Official Weight Lowering Thread! Revisit

Pokageek

Active Member
Jun 10, 2005
2,767
0
46
MA, USA
Our cars weigh more than we wanted so let's revisit all we have learned guys.

Low cost, high cost, efficient and in-efficient, new, latest - whatever.. We've had uncertainty about the poundages so feel free to correct to exact numbers and I am going to put down what think based on my own research. Also, lets not get too anal guys. PLEASE. A difference of 1 or 2 # is not worth getting side-tracked..

Personally, I would like to focus how much WEIGHT we could realistically take off of out street cars rather than what they will weigh so we avoid distracting debate. Meaning, a car that is livable, looks good and weighs significantly less:


  • Cheap
  • Vert: 25# weight in fender removal
  • remove dogbone 7.5#
  • remove spare, jack, wrench 35#
  • cat removal (4) 30#
  • rear-seat delete 30#
  • ac delete (ALL) 45#
  • smog delete 10#
  • vert motor 15#
  • speakers and radio 10#
  • ABS Removal (including in dash)
  • Air-bag delete including sensors 20#


    Expensive
  • aluminum cyl heads 45#
  • k-member
  • rack and pinion
  • fiberglass hood 15#

TOTAL?

p.s. Please add to the list. Fiber-glass/carbon fiber parts? How about carbon fiber trunk? #'s less? other?

CF trunklid
 
  • Sponsors (?)


i think the number for the k member is like 25 or 35 i dont remember


you forgot:
Tube A arms
Coil Overs
Racing seats

For less rotating weight:
Alum DS
Alum Fly wheel
Light weight rims

There is also things like:
Tubular front bumper and rear bumper supports
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/302man/95CobraIntercooler-1.jpg?t=1246123760

These will knock off a few pounds.... but i dont think its worth it on a street car.... Big safety concern i think.
Same thing with like areospace brakes and Big and Littles.


and its not always about loss of weight.... its where you put it.... for instance a battery relocated to the rear pass side of the car offsets 60lbs in the correct direction.



My car so far has:
Alum Heads
Alum DS
25lb weight removed
Battery relocated
Removal of X brace
Removal of strut tower brace
Tube K member
Spare tire gone
AC Removed
ABS removed

and will have racing seats soon i hope.
 
Another partial list i found somewhere:
Front swaybar & mounts : 16lbs
Factory K-member/A-arms : 130 lbs heavier than AJE K-member & coilovers
Factory brakes : 30 lbs heavier than Aerospace brakes
Strut tower brace : 10 lbs

Spare tire/jack : 32 lbs
Trunk carpet & board : 5.5 lbs

Dash : 25 lbs
Driver's air bag : 2 lbs
Passenger's air bag : 7.5 lbs
Floormats : 5 lbs
Rear cloth seats assy : 53 lbs
Rear head rest : 4 lbs
Rear leather Cobra backs/cushions : 46 lbs
Front passenger cloth seat & belt : ????
Front driver leather seat : 48 lbs
Front passenger leather seat : 35 lbs
Seat belts (front/rear) : 10 lbs
Rookie MOMO coarse racing seat : 11 lbs
Kirkey RoadRace seat : 18 lbs
Cobra Clubman seat : 12 lbs
Sound deadening material : ~10 lbs
Carpet : 14 lbs
Mach 460 rear speaker housing w/o amps: 13.5 lbs
Mach 460 rear speaker housing w/amps: 22 lbs

Factory GT 17" wheel : 22 lbs ea.
Steeda 17" Ultra-lights : 17 lbs ea.

Rear axle weight (Mott bar) under differential : 8 lbs
Steel driveshaft : 22 lbs
Aluminum driveshaft : 16 lbs
IRS : 85 lbs heavier than live axle

Stock battery : 36 lbs
Dynabatt : 13 lbs
A/C compressor & lines : 36 lbs
A/C blower/heater core : 18 lbs

Factory manifolds : ????
Shorty headers : ????
Long tube headers : ????
Shorty off-road h-pipe : ????
Stock 4-cat H-pipe : 48 lbs
Off-road h-pipe : 22 lbs
Tailpipes : ????

Stock hood : 46 lbs
Kaenen hood : 18.5 lbs
Windshield wipers : 3 lbs
Rear spoiler : 8 lbs
Door glass : 11 lbs
Front bumper supports : ????
Rear bumper supports : ????
 
