How much money have you got! If you go far enough you could go for a tubular spaceframe chassis with a fibreglass replica of the shell, that'd be pretty light.
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Ultimate weight reduction
- Thread starter rickyquicky
- Start date
Williams 2
It's getting boring reading the past threads with the same mongs commenting about losing weight/taking a dump on this thread.
If I lose 5kg in weight from the car it's permanent.
The car will be 5kg lighter whether I weigh 10 stone or 17 stone.
There are so many variables with peoples weight/fluids in the car etc, that its pathetic trying to be smart pointing out the obvious. But thanks for pointing out that if I go on a diet, wear lycra, no shoes, 1 litre of oil that will also contribute to stripping a track car.
To everyone that actually gave some input - thanks!
If I lose 5kg in weight from the car it's permanent.
The car will be 5kg lighter whether I weigh 10 stone or 17 stone.
There are so many variables with peoples weight/fluids in the car etc, that its pathetic trying to be smart pointing out the obvious. But thanks for pointing out that if I go on a diet, wear lycra, no shoes, 1 litre of oil that will also contribute to stripping a track car.
To everyone that actually gave some input - thanks!
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Williams 2
Track days only, trailer'd to and from.
330i. E30 Touring.
Why is making it as light as possible the be all and end all?
Racing, I can understand.
Trackdays, like f**k does 10kgs here or there make a difference.
330i. E30 Touring.
So you're a fat b*****d, and stripping a car is easier than putting down the fork?
Williams 2
The 10kgs here and there all contribute. 10kg here, 5 kg there all tallies up.
And it's all free of charge.
Simple ay?
Williams 2
I'm 6 foot 3, 16 stone 8 pounds last time i checked. I'm also slightly overweight.
Key point is, I also love food more than I love clio track cars. i'd rather take it all off the car, and carry on enjoying life outside the clio/track scene and eat/drink all the s**t I want.
So if you wouldn't mind talking b****cks elsewhere it would be appreciated.
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ph2 172
drop the fuel tank off and fit a light weight aluminium one in the boot if its only going to be for track use?
Williams 2
Ok great, i'll take a look, didn't think of these...
XC90, 330d, Trophy’s
I understand wanting to loose weight from the front, or you run the risk of having the rear so light that it could be like a pendulum if you got it wrong mid bend.
there is quite a bit of chunky foam in the front bumper, and the sound deadening on the bulkhead.
does/did the car have aircon, you could also remove the radiator element for it that's housed up under the scuttle panel within the fan box.
and to be honest, I don think people are being mongs but just having a bit of banter and a joke, which is all harmless.
maybe you just took it wrongly rather than just playing along with the light hearted humour it was all meant as... We are all men, simple things like farts, dumps and dirty jokes are always going to be humourous to us
there is quite a bit of chunky foam in the front bumper, and the sound deadening on the bulkhead.
does/did the car have aircon, you could also remove the radiator element for it that's housed up under the scuttle panel within the fan box.
and to be honest, I don think people are being mongs but just having a bit of banter and a joke, which is all harmless.
maybe you just took it wrongly rather than just playing along with the light hearted humour it was all meant as... We are all men, simple things like farts, dumps and dirty jokes are always going to be humourous to us
ph2 172
I don't know how much the original tank weighs, but I could see a 10-20lt tank being lighter than a 50lt tank. Might have to ask some of the other track day boys.
172
But that'd be a complete pain in the arse, Having to constantly refuel during a track day. And chances are the fuel tank you fit would be higher up and further back than the original making your 5kg's saved a bit pointless.. Then you'd probably want a bulkhead between you and the tank and that would add weight.
Anyone who's done a track day knows you want the biggest tank possible unless you like paying over the odds for petrol at the venue! I rinsed two full tanks on every open pit day that I did in mine, and then had to fill up again to get home. A tiny tank will most likely prove a pain in the arse.
In any case it's your car so you'll do what you want, but IMO don't start cutting metal out of it. And definitely don't remove the crash bars as so some had previously suggested.
In any case it's your car so you'll do what you want, but IMO don't start cutting metal out of it. And definitely don't remove the crash bars as so some had previously suggested.
imprezaworks
ClioSport Club Member
Mk5 Golf GTI :)
With regards fuel cost. At oulton for example their fuel is the same price as the local shell.
