been thinking about custom light weight things.....
11-17-2014, 11:57 AM
#1
been thinking about custom light weight things..... I've seen tubular front cross members for camaros/mustangs and other cars... so I wonder, how much weight saving would I get if I made a custom tubular cross member and tubular rear cradle.
How much does the stock cross member and rear cradle weigh??
I'll be doing it myself, so labor is free. But my main question is, will it be worth it?
If I can save ~100-200lbs from going tubular on both, then hell yea it'll be worth it.
And if anyone wants to say "why".. then I'll say, because I can and want to
. Oh and... future race car.
How much does the stock cross member and rear cradle weigh??
I'll be doing it myself, so labor is free. But my main question is, will it be worth it?
If I can save ~100-200lbs from going tubular on both, then hell yea it'll be worth it.
And if anyone wants to say "why".. then I'll say, because I can and want to
. Oh and... future race car. 
11-17-2014, 04:47 PM
#3
Yea I plan on making the diff mounts for 8.8, so I don't have to buy the cs bracket. I'd also like to address the whole driveline misalignment. I'm going to start looking for another cradle and cross member to use as a template
11-17-2014, 05:32 PM
#4
I know lightening up the rear end is never ideal in a drag setup (if that is your main goal) but im sure you could save some solid weight replacing the Trunk with a Fiberglass or CF replica.
11-17-2014, 06:58 PM
#5
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Its an interesting idea....
I wonder with a new front cradle if the engine could be push back closer to the firewal. If you could get close enough to run a f-body/gto magnum T56. Could also free up some turbo/supercharger spacein front of the engine.
For the rear, this FD cradle was nodded to accept the explorer 8.8 IRS....looks beast! www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=15911.0
I wonder with a new front cradle if the engine could be push back closer to the firewal. If you could get close enough to run a f-body/gto magnum T56. Could also free up some turbo/supercharger spacein front of the engine.
For the rear, this FD cradle was nodded to accept the explorer 8.8 IRS....looks beast! www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=15911.0
11-17-2014, 07:39 PM
#6
I know lightening up a rear end for drag is not a good idea, but regardless it's still a 4000 lb car. I don't want a strictly drag car either; would like xcross and drag also street too.
I don't want to move the engine back into the firewall, because I need the room behind to run down pipes for my twin turbo setup. But I might lower it and do a dry sump.
Here is my car now with just the turbos in place, I moved my fuse box back and have more than enough room for all the piping. I just haven't started because I need to finish a customers 1952 pontiac ls Swap (4-link, bags, new crossmember wiring, the works! ), so I probably won't start putting it together until the new year.
Anyone know how much our front and rear cradles weigh?
The regular cts has the same cradle correct? If so; I'll be able to get one cheap at the junkyard.
I don't want to move the engine back into the firewall, because I need the room behind to run down pipes for my twin turbo setup. But I might lower it and do a dry sump
.Here is my car now with just the turbos in place, I moved my fuse box back and have more than enough room for all the piping. I just haven't started because I need to finish a customers 1952 pontiac ls Swap (4-link, bags, new crossmember wiring, the works! ), so I probably won't start putting it together until the new year.
Anyone know how much our front and rear cradles weigh?
The regular cts has the same cradle correct? If so; I'll be able to get one cheap at the junkyard.
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11-18-2014, 05:22 PM
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11-18-2014, 09:13 PM
#10
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I like the sounds of this project. If you can figure out a way to drop a decent amount of weight like this, I'm sure you could sell quite a few copies as well.
11-19-2014, 09:30 AM
#11
The rear cradle with the welded mounts for 8.8 diff will be made for sure. The Weight reduction and instant $400 savings (cs 8.8 brackets) will make it worth it on its own.
The front cross member will be done after. A lot of thought, measuring and geometry will go into it.
I'll post pics once the project gets started.
11-19-2014, 04:54 PM
#12
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Yea I intend to make a jig so I can replicate them. I'm going to the junkyard this weekend hopefully so I can get the cradle from a cts. I saw it 3 weeks ago when I was there so hopefully they still have the car. It'll be a pretty slow process since I'm working on other projects.
The rear cradle with the welded mounts for 8.8 diff will be made for sure. The Weight reduction and instant $400 savings (cs 8.8 brackets) will make it worth it on its own.
The front cross member will be done after. A lot of thought, measuring and geometry will go into it.
I'll post pics once the project gets started.
The rear cradle with the welded mounts for 8.8 diff will be made for sure. The Weight reduction and instant $400 savings (cs 8.8 brackets) will make it worth it on its own.
The front cross member will be done after. A lot of thought, measuring and geometry will go into it.
I'll post pics once the project gets started.
I was surprised when I bought my v1 to find out both the cradles were steel as other gm platforms make use of alum cradles. The rear springs/shocks not being coil overs were again something used in other gm performance platforms but not this one, but yet the stock diff is alum. If the rears were converted to coil overs then lower rear control arms could be done in alum or tubular steel.
11-20-2014, 05:12 PM
#13
Someone can confirm but the front cradle was supposedly beefed up for the V vs the regular cts to accommodate the ls.
I was surprised when I bought my v1 to find out both the cradles were steel as other gm platforms make use of alum cradles. The rear springs/shocks not being coil overs were again something used in other gm performance platforms but not this one, but yet the stock diff is alum. If the rears were converted to coil overs then lower rear control arms could be done in alum or tubular steel.
I was surprised when I bought my v1 to find out both the cradles were steel as other gm platforms make use of alum cradles. The rear springs/shocks not being coil overs were again something used in other gm performance platforms but not this one, but yet the stock diff is alum. If the rears were converted to coil overs then lower rear control arms could be done in alum or tubular steel.
Great idea on the lower control arms, I can make a set of tubulars for coilover guys, and guys with springs can use their stock arms. Now I definitely need coilovers ha.
11-20-2014, 06:35 PM
#15
Hm I can't find any info on it on either page. Oh well, if someone is already doing it then I'll just make them for my car.
11-20-2014, 09:58 PM
#17
Oh no that's not what I meant at all. I meant if he's already putting it together, I wouldn't want to compete and step on his toes.it's all good, I'm just trying to lighten up the car, not make money off of it.