Interesting information about "lightweight" Fibreglass hoods and LW seats
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Those of you considering a lightweight replacement hood or seat please read the following. I wrote USBody asking specific Q's about the weight differences between their hoods and stock and also wrote Corbeau racing seats.
Here are their responses:
From US Body:
The hood is comparable to the steel - not much lighter. All pics are posted to the site.
Thank you for your interest in usbody.com.
Customer Service
From Corbeau:
As a rule reclining seats are 25-30lbs, fixed back seats around 15lbs
(Forza, Clubman etc..)
Regards,
Spencer
The stock non power seats are coming in at around 30 pounds.
So as you can see unless you want a fixed seat there is little weight savings in comparision to the lightweight racing seats. If you have power, leather seats, then you will save a bit of weight but not nearly as much as you would think.
Hope this helps, I was hoping to save about 55 pounds total with a lightweight hood and lightweight seats but this obviously isnt the case. I am going to save my money and instead go for other areas of weight reduction.
Cheers,
Chris
[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: Chris ARE 360 ]</p>
Here are their responses:
From US Body:
The hood is comparable to the steel - not much lighter. All pics are posted to the site.
Thank you for your interest in usbody.com.
Customer Service
From Corbeau:
As a rule reclining seats are 25-30lbs, fixed back seats around 15lbs
(Forza, Clubman etc..)
Regards,
Spencer
The stock non power seats are coming in at around 30 pounds.
So as you can see unless you want a fixed seat there is little weight savings in comparision to the lightweight racing seats. If you have power, leather seats, then you will save a bit of weight but not nearly as much as you would think.
Hope this helps, I was hoping to save about 55 pounds total with a lightweight hood and lightweight seats but this obviously isnt the case. I am going to save my money and instead go for other areas of weight reduction.
Cheers,
Chris
[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: Chris ARE 360 ]</p>
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Chris when talking to US body to you specifically ask about the lightwight lift off hood?
I have seen some liftoff hoods that on the vendors website show a shipping wt of 11 lb's.
P.S. chris ...just for you bro...I'm gonna post my racing seat setup...keep your eyes peeled.
Larry
I have seen some liftoff hoods that on the vendors website show a shipping wt of 11 lb's.
P.S. chris ...just for you bro...I'm gonna post my racing seat setup...keep your eyes peeled.
Larry
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have you emailed vfn? the shipping weight on their hoods are like 11-12#. and what about Kirkey for a racing seat.
Ryan
[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: RyanJackson ]</p>
Ryan
[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: RyanJackson ]</p>
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Larry,
I asked about both the standard and lightweight lift off hood. I was very surprised on the response. Maybe the Cust service guy that wrote me was mistaken.
I would love to see pics and weight differences of your setup. I am looking to take 150 pounds out of the car by spring and if you have a solution that is lightweight I would definitely be interested in the details. I am putting in a chromeoly cage (+60 pounds approx) and want to get the car 90-100 pounds lighter than it is now with the cage installed
.
Here is what I am going with:
K member, A arms (44 pounds)
Optima battery (20 pounds)
Remove AIR EGR crap (11 pounds)
Lightweight hood (If I can find a real light one <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> save 30 pounds)
Hopefully lightweight racing seats that recline and lightweight carpet (40 pounds combined?)
Thanks again,
Chris
I asked about both the standard and lightweight lift off hood. I was very surprised on the response. Maybe the Cust service guy that wrote me was mistaken.
I would love to see pics and weight differences of your setup. I am looking to take 150 pounds out of the car by spring and if you have a solution that is lightweight I would definitely be interested in the details. I am putting in a chromeoly cage (+60 pounds approx) and want to get the car 90-100 pounds lighter than it is now with the cage installed
.
Here is what I am going with:
K member, A arms (44 pounds)
Optima battery (20 pounds)
Remove AIR EGR crap (11 pounds)
Lightweight hood (If I can find a real light one <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> save 30 pounds)
Hopefully lightweight racing seats that recline and lightweight carpet (40 pounds combined?)
Thanks again,
Chris
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I just checked out VFN's site.
They do list the shipping weight of their stock style 98-01 Firebird hood as 11 pounds. This is just what I am looking for. Does the bolt on hood bolt in using the factory hardware?
Anyone have pics of this hood on a car?
Thanks again guys, now if I can find lightweight seats and carpet I will be laughing <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
Chris
They do list the shipping weight of their stock style 98-01 Firebird hood as 11 pounds. This is just what I am looking for. Does the bolt on hood bolt in using the factory hardware?
Anyone have pics of this hood on a car?
Thanks again guys, now if I can find lightweight seats and carpet I will be laughing <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0">
Chris
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I just got off the phone with VFN
the weights on their website are not correct.
