luke? Racing pics and items for sale here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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