c5 weight reduction?
c5 weight reduction? I was looking into buying a FRC down the road a little to make a nice light weight all motor car. What kind of tricks can you do to lightin up the C5 a little bit. Any one have suggestions and possible weights of removed items?
My FRC weighs in at 3150 with a full tank of gas and some **** in the trunk from a move... thats light enough in my opinion. But if you really wanted less weight, I bet you can get it sub 3000 or close to it by removing the A/C, raido and all the speakers and wiring, & sound deadning.
I beleive there was a post that covered all of the wieghts of different components. I would start with a set of light drag wheels, tires. Then I would move the the front brakes and get some light wieght ones. Then the seats and other comfort items.
Yeah a link would be awesome. I would assume you could get one of these things under 3k pretty easy. I hate to lose luxuries like the radio and stuff like that. I figure I'd be willing to rip out the A/C, wiper motor and fluid, bumper supports, sound damping and any other misc stuff. As long as I can't see it missing I wouldn't mind taking it out. I really hate sheet metal cars like that. I want it to appear stock but weigh less then 3k, toss in a nice little motor and you got yourself a nice sleeper. 
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
-remove tire repair kit >8lbs
-headers >20
-Ti catback >20
-winshield res.(full) >10
-02 Z06 wheels >10
-2 racing seats >30
-a/c >40
-smog pump >4
-braile battery >25
there is an easy 160+ lbs.
-headers >20
-Ti catback >20
-winshield res.(full) >10
-02 Z06 wheels >10
-2 racing seats >30
-a/c >40
-smog pump >4
-braile battery >25
there is an easy 160+ lbs.
Yes mine was weighed at Moroso. After my solid axle conversion and the turbos, iron block it weighed 3350. I guess Im heavier than I had hoped and I still have to add 150 to the rear of the car.
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 7
From: Braking Point, Turn In, Apex, Exit - Repeat
The nice thing about the C5 when you remove the A/C you just remove the compressor and it has it's own belt so you don't need a pulley or anything, plus removeing the condensor frees up more air to the radiator.
If you can remove the side window glass and motors there is an easy 50lbs to loose. Air bags are a little tricky but I would ditch them, you can leave the covers in so it still apears as though it's there.
You should easily be able to get under 3k lbs, try to find an 04 carbon fiber hood I here that's good for 13 lbs, they are a bitch to close though.
If you can remove the side window glass and motors there is an easy 50lbs to loose. Air bags are a little tricky but I would ditch them, you can leave the covers in so it still apears as though it's there.
You should easily be able to get under 3k lbs, try to find an 04 carbon fiber hood I here that's good for 13 lbs, they are a bitch to close though.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: CT
The type of tires you choose will affect the weight as well. The pilot sport ps2's are 20lbs lighter than the supercars as a complete set and perform really well for me. My stock supercars were completely dead when I got my car so I can't make a direct comparison.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/corvette-performance/258388-corvette-faq.html
Scroll down. J-Rod has every detail covered on this topic.
Scroll down. J-Rod has every detail covered on this topic.
Weight reduction
You can achieve substantial weight reduction with the following modifications, while still having a car that's very comfortable to drive. Most of these modifications will directly increase (and decrease in a few cases) the safety of the car, while safety is indirectly improved due to the better handling and limits of a lighter car. Fighter pilots say "speed is life". Acceleration, deceleration, and lateral acceleration are all forms of acceleration, and lighter cars accelerate better in each of these ways because the tires have less mass to control....thus a lighter car is a safer car. Lighter cars have better moments of inertia which allows them to turn in more easily and roll less. Lighter cars are also easier on the tires and gas.
All the stage weight estimates are typically wild butt guesses, but it makes it easy to see what is possible. The weight listings in the separate weight posting is MUCH more reliable.
Stage I: Streetable weight reduction mods
Non-popup headlights (~40 lbs)
Braking rotors with an aluminum hat, or titanium rotors (unproven on street cars) (~20-30 lbs)
Carbon fiber hood (~12 lbs)
Z06 (thinner) windshield and side windows (~4 lbs)
Non runflat tires (~20 lbs)
Slicks (~30 lbs)
Z06 wheels (~4 lbs est.)