Good stuff Adam! How much weight difference was that bumper support? [EDIT] FOUND IT. 13# at Latemodel
94-98 BUMPER SUPPORT, LIGHTWEIGHT, FRONT MUSTANG


I weighed my airbags and the drivers side was 5# and pass side 8# IIRC. That was with the kevlar cut off too. So thats like 13-15# the and the sensors and stuff. Now my scale could be off so anyone have rock solid #'s please let us know.

"Factory K-member/A-arms : 130 lbs heavier than AJE K-member & coilovers" WOW that's huge! :nice Coilovers suck tho I hear in terms of driveability. Lets come up with an official list at the end.

p.s. Removing the x brace AND strut tower brace was too much for me. Wha tdifference did u notice? I put the stb back on.

Here's some more of list I found:
Some more actual weights:

Stock Items

Bare E7 heads (pair) = 90lb
K-member = 50lb
Leather driver's seat (without track) = 36lb
Upper/lower intake manifold = 35lb
'94-'98 Cobra 13" front brake rotors = 33lb
Front control arms (pair) = 30lb
Rear seat back = 28lb
GT front brake calipers, brackets, lines, pads = 25lb
GT front brake rotors = 22lb
Driveshaft = 20lb
Alternator & mounting bracket = 18lb
'94-'98 Cobra PBR front brake calipers, brackets, lines, pads = 16lb
Stock radiator = 15lb
Power seat track = 13lb
Rear seat cushion = 12lb
Rear LCA's (pair) = 11lb
Smog pump with pipes/valves = 10lb
Rear differential "dogbone" = 8lb
Rear spoiler = 7lb
Manual seat track = 7lb
Strut tower brace = 6lb
Rear UCA's (pair) = 6lb
Fog lights & mounting brackets (pair) = 5lb
Rear quad shocks & mounting brackets (pair) = 5lb
Rear seat headrest = 3lb
Heater hard pipes & lines (with coolant) = 3lb
Knee bolster reinforcement plate = 2lb
Radiator core support plastic shield = 1lb
Rubber blocks behind rear wheels = 1lb

Aftermarket Items

Bare Ford Racing GT40X aluminium heads (pair) = 44lb (46lb lighter)
Bare RHS Pro Action 180cc aluminium heads (pair) = 40lb (50lb lighter)
Edelbrock Performer upper/lower intake = 36lb (1lb heavier)
Maximum Motorsports tubular K-member = 36lb (14lb lighter)
Maximum Motorsports front tubular control arms (pair) = 16lb (14lb lighter)
Corbeau FX1 Pro racing seat = 16lb (20lb lighter)
Mishimoto aluminium radiator = 15lb (same as stock)
Maximum Motorsports rear tubular LCA's (pair) = 13lb (2lb heavier)
Rear seat delete kit = 13lb (30lb saving)
FRPP aluminium driveshaft = 11lb (9lb lighter)
Edelbrock adjustable rear upper control arms = 6lb (same as stock)
 
Wow. "The front bumpers will save 20lbs ! The rear bumpers will save 40lbs ! (These Bumpers weigh less than 5lbs each ! )"

Why are people saying k-member 50# when it says:

" Mustang 79-04 Tubular K-Member, 5.0L - Mild Steel
[# AJE-MU3010 ] Adding a tubular K-member in place of your factory K-member can remove as much as 60-70 pounds off the front of your Mustang. If you are keeping the rest of the front end stock, spring perches will also need to be purchased."


At 5.0 resto??
 
Here's some more of list I found:
Some more actual weights:

Stock Items

Bare E7 heads (pair) = 90lb
K-member = 50lb
Leather driver's seat (without track) = 36lb
Upper/lower intake manifold = 35lb
'94-'98 Cobra 13" front brake rotors = 33lb
Front control arms (pair) = 30lb
Rear seat back = 28lb
GT front brake calipers, brackets, lines, pads = 25lb
GT front brake rotors = 22lb
Driveshaft = 20lb
Alternator & mounting bracket = 18lb
'94-'98 Cobra PBR front brake calipers, brackets, lines, pads = 16lb
Stock radiator = 15lb
Power seat track = 13lb
Rear seat cushion = 12lb
Rear LCA's (pair) = 11lb
Smog pump with pipes/valves = 10lb
Rear differential "dogbone" = 8lb
Rear spoiler = 7lb
Manual seat track = 7lb
Strut tower brace = 6lb
Rear UCA's (pair) = 6lb
Fog lights & mounting brackets (pair) = 5lb
Rear quad shocks & mounting brackets (pair) = 5lb
Rear seat headrest = 3lb
Heater hard pipes & lines (with coolant) = 3lb
Knee bolster reinforcement plate = 2lb
Radiator core support plastic shield = 1lb
Rubber blocks behind rear wheels = 1lb

Aftermarket Items

Bare Ford Racing GT40X aluminium heads (pair) = 44lb (46lb lighter)
Bare RHS Pro Action 180cc aluminium heads (pair) = 40lb (50lb lighter)
Edelbrock Performer upper/lower intake = 36lb (1lb heavier)
Maximum Motorsports tubular K-member = 36lb (14lb lighter)
Maximum Motorsports front tubular control arms (pair) = 16lb (14lb lighter)
Corbeau FX1 Pro racing seat = 16lb (20lb lighter)
Mishimoto aluminium radiator = 15lb (same as stock)
Maximum Motorsports rear tubular LCA's (pair) = 13lb (2lb heavier)
Rear seat delete kit = 13lb (30lb saving)
FRPP aluminium driveshaft = 11lb (9lb lighter)
Edelbrock adjustable rear upper control arms = 6lb (same as stock)

LOL, that's my list from SN95 Mustang Weight Reduction List - American Muscle Registry :D

This is how I've shaved 111lb off my Stang:

Weight Reduction
 
I have been wanting to take apart the dash and remove all the steel behind it, however I don't believe it can be done and retain the steering wheel where it is. I believe it uses the support of the steel. If any one know any ideas around this, let me know.

Also, you can save about 30+ lbs if you remove the crash bar inside the doors. I read they may be worth 16lbs each. Check it out: How to remove inner door braces?
 
I lost a total of 68lbs with the switch to a PA racing tubular K member, steeda CC plates, PA A arms, starnge struts, strange coil-overs, and 99-up GT PBR front brakes. You will not lose 100+lbs with this swap I can promise you that.
 
Also, you can save about 30+ lbs if you remove the crash bar inside the doors. I read they may be worth 16lbs each.

That might be OK on a purely strip car but I don't think it's a good idea to compromise lateral impact protection in a street-driven car. That door brace could save your life if you crash sideways into a lamppost/tree or get T-boned on the driver's side.
 
I lost a total of 68lbs with the switch to a PA racing tubular K member, steeda CC plates, PA A arms, starnge struts, strange coil-overs, and 99-up GT PBR front brakes. You will not lose 100+lbs with this swap I can promise you that.

That's nice to know Paul. Some of this advertising man...sheesh, I dunno where they get these numbers!
 
I lost a total of 68lbs with the switch to a PA racing tubular K member, steeda CC plates, PA A arms, strange struts, strange coil-overs, and 99-up GT PBR front brakes. You will not lose 100+lbs with this swap I can promise you that.

Sounds right to me. The weight saving is about 30lb for the K-member (PA Racing K-member weighs only 20lb compared to 36lb for the MM), 16lb for the front A-arms, 9lb for the PBR front calipers, which leaves about 13lb for the CC plates/struts/coil-overs.
 
Whenever I want to get my race weight, I know exactly where to start. I get my ass on a treadmill. I'm down about 35 lbs from two years ago. I found this to be by far the most effective way to reduce weight in a car, and it's free.

Kurt
 
Whenever I want to get my race weight, I know exactly where to start. I get my ass on a treadmill. I'm down about 35 lbs from two years ago. I found this to be by far the most effective way to reduce weight in a car, and it's free.

Kurt

So true, although I wonder to myself why I've been going to the gym to bulk up when I should really be trying the bulemia thing to get me into the 12's
 
So true, although I wonder to myself why I've been going to the gym to bulk up when I should really be trying the bulemia thing to get me into the 12's

Jeez. Why would anyone want to bulk up? I'm trying to get as skinny as possible, so my penis looks enormous when I'm naked.

Kurt