I specifically was concerned that the pin on, and bolt on hoods were both listed as 11lb shipping weight.
I was told the bolt on hood weights around 20 lbs, and the pin on hood is approx 10-11 lbs.
the hood listed as "extended" is for use with their complete fiberglass front clips.
Also BIG BUMMER...expect a 4 week turnaround on getting the hood to you.
the weights on their website are not correct.
I specifically was concerned that the pin on, and bolt on hoods were both listed as 11lb shipping weight.
I was told the bolt on hood weights around 20 lbs, and the pin on hood is approx 10-11 lbs.
the hood listed as "extended" is for use with their complete fiberglass front clips.
Also BIG BUMMER...expect a 4 week turnaround on getting the hood to you.
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I realize the reason for a reclining seat is for back seat access and driver comfort on extended trips.
And getting the stock seat out and the replacement seat in is a PITA ...
until ...
I built my own mount for the replacement seat. It has a lot easier access to the studs that the seat bolts to. That and a ratcheting boxed end wrench makes R&R the driver's seat a 15 minute job.
I have a Corbeau Forza fixed back seat.
And getting the stock seat out and the replacement seat in is a PITA ...
until ...
I built my own mount for the replacement seat. It has a lot easier access to the studs that the seat bolts to. That and a ratcheting boxed end wrench makes R&R the driver's seat a 15 minute job.
I have a Corbeau Forza fixed back seat.
#9
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well, the Kirky is the best seat by far. it is quite expensive, but very strong. A lot of Nascar guys use them, and the build quality is very good. we run a Kirkey RR seat in the race car. the Corbeau Fixed Forza that i have WITH the bracket only weighed in at 18#s. the stock leather was 32. The Kirkey is approximately 14#s but dont quote me on that. i saved about 35#s just using the Forza seats. Just some food for thought...
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Had I kept my T/A, I was going to use the Corbeau Forza seat for when I went to the track. Since I did sell it, it now belongs to Mitch. <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> ~17 lbs. w/ a bracket is pretty good considering what the stock power leather seat weighs! I never had a problem getting seats out of my car, but being able to pull the t-tops off definitely helped.
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Chris you don't want a pin on hood! The bolt on hoods save around 20-25#, at the cost of around $400-$700 depending on shipping charges and painting charges. They are also harder to close. I don't think the swap is worth it. Weight savings in general isn't that big of a deal, just do the easy things and work on your suspension.
Easy things being dyna-batt, !bumper, kmember (why spend another $400 for an extra 10# with the aarms?), catback, carpet (just get some good floor mats and leave the back seat in), etc.
Easy things being dyna-batt, !bumper, kmember (why spend another $400 for an extra 10# with the aarms?), catback, carpet (just get some good floor mats and leave the back seat in), etc.
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Thats an idea Terry,
Maybe I will take out the carpet, insulation and use lightweight mats and remove the back seats at the track.
The Kmember saves how much weight? I want to get it down as much as I can <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
thanks,
Chris
Maybe I will take out the carpet, insulation and use lightweight mats and remove the back seats at the track.
The Kmember saves how much weight? I want to get it down as much as I can <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
thanks,
Chris
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dont forget glasstek
they have hhods in both bolt on and pin on design.
my lightweight pin on comes in at 17-19 lbs or so..
easy for one person to handle.
steve frank
they have hhods in both bolt on and pin on design.
my lightweight pin on comes in at 17-19 lbs or so..
easy for one person to handle.
steve frank
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[quote]Originally posted by steve:
<strong>dont forget glasstek
they have hhods in both bolt on and pin on design.
my lightweight pin on comes in at 17-19 lbs or so..
easy for one person to handle.
steve frank</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey steve which hood you got. I was thinking about getting the 4" Glastek cowl hood but heard that it takes lots of fitting vs. other cowl hoods. Any input on this?
<strong>dont forget glasstek
they have hhods in both bolt on and pin on design.
my lightweight pin on comes in at 17-19 lbs or so..
easy for one person to handle.
steve frank</strong><hr></blockquote>
Hey steve which hood you got. I was thinking about getting the 4" Glastek cowl hood but heard that it takes lots of fitting vs. other cowl hoods. Any input on this?
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no cowl on mine.
it fit fine straight out of the box.
the other one i have seen fits ok too.
i got the lightweight pin on stock type hood.
steve frank
it fit fine straight out of the box.
the other one i have seen fits ok too.
i got the lightweight pin on stock type hood.
steve frank
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Who carries the lift off hoods?
Can I get a link?
Thanks,
Marty <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">
Can I get a link?
Thanks,
Marty <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0">
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chris, ill have to send pics to you via email, i dont have the means to post em.
steve frank
steve frank