Corsa titanium exhaust (~35 lbs)
Long tube headers (~20 lbs)
Halltech aluminum alternator & bracket (10 lbs)
Carbon fiber driveshaft (~2 lbs)
Newer torque tube
Less options [HUD, elec AC, Active Stability, seat/mirror/steering wheel memory, cd changer] (~50 lbs)
Less gasoline & wiper fluid (No wiper fluid=9lbs, 6 lbs for every gallon of gas in that 18 gallon tank....~81 lbs for autocrossing)
Remove cargo net
Remove targa top (~20 lbs)
Remove BCM’s
Remove C5 "appearance mods" - exhaust plates, doorsill covers, etc.
Remove fuel rail covers
Replace stock crank pulley with aluminum aftermarket pulley
Replace steel dampener with aluminum dampener
Replace stock targa top with lexan piece (coupes)
Replace water pump with electric water pump
Replace battery with smaller battery
Replace non-stressed fasteners with aluminum or titanium fasteners
Replace leaf springs with coil over shocks with titanium springs
Replace steel shifter with aluminum shifter and delrin or titanium shift ****
Remove all loose change, CD's, golf clubs, misc. items, from center console, hatch area, and glove box
Empty your pockets of extra change, PDA's, cell phones, keys, lead plates, or whatever other junk you lug around
Go on a diet =p
Stage II: Hardcore semi-streetable weight reduction mods
Aluminum flywheel (~10 lbs)
Lighter clutch like Exedy or Quartermaster (~10 lbs)
Racing buckets (40-50 lbs)
Remove tire repair kit (Z06)
Off-road x-pipe (10 lbs)
Remove floor mats
Remove fog lights
Replace stock hood, fenders, doors, roof, hatch and bumpers with aftermarket carbon fiber pieces
Stage III: Track only weight reduction mods
Racing steering wheel & delete both airbags (~30 lbs, but get a 4-6 point harness)
Use unpadded aluminum or carbon fiber steering wheel
Run open headers
Remove column locking hardware
Remove interior – passenger seat, carpets, speaker panels, head liner, dash, center console, glove box, door panels, sun visors, rear view mirror, insulation, etc.
Remove A/C Compressor
Remove A/C controls and ducting
Remove AIR pump system
Remove factory radio, speakers, and/or CD changer, and unnecessary wiring
Remove HUD projector
Remove windshield wiper fluid reservoir and pump
Remove windshield wipers and motors
Remove stock cat back
Remove power steering pump
Remove front sway bar (drag only)
Remove ABS, TC, AH hardware and sensors (drag only)
Remove fender wells
Remove headlight assembly, turn signals, taillights and reflectors
Remove/shave side mirrors
Remove torque tunnel cover
Remove seat belts
Remove parking brake
Remove side windows and motors
Remove power locks and power windows
Remove side impact beams
Replace stock front and rear glass with polycarbonate “glass”
Rebuild motor with Al or Ti connecting rods, Ti valve spring retainers and pushrods
Port the heads
Remove all flashing from the engine, then polish
Replace valve covers with magnesium or carbon fiber parts
Strip entire car, acid wash chassis, put car back together.
Reducing unsprung weight—not all is streetable
Replace stock wheels with forged 1-piece wheels
Use 3-piece wheels by Jongbloed, Kodiak, CCW, BBS
Skinny front wheels (drag only)
Use Ti fasteners on 3-piece wheels (~1 lbs per wheel)
Use lighter non-runflat tires, or even Hoosier nylon corded slicks
Use lighter calipers
Replace stock rotors with 2-piece, unvented or titanium rotors
Replace wheels studs with titanium studs
Replace lug nuts with aluminum or titanium lug nuts
Remove tire pressure sensors
Use rubber valve stem without a cap
Balance the wheels without tires or balancing weights, then mount tires.
J-Rod
You can achieve substantial weight reduction with the following modifications, while still having a car that's very comfortable to drive. Most of these modifications will directly increase (and decrease in a few cases) the safety of the car, while safety is indirectly improved due to the better handling and limits of a lighter car. Fighter pilots say "speed is life". Acceleration, deceleration, and lateral acceleration are all forms of acceleration, and lighter cars accelerate better in each of these ways because the tires have less mass to control....thus a lighter car is a safer car. Lighter cars have better moments of inertia which allows them to turn in more easily and roll less. Lighter cars are also easier on the tires and gas.