To go to ASDA and back.
Does your model have spare wheel well? cut it out and replace with aluminium sheet.iv just done this to my focus. i fully understand your desire to reduce the weight as im just in the same mindset as you and going through this proccess to get my car to the lowest weight possible. some people understand this and some dont.
another thing iv just done on mine is remove the heater motor, box matrix and air con matrix. i now have to buy rain x anti fog but by doing this and removing sound deadining from behind dash and passenger airbag i lost 23kg.
the fuel tank change sounds like a pain though. what i do is keep the car around 1/4 tank and under on track and take the rest in cans and fill up from them. 20lts of fuel is heavy in a can and must be 15 to 20kg estimate so i prefer that left in the pit not in my car until i need it.
another thing iv just done on mine is remove the heater motor, box matrix and air con matrix. i now have to buy rain x anti fog but by doing this and removing sound deadining from behind dash and passenger airbag i lost 23kg.
the fuel tank change sounds like a pain though. what i do is keep the car around 1/4 tank and under on track and take the rest in cans and fill up from them. 20lts of fuel is heavy in a can and must be 15 to 20kg estimate so i prefer that left in the pit not in my car until i need it.
As I said before, 100kg lost is gaining 15bhp per ton. Think of how much people spend tuning to get the same
WRX
It's very heavy carrying it from the spectator area, over the bridge to the paddock at Mallory!
Tony Hunter
Williams 2
I understand wanting to loose weight from the front, or you run the risk of having the rear so light that it could be like a pendulum if you got it wrong mid bend.
there is quite a bit of chunky foam in the front bumper, and the sound deadening on the bulkhead.
does/did the car have aircon, you could also remove the radiator element for it that's housed up under the scuttle panel within the fan box.
and to be honest, I don think people are being mongs but just having a bit of banter and a joke, which is all harmless.
maybe you just took it wrongly rather than just playing along with the light hearted humour it was all meant as... We are all men, simple things like farts, dumps and dirty jokes are always going to be humourous to us
So far i've removed/moved/fitted from the front -
- Sound deadening on the bulkhead has gone
- Air con removed with cup alternator set-up (including air con rad/pipes etc)
- Removed the weight thing that I presume is some sort of vibration 'damper' near drivers side engine mount
- Carbon canister gone
- Battery moved behind passenger seat
- ECU bracket binned
- 'Direnza' Aluminium radiator off ebay (probably not any lighter but needed a new rad anyway, and got it for £70)
- Fog lights removed
- Ally bonnet (didn't have one originally as its a later Y reg)
- Undertray binned
So it's some sort of decent progress on the front. Will be getting alloy 4 pots which should be a fair bit lighter, not really sure if there is anything else of value that can go/be swapped from the front end?
The whole interior is out including tar patches, have a pair of sparco evo's to go in, and sparco dished steering wheel. Only thing in the interior left is the loom and dash top. Have chopped a lot of the loom (I know i'm going to get all sorts of lights and problems when it's all put back together and I start it!)
Have polycarb side windows front and rear also to go in, and been reading about doing the windscreen but not sure if this will cause problems on track days so need to read a lot more into it. Not sure about tailgate glass as the rear is already really light (2 of us can lift and hold the rear of the car in the air!) I can't see that being ideal for rear end grip with such a planted front end.
Also have H&R coilovers to go on which are apparently quite soft - not sure how well this will work with a stripped car? The car is up on 4 axle stands atm so no idea how it feels to drive yet!
I know with the engine and box up front there's only so much you can lose, but every kilo I can take from the front is a bonus!
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Wouldn't touch the windscreen personally, I'd definitely think about chopping the tailgate about also. I wouldn't worry too much about having a really light rear end either, I know most of the focus I'd want on the car is over the front wheels especially as they're the drive wheels.
Don't quote me on this also but with height adjustable suspension , if you get it corner weighted then you can push some weight towards the back of the car via the way you set the ride height? Though as said, a lot of people have gone mad with weight saving on their racecars and haven't had any issues with the rear being too light...