All the stage weight estimates are typically wild butt guesses, but it makes it easy to see what is possible. The weight listings in the separate weight posting is MUCH more reliable.
Stage I: Streetable weight reduction mods
Non-popup headlights (~40 lbs)
Braking rotors with an aluminum hat, or titanium rotors (unproven on street cars) (~20-30 lbs)
Carbon fiber hood (~12 lbs)
Z06 (thinner) windshield and side windows (~4 lbs)
Non runflat tires (~20 lbs)
Slicks (~30 lbs)
Z06 wheels (~4 lbs est.)
Corsa titanium exhaust (~35 lbs)
Long tube headers (~20 lbs)
Halltech aluminum alternator & bracket (10 lbs)
Carbon fiber driveshaft (~2 lbs)
Newer torque tube
Less options [HUD, elec AC, Active Stability, seat/mirror/steering wheel memory, cd changer] (~50 lbs)
Less gasoline & wiper fluid (No wiper fluid=9lbs, 6 lbs for every gallon of gas in that 18 gallon tank....~81 lbs for autocrossing)
Remove cargo net
Remove targa top (~20 lbs)
Remove BCM’s
Remove C5 "appearance mods" - exhaust plates, doorsill covers, etc.
Remove fuel rail covers
Replace stock crank pulley with aluminum aftermarket pulley
Replace steel dampener with aluminum dampener
Replace stock targa top with lexan piece (coupes)
Replace water pump with electric water pump
Replace battery with smaller battery
Replace non-stressed fasteners with aluminum or titanium fasteners
Replace leaf springs with coil over shocks with titanium springs
Replace steel shifter with aluminum shifter and delrin or titanium shift ****
Remove all loose change, CD's, golf clubs, misc. items, from center console, hatch area, and glove box
Empty your pockets of extra change, PDA's, cell phones, keys, lead plates, or whatever other junk you lug around
Go on a diet =p
Stage II: Hardcore semi-streetable weight reduction mods
Aluminum flywheel (~10 lbs)
Lighter clutch like Exedy or Quartermaster (~10 lbs)
Racing buckets (40-50 lbs)
Remove tire repair kit (Z06)
Off-road x-pipe (10 lbs)
Remove floor mats
Remove fog lights
Replace stock hood, fenders, doors, roof, hatch and bumpers with aftermarket carbon fiber pieces
Stage III: Track only weight reduction mods
Racing steering wheel & delete both airbags (~30 lbs, but get a 4-6 point harness)
Use unpadded aluminum or carbon fiber steering wheel
Run open headers
Remove column locking hardware
Remove interior – passenger seat, carpets, speaker panels, head liner, dash, center console, glove box, door panels, sun visors, rear view mirror, insulation, etc.
Remove A/C Compressor
Remove A/C controls and ducting
Remove AIR pump system
Remove factory radio, speakers, and/or CD changer, and unnecessary wiring
Remove HUD projector
Remove windshield wiper fluid reservoir and pump
Remove windshield wipers and motors
Remove stock cat back
Remove power steering pump
Remove front sway bar (drag only)
Remove ABS, TC, AH hardware and sensors (drag only)
Remove fender wells
Remove headlight assembly, turn signals, taillights and reflectors
Remove/shave side mirrors
Remove torque tunnel cover
Remove seat belts
Remove parking brake
Remove side windows and motors
Remove power locks and power windows
Remove side impact beams
Replace stock front and rear glass with polycarbonate “glass”
Rebuild motor with Al or Ti connecting rods, Ti valve spring retainers and pushrods
Port the heads
Remove all flashing from the engine, then polish
Replace valve covers with magnesium or carbon fiber parts
Strip entire car, acid wash chassis, put car back together.
Reducing unsprung weight—not all is streetable
Replace stock wheels with forged 1-piece wheels
Use 3-piece wheels by Jongbloed, Kodiak, CCW, BBS
Skinny front wheels (drag only)
Use Ti fasteners on 3-piece wheels (~1 lbs per wheel)
Use lighter non-runflat tires, or even Hoosier nylon corded slicks
Use lighter calipers
Replace stock rotors with 2-piece, unvented or titanium rotors
Replace wheels studs with titanium studs
Replace lug nuts with aluminum or titanium lug nuts
Remove tire pressure sensors
Use rubber valve stem without a cap
Balance the wheels without tires or balancing weights, then mount tires.
J-Rod