Nick
Don't quote me on this also but with height adjustable suspension , if you get it corner weighted then you can push some weight towards the back of the car via the way you set the ride height? Though as said, a lot of people have gone mad with weight saving on their racecars and haven't had any issues with the rear being too light...
Nick
Last time I weighed mine it came in at 957kg with half a tank of fuel, that was basic stripped interior with a 6 point cage and 2seats.
Since then I have fitted a full set of polycarbonate windows, carbon bonnet,gutted tailgate and fiberglass doors so now hope to be around 900kg will weigh it in a couple of weeks when it goes in for mapping.
Since then I have fitted a full set of polycarbonate windows, carbon bonnet,gutted tailgate and fiberglass doors so now hope to be around 900kg will weigh it in a couple of weeks when it goes in for mapping.
Williams 2
Polycarbonate is supposed to be very strong, could also add a special film (similar to security film for glass windows) as another measure of protection. I'm sure NASCAR racers use polycarb windscreens.
Suppose I better do a bit of research about about the safety implications of polycarb windscreens but can't see it being an issue, only reason I haven't done it yet is because I had concerns about suitability for track days.
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Williams 2
Nick, you're right about the corner weighting, this will be done when the cars all back together. I know it will obviously sort the handling a lot but surely its ideal to get the weight balance as best as possible, and then getting it corner weighted and set up properly?
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Williams 2
XC90, 330d, Trophy’s
Your reply to me, post #60
ive done pretty much the same, and like you we can lift the back of the car with ease.
have you removed the roof lining and the tar sections up there aswell?
I've also taken the engine mount/battery tray out, cut off what wasn't needed and smoothed it all down so it looks as neat as possible, ECU being relocated into the car, and rad lights are removed for a thin black plastic carcas of a headlight (it's litterally just the front of it)
bonnet is replaced with a fibreglass item, tailgate cut to pieces so it's litterally the outer frame and glass, and the doors cut apart pretty much the same.
i really can't think of what else the car has had removed that you havent mentioned already.
ive done pretty much the same, and like you we can lift the back of the car with ease.
have you removed the roof lining and the tar sections up there aswell?
I've also taken the engine mount/battery tray out, cut off what wasn't needed and smoothed it all down so it looks as neat as possible, ECU being relocated into the car, and rad lights are removed for a thin black plastic carcas of a headlight (it's litterally just the front of it)
bonnet is replaced with a fibreglass item, tailgate cut to pieces so it's litterally the outer frame and glass, and the doors cut apart pretty much the same.
i really can't think of what else the car has had removed that you havent mentioned already.
Williams 2
I may well do, I don't know enough about polycarb windscreens yet.
What is it you don't like about them? I know perspex breaks into dangerous shards, does polycarbonate also break in a dangerous way?
Williams 2
Kelv, you've done the headlights aswell which I debated, but not sure if this will cause problems for track days so I've put that on hold for the minute. Have you ever had problems on trackdays due to having no headlights?
I suppose the only further weight from the front now could only come from a lighter flywheel/pulleys etc? And starting to get very expensive!
I suppose the only further weight from the front now could only come from a lighter flywheel/pulleys etc? And starting to get very expensive!
It's just an utterly ridiculous notion unless you're an incredibly skilled racing driver, in an unlimited series, chasing thousandths. You're getting all caught up in ounces here or there, when in fact I bet you'd benefit thricefold from being a better driver, and or draining 100ml of petrol from the fuel tank.
No offence, and I'm sure I'm wrong, but you're coming across as someone with very limited track experience, who's trying to build the ultimate racer. If I'm wrong, then apologies, but please don't jeopardise your own safety buy doing bulls**t modifications that will amount to nothing in terms of fun.
XC90, 330d, Trophy’s
Ah yes, more parts... Power steering removed and lightweight pulleys etc, but the pulleys are to ease the strain on the engine rather than making the car lighter.
my headlights cause no issues, but it depends on what trackdays you book, obviously I can't book on to the MSV sessions when it states 'For road cars only', and I do have headlights I can still fit and use if I have to.
ive got to ask tho, are you a trackday regular already?
do you get a lot of track time in and now just wanting to fine tune the art and looking at ways of being a bit quicker?
if not, then maybe you should get some more days under your belt and start to gain more experience before trying to take a car as close to a club racer as you can get.
and as like Munson I apologise if I'm wrong, and you are a hardened trackday veteran.
172 Track Car
It's a clio ffs... It's never going to race LMP1...
Williams 2
Munson, you're wrong on most counts mate. Have a lot of experience in karts from 12/13 years old. I'm no racing driver but am competent on track. I'm sure with more tuition we can all find a few more tenths or 1/100's but it's not all about that.
At the moment i'm enjoying building the car up, and as it is my first track ONLY car there is a lot for me to learn. As its track only i'm taking the opportunity to go that extra mile.
You're firmly set against polycarb windscreens and exaggerate about a wheel trim flying through the windscreen, and you're effectively saying only Sebastian Vettel is worthy of a car with a polycarb windscreen? So all the people spending £1500+ on coilovers...do they need to be racing world champions? Carbon/ally bonnets? Lightweight alloys? Or just people who want to build a well rounded and capable track car? Who understand that all these small extra mods are going to work together to improve the car?
There are kilo's difference between a glass laminate screen and a polycarb screen. It's also weight high in the car and would complement polycarb side windows really well.
I know from karting how important weight and weight transfer is (weight transfer of your body but anyway). 5kg difference is completely different in a car, but regardless I appreciate light weight and thats why I like Clio's in the first place.
Could you provide an actual informed opinion (facts would be even better) to support why it is "utterly ridiculous" to suggest polycarb front screen? I would genuinely like to know...
At the moment i'm enjoying building the car up, and as it is my first track ONLY car there is a lot for me to learn. As its track only i'm taking the opportunity to go that extra mile.
You're firmly set against polycarb windscreens and exaggerate about a wheel trim flying through the windscreen, and you're effectively saying only Sebastian Vettel is worthy of a car with a polycarb windscreen? So all the people spending £1500+ on coilovers...do they need to be racing world champions? Carbon/ally bonnets? Lightweight alloys? Or just people who want to build a well rounded and capable track car? Who understand that all these small extra mods are going to work together to improve the car?
There are kilo's difference between a glass laminate screen and a polycarb screen. It's also weight high in the car and would complement polycarb side windows really well.
I know from karting how important weight and weight transfer is (weight transfer of your body but anyway). 5kg difference is completely different in a car, but regardless I appreciate light weight and thats why I like Clio's in the first place.
Could you provide an actual informed opinion (facts would be even better) to support why it is "utterly ridiculous" to suggest polycarb front screen? I would genuinely like to know...
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XC90, 330d, Trophy’s
Ah yes, more parts... Power steering removed and lightweight pulleys etc, but the pulleys are to ease the strain on the engine rather than making the car lighter.
my headlights cause no issues, but it depends on what trackdays you book, obviously I can't book on to the MSV sessions when it states 'For road cars only', and I do have headlights I can still fit and use if I have to.
ive got to ask tho, are you a trackday regular already?
do you get a lot of track time in and now just wanting to fine tune the art and looking at ways of being a bit quicker?
if not, then maybe you should get some more days under your belt and start to gain more experience before trying to take a car as close to a club racer as you can get.
and as like Munson I apologise if I'm wrong, and you are a hardened trackday veteran.
Williams 2
Aimed at me I presume?
Sorry if I offended you earlier because I pointed out just how much crap you were talking, but taking offense and making snide remarks on a forum is pathetic. Do you openly call people nobheads or do you dish out most of your abuse on this forum?
The end result now is that children like you contribute to the demise of what is supposed to be a chat between people interested in taking further weight from their cars with your pointless 'contribution'.
I would say thats evidence enough that you are in fact the monumental nobhead, both on here and most likely in real life.
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Only you know what compromises you're willing to accept. Good luck.
Williams 2
No not a regular, done about 16 track days total i think, 9 in my own, fairly standard cars, and 6 or 7 in a caterham superlight r300. The caterham is a friends car (who does race). I have Reasonable experience. Enough to know how to drive quickly and considerately! Not sure why I need to prove my 'credentials' though to modify my car for track?
Just want to build a decent track car and get some advice.